Zane glanced down as Aarna hadn't responded but her cheeks flamed in embarrassment.

April giggled, "So Z is Casper?"

​​

Dean glanced down at April he was glad she was happily chatting, she didn't seem affected by whatever happened inside the room and although he wanted to find out what had happened he would wait for her to divulge the information in her own time.

Zane was even more curious now as they walked out of the restaurant. The valet handed Dean the keys but Zane quickly took them from the valet and spoke to Dean, "You are not allowed to drive my car again."

Dean rolled his eyes and opened the back seat for April and she got in, he ran around the car and entered the other passenger door. Leaving Aarna to get in the front beside Zane.

Zane held the door for her and she quickly got in, this was only her second time meeting Z and he was still a gentleman. This was one of the reasons she had fallen for him so quickly. She easily got lost in his kindness and care. They were something and then they were nothing. She had thought that she would have to get used to the emptiness and silence. But today he had answered her and turned up to save her friend. She wondered why?

Zane got in the driver seat and looked back at Dean questioning, "Where to buddy?"

Dean looked at April she was smiling and although he wanted to bring her home she wanted to go out and eat and he couldn't say no to her request, but after they eat he would take her home. Without looking at Zane he replied, "Take us to The Ivy."

Zane drove them straight to The Ivy, it was a popular new restaurant with an inspiring chef in the next City over. The drive didn't take long and before they knew it they had arrived. They were taken to a private room, it had a fresh and cosy vibe to it.

They all sat down at the table and ordered their food and drinks. Dean sat beside April and Zane beside Aarna. The two girl's sitting opposite each other were glancing at each other both had a thousand questions for each other.

April spoke first, "So Casper do you have anything to say for yourself?"

Dean smiled his girl was straight to the point and he hoped his friend Z was prepared for her questions.

Zane rubbed the back of his neck and glanced at April before looking at Aarna, "Did me not replying annoy you?"

Aarna stared into his eyes and responded as it was now or never. She had April there to support her and she felt truly blessed for that, "You made it seem so easy to not respond as if my presence in your life meant nothing. My absence didn't affect you but yours killed me."

Her stomach used to get butterflies just seeing his name pop up on her phone but she had lived with his silence now those butterflies turned to stone and she had never felt so heavy before.

"I, I didn't mean to not respond. One busy day turned into two then another and another. Before long it had been a week then two and so on. After that I thought that maybe I was too busy for a relationship that you deserved better, you deserved a man there for you every day not just when they can get away from work." Zane watched as she took in all his inner thoughts and processed them.

Aarna nodded before responding, "People make time for what is truly important to them in life. If you are passionate about your work I understand that. But everyone has their phone on them and if you cannot find a minute to send me an 'I'm thinking of you' or a 'day a good day' message then our connection was all for nothing."

Although Aarna felt her hot tears fill her eyes she didn't let them fall.

"Of course you are important I just got lost for a moment in work, then as an over thinker I started to doubt that I could give you all that you needed," Zane responded.

Aarna kept looking into his eyes for a trace of emotion, "I only want to know that you care. I'm an overthinker too and all I felt was the pain of your absence."

"I'm sorry, I promise…" Zane quickly tried to explain himself.

Aarna stopped him, "Don't say, just show. Don't talk, just act. Don't promise just prove. I still want this if you do?"

Zane's heart leapt he had indeed let her down. The only woman who truly opened his heart and meant everything to him, "Okay I will from now on." He wanted to kiss her but he wasn't sure he wouldn't get slapped so he held back.

Aarna leaned forward and held his face and kissed him, forgetting about the two seated opposite. Aarna leaned back and smiled at Zane and then remembered Dean and April, she blushed and the tears she held back fell.

"Sorry guys." Aarna felt embarrassed.

Zane quickly wiped her tears, he really never meant to hurt her. He didn't even think she would miss him, none of the other girls he had spent time with had ever missed or needed him for anything so small as a message, yes they wanted him for money but that was all.

April was happy for her friend and wanted to comfort her, "It's okay to cry when you need to, I hope they are happy tears or I will have to get out my rope and hogtie the Doctor here."

They laughed and the moment passed, they quickly chatted amongst themselves and got to know one another.

"So how did you both meet?" Zane asked April.

April set down her glass and responded, "I was going to ask you the same. But I will answer first, Dean was my noisy neighbour that flashed me one morning. Your turn."