Memories Drifted Into Soft Silence by Kyx Frost 290

Chapter 290 

Everyone drank and then we started passing around food, the conversation flowed easily with 

everyone sharing stories and laughing. 

But I noticed Derek and Kiara kept shooting glances at each other when they thought the other 

wasn’t looking. 

About halfway through dinner Sarah stood up and I knew what was coming. 

“Kiara, Derek, would you two mind helping me bring out the next course?” she asked innocently. 

“There’s a lot to carry.” 

I saw Derek’s eyes narrow slightly, clearly suspicious, but he stood anyway because refusing 

would be rude. 

“Sure,” Kiara said also standing. 

They followed Sarah to the kitchen and Leah leaned over to whisper in my ear, “Think they’ll kill 

each other in there?” 

“I give it fifty fifty odds,” I whispered back. 

In the kitchen we could hear Sarah directing them to grab different dishes, clearly positioning 

them so they had to work together, there was the sound of plates clinking and low voices but no 

yelling so that was a good sign. 

They emerged a few minutes later both carrying serving dishes and I noticed their hands had 

brushed when they’d both reached for the same platter, the look they’d exchanged had been electric, 

filled with hatred but I knew that kind of hatred. 

“Everything okay?” I asked sweetly. 

“Fine,” Derek said shortly, setting down his dish and returning to his seat quickly. 

Kiara said nothing but I saw the slight flush on her cheeks as she took her own seat, avoiding 

looking in Derek’s direction. 

The rest of dinner passed with more good food and conversation, Cara told a story about a 

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mishap at her job that had everyone laughing. 

Maya talked about a trip she was planning, Leah gave us updates on her recent marriage and 

how her husband was adjusting to married life. 

When it came time for dessert Sarah enlisted Derek and Kiara’s help again, this time to clear the 

dinner plates. 

“You’re really pushing it,” Orion murmured to her. 

“That’s the point,” Sarah whispered back with a mischievous smile. 

This time when they went to the kitchen we heard raised voices and everyone in the dining 

room went quiet, pretending not to listen but clearly listening. 

back. 

“You don’t know anything about me,” Kiara was saying, her voice sharp. 

“I know enough,” Derek shot back. 

“Oh really? Enlighten me then,” Kiara challenged. 

“Can we not do this here?” Derek asked, his voice strained like he was trying to hold something 

“You’re the one who started it,” Kiara pointed out. 

There was a long pause and then we heard Derek say quietly, “I didn’t start anything, you did…” 

He paused stopping himself but everyone knew what he wanted to say. 

My eyes widened and I looked at Sarah and Leah, they definitely had history, significant history 

by the sound of it. 

None said anything again, and I wondered what was happening in there, then they came back 

out both looking composed but I could see the tension in their shoulders and the way they both 

carefully avoided looking at each other. 

“Dessert will be ready in five minutes,” Sarah announced cheerfully, pretending she hadn’t heard 

any of their conversation. 

After dessert everyone moved to the living room for coffee and more casual conversation, I 

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maneuvered it so that the only available seats were in the loveseat and Derek and Kiara both hesitated when they realized they’d either have to sit together or remain standing awkwardly. 

Kiara sat first, settling on one end and leaving just enough room for one more person, Derek stood there for a moment looking like he’d rather sit on the floor but finally lowered himself onto the opposite end of the loveseat, leaving as much space between them as physically possible. 

Throughout the rest of the evening I watched them, they barely spoke to each other directly but there was awareness between them that was impossible to miss. 

Every time one moved the other seemed to notice, and when their eyes did meet they quickly removed it. 

Around ten people started making their moves to leave, Cara and Maya were first thanking us profusely and promising to get together again soon, then Leah gave me a meaningful look and a hug before heading out.