Chapter 199: Too many lightbulbs

"You!"

Both Hamish and Makena turned around in surprise. The two of them were standing in front of one of the counters a few steps away, browsing through the menu when Erick exclaimed.

Hamish frowned, displeased that there was someone intruding on his date moment.

Makena smiled, as if she was happy to see them. And then she noticed Amber standing behind Erick, she immediately walked over and grabbed her hands. "Amber! It has been a while. How are you?" she asked.

Amber smiled back, tightening her hold on the other woman's hands. "I'm fine. How are you and what are you doing here?" she asked, looking around them. She did not expect to see the other woman at the mall, especially since it's a place that was quite far from her own hometown.

Makena looked around too, making sure there wasn't anyone listening in on their conversation. She then said softly, "I'll tell you later."

She let go of Amber's hands and walked back to Hamish's side. "Did you two just arrive?" When she saw Amber nodded, she then said, "Let's eat together, okay?"

Both Erick and Hamish turned their heads to look at Makena. They did not want to eat together!

Erick's hope to eat together alone with Amber plummeted down when he saw Amber nodded in agreement.

When Makena saw the dejected look on her mate's face, she pouted. "Can we?" she asked.

Hamish blinked, seeing the coquettish look on her face. "Sure…" he said slowly.

Makena suddenly grinned. She walked over to Amber's side again and wrapped her arm around hers, saying, "I'll go with Amber to find us a seat while you two go and buy us some food."

Without waiting for them to reply, Makena had already brought Amber to look for a table for them to sit.

Erick turned to Hamish, glaring.

Hamish let out a sigh. He then said, "Well, I guessed I have to thank you and Amber."

Erick scowled. "Why?" he barked. He was not pleased that his mate was taken away by someone else after days of exams and cramming.

Hamish turned around and continued to browse through the menu. Erick followed behind him. "You know how Makena used to be quiet after years of being locked in that damn mansion?" he asked.

Erick nodded. He remembered how Amber recited her story of being locked in that mansion, how dull and lifeless the place was. She had only been locked for nearly a day or so but already, she felt suffocated. Even if Bastian was with her. And imagine Makena, who had lived there for years with no human communications, other than the so-called 'jailkeeper'.

Hamish looked over to see Makena and Amber sitting down at the table, chatting away, oblivious to their surroundings. "She's slowly breaking out of that coffin so I guess it's a good thing that she was being initiative, wanting to be friends with Amber," he said, a tone of happiness and relief could be heard in his voice.

Erick rolled his eyes. "What do you mean, wanting to be friends?" he retorted. "They are already friends!"

Hamish gave his best friend a rare small smile. "Yes, they are," he agreed.

-----

A couple of hours later, after much talking and eating, the two couples decided to go their separate ways. Well, it was mostly Erick and Hamish wanting to be alone with their mates.

Erick and Amber were about to walk around, window shopping at the shopping mall, when Erick suddenly stiffened. Amber, noticing this abnormality, turned to look at him in confusion.

"What's wrong?" she asked, placing a hand on his arm.

Erick looked at her and gently turned her around. "Let's go to the other side," he suggested quickly.

With her brows furrowed in suspicion, Amber could only follow what he had told her to. However, before they could take a step forward, they both heard a voice calling out their names.

Erick let out a frustrated breath, rubbing his eyes in consternation while Amber turned around.

Amber's eyes widened in surprise when she saw Erick's parents walking over to them.

She was about to greet them when Luella suddenly hugged her tight. "My dear daughter-in-law! When are you coming over to our home? It's been ages!" she complained.

Amber winced at the sudden hug. It was not that she disliked the contact but rather, it was so sudden and awkward that she left her hands hanging by her side. Then she lifted her arms and clumsily hugged Erick's mother back.

The corner of Lachlan's lips lifted up in a small smile when he saw his enthusiastic mate hugging their son's mate. He walked over, saving the poor Amber by tapping on Luella's shoulder. "Alright dear. You're going to embarrass the young lady."

"Who's going to embarrass my daughter??" Luella snarled as she turned her head to look at her mate, her arms still around Amber.

Both Lachlan and Erick wisely kept quiet.

After Luella had released Amber, she wrapped her arm around Amber's once more. "So where are the two of you headed for?" she asked curiously.

"We're--" Amber started.

"We're going to go and watch a movie together!" Erick cut in.

Amber's eyebrows raised up in surprise. She did not know about this movie date of theirs.

Luella nodded. She then turned to Lachlan and asked, "Shall we join them?"

Erick's eyes widened. He did not expect this at all! He quickly turned his back against his mother and urgently signalled his father with his big eyes, telling him without words to reject his mother's suggestion.

Lachlan lightly chuckled when he saw his son's silent plea. He turned to his mate and said, "Now, now, honey. Let's leave the kids on their own. We still need to look for the items needed for the preparation."

Erick's ears caught his word, 'preparation'. "What preparation?" he asked curiously.

Lachlan smoothly grabbed his mate's hand, leaving Luella to immediately release Amber's arm. "Nothing that you should know," he replied simply.

After telling them to enjoy themselves and make sure not to return home late. Both Luella and Lachlan left them alone and continued on their browsing.

Once their shadows cannot be seen anymore, Erick can finally let out a long breath of relief. He turned to Amber, who was looking at him curiously.

"What?" he asked.

"So, what movie are we watching?" she asked as they walked together.

"Oh, I lied," Erick said, not looking shameless after admitting to lying to his own parents.

Amber frowned.

But before she could scold him for lying to his parents, he continued, "It's the only way I could say to make them go away. Can't I be alone with my love for even a day?"

Amber began to warm up at his sweet confession.