THE WAY SOME PEOPLE IN THIS TOWN SEEMED TO CIRCLE AROUND OTHERS LIKE VULTURES HAD ALWAYS ANNOYED DANTE. It had been a while since he’d last seen Georgina outside school walls, but every time that he did, for the last year or so, he had seen gazes following her, people whispering in the background and like, all because of her failed marriage. He had been on her end of the gossip once, when Amara first left him, and now that she had returned, some people had even had the audacity of asking him if they were getting back together. Huh… as if it was any of their business. Again—fucking vultures, they were. But he could see it in the way voices lowered as he walked past them, he could hear Georgina’s name being said here and there and he wanted to start throwing punches. People couldn’t even buy fresh produce in peace?
Letting out a sigh, the professor made his way toward her and smiled as their gaze finally met.
❝ Need some help with that? ❞ He offered, extending his hand to try and carry the bags in her hands. Sure, Dante knew she could do it herself, but it didn’t hurt showing some chivalry if she was going to be bombarded with people’s stares. ❝ I would ask how you were doing, but little miss Hartley spilled a secret about you working too much, so I’m thinking… that? ❞ Dante tilted his head to the side. One old lady walked past them and murmured a pitiful ‘poor thing’, which almost made him roll his eyes in annoyance. Instead, Dante decided to put on an act. It was something he’d learned after Amara’s departure. He moved his arm around Georgia’s shoulders, and moved closer, ducking his head to whisper in her ear as a smile laced his lips and his words. ❝ Next person that says something about you, I’ll probably start throwing punches. Just follow my lead, okay? ❞ With that, he pulled away from her ear, but kept his arm over her shoulders. ❝ How many should we get? ❞ He asked, pointing to the tomatoes. ❝ It's the three of us tonight, right? ❞