His 181St Second (Laverne and Marina) novel Chapter 60

**Winds Carry Lost Promises by Asa Holt Vale**
**Chapter 60**

As Marina drifted through her thoughts, Daron’s voice sliced through the haze like a sharp blade.

“If you’re reconsidering your choices, it might be best to just walk away now. Don’t create this spectacle only to retract your steps later. That would be utterly humiliating,” Daron remarked, his tone dripping with indifference.

The abruptness of his words jolted Marina back to the present.

Regret was not an option for her; it simply didn’t exist in her realm of possibilities. She had crossed a threshold, and there was no going back now.

“If you genuinely believe that feeling embarrassed equates to bravery, then you’ve lost your grip on reality,” Daron continued, his voice low yet filled with an undercurrent of something she couldn’t quite decipher.

Marina glanced up, her gaze locking onto his. There was a flicker of amusement in his eyes, mingled with an emotion that eluded her understanding.

For a fleeting moment, she found herself questioning whether his expression was one of mirth or simmering anger.

A sudden wave of guilt washed over her, catching her off guard.

“I didn’t!” she exclaimed, her voice quivering with a mix of indignation and vulnerability.

Daron shot her a sidelong glance, his expression unreadable. “Good,” he replied simply.

“You can fool yourself into ignoring the truth once, but if you persist in your ignorance, then you’re truly beyond redemption,” he added, his words hanging in the air like a heavy fog.

Marina found herself momentarily at a loss for words, the weight of his statement pressing down on her.

When they finally reached the car, Daron swung the door open for her with an effortless grace, as if the tension from their earlier exchange had evaporated into thin air.

“The flight isn’t scheduled to depart for another three hours. Let’s grab a bite before we head to the airport,” he suggested, his tone casual yet commanding.

Marina followed him without hesitation, the rhythm of their conversation lingering in her mind as they made their way to a nearby steakhouse.

As they entered, she settled into the seat across from him, and he handed her the menu that the waiter had just presented.

Without a moment’s pause, Marina ordered her favorite steak, her voice steady and confident.

Daron, on the other hand, barely glanced at the menu. He placed his order with the waiter and requested a bottle of red wine, his demeanor unfazed and composed.

Marina hesitated for a brief moment at the thought of flying soon, but the allure of the wine was too tempting to resist. Today was a day worth celebrating, after all.

Her tolerance for alcohol wasn’t particularly high, but she was certain she could manage a glass or two without losing her composure.

One by one, their dishes began to arrive, the rich aromas wafting through the air.

The wine Daron had chosen was already decanted, its deep crimson hue glistening in the light.

Though he had invited her to join him, he didn’t bother to pour her any wine, instead savoring his steak while sipping leisurely, as if she were invisible.

Marina felt a growing sense of frustration. She couldn’t decipher his thoughts, and her mind was devoid of conversation starters.

There was no way she would ask him to pour her a glass; that felt too forward.

So, she kept her gaze fixed on her plate, focusing on her meal in silence.

After a stretch of quiet, Daron finally broke the stillness with a low inquiry.

“Are you done eating?” he asked, his voice almost casual.

Marina glanced down at her nearly empty plate and nodded, a hint of relief washing over her.

“Yeah, I’m done,” she replied, her voice steady.

She was already feeling full to the brim, unable to fathom taking another bite. Yet, with Daron’s silence looming, she felt adrift, unsure of how to fill the void. Playing with her phone felt too disrespectful in his presence.

When she looked up, she noticed Daron had polished off the entire bottle of wine, a flushed hue gracing his handsome features.

With his elbow casually resting on the table and his forehead lightly cradled in his hand, he exuded a lazy charm that was dangerously alluring.

Caught off guard, Marina found herself staring at him, unable to look away for a few moments.

“Why did you drink so much?” she asked, curiosity lacing her voice.

His eyes narrowed slightly, a lazy smile curling at the corners of his lips. When he met her gaze, there was a softness there, and his voice emerged low and rough, almost intimate.

“I’m just happy,” he stated, the simplicity of his words ringing with a deeper meaning.

Marina couldn’t quite grasp the source of his happiness, yet that smile in his eyes suddenly felt oddly warm and inviting.

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