Chapter 143: Fully loaded
"Roger? Hi! I didn’t expect to see you here at my book café," Ruby said, surprised as she approached him.
Roger gave a small nod, his usual calm demeanor intact. "Yeah, I just needed a quiet place to relax," he replied.
"Relax here?" Ruby asked, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.
"You don’t mind, do you?" Roger asked, glancing around the cozy café. "I was thinking of staying for about an hour to read something. Madam Layla recommended this place, so I decided to check it out." He paused briefly before adding, "You’re not planning to close up just yet, are you?" His gaze shifted to the clock on the wall.
Ruby hesitated, her lips pressing together apologetically. "Actually, I was just about to close, Roger. I’m really sorry, but I already have plans with a friend tonight. Maybe you could come back tomorrow?"
Roger blinked in surprise but nodded understandingly. "Ah, I see. My apologies for holding you up," he said, stepping back slightly. Then, almost as an afterthought, he murmured, "I thought Madam Layla was your only friend."
Ruby chuckled softly, folding her arms. "No, there are a few others," she replied, amused by his assumption.
She hesitated for a moment before continuing, "I didn’t know you were into reading books. It’s just... unusual for someone like you." Realizing how her words might sound, she quickly backtracked, her cheeks flushing. "Oh, I didn’t mean that in a bad way! I’m so sorry if it came off wrong."
Roger gave her a faint smile, his expression soft but unreadable. "I don’t mind," he said calmly before turning to leave.