Coco's POV
Finally, we were seated at the table on the rooftop, surrounded by twinkling lights and a breathtaking view of the city skyline. I quickly signaled for the waiter to come over as Bambi's stomach grumbled loudly. Relief washed over me as I realized Rawson wasn't here to pester her, unlike how he clings to me like a parasite. And thankfully, Mr. Lowell wasn't nowhere in sight either, as he's been avoiding us, but especially Lina, all day.
A waiter appeared at our table, polite and professional. "May I offer you the menu and a beverage?" he asks with a warm smile.
"The usual for me, and for her, the same but without spice. You trust me, right Lina?" I ordered with a smirk on my face.
"Of course," Lina replied instantly, nodding contently. Her obedient nature amazed me, fitting perfectly with her gentle demeanor. The menu will surely cater to her tastes since she's such an uncomplicated and easygoing girl.
The waiter returned before I could even finish my thoughts, balancing a tray of drinks and breadsticks. He set a vanilla shake in front of Lina, a green drink in front of me, and placed the breadsticks in the middle of the table.
I observed Lina's confusion as she looked between her shake and my drink, but she didn't dwell on it for too long and started eating eagerly. She eats quietly but with obvious hunger, causing a small smile to tug at my lips.
My mind drifted to what lay ahead tonight. Maybe I should have used the bouncer's question about the party as an opportunity to inform Lina about Mr. Lowell's engagement and tell her that from now on, I'll be handling communication for the museum project since he is avoiding her. But then again, maybe it's not my place to say anything at all. Perhaps she has already moved on from him. Yet, I can't help but wonder what exactly happened between them. It's not my place to pry into my boss' personal affairs, but now that Bambi and I are friends, it feels slightly more acceptable.
Lina's phone buzzed, breaking me out of my thoughts. "Who is it?"
"Just my flatmates checking in on me," she answered while typing a reply. I realized there may never be a perfect time to tell her the news, so I decided to start by asking about their lunch date and then figure out how to break the news without causing her too much pain.
"So, how did things go with Mr. Lowell yesterday? Whatever you tell me will stay strictly confidential. After all, this is an important part of my job," I inquired carefully.
"Well, nothing eventful happened. However, towards the end, things got a bit awkward because I had a bit too much wine. I didn't intend to drink so much, but he kept refilling my glass," she confessed shyly, her cheeks flushing red.
"It's not your fault; these things happen to everyone," I try to reassure her, although personally, I have never experienced such effects from alcohol due to my werewolf metabolism. Wolves have an incredibly high tolerance for alcohol, meaning we either need to consume excessive amounts or stick to spiced drinks specifically made for wolves (which we typically only drink among our pack or close friends). Seeing as Bambi poses no threat to me and there are other wolves around us, I ordered something spiked to calm my nerves. Just as I prepared to reveal everything to her, our conversation was interrupted by the arrival of our first course.
The smell of my savory roast beef crostinis and Lina's portion of scrambled eggs with bacon and pancakes wafted through the air, tempting my taste buds. Across from me, Lina's blue eyes scanned the menu with a mixture of confusion and anticipation. She didn't question whatever was happening now, but her expression betrayed her thoughts. As we began to eat, I couldn't help but be amused by how well the choices and expressions suited her simple-minded personality.
Suddenly, Bambi's voice broke through the quiet atmosphere. "When I was a teenager, my family and I would have this for breakfast almost every weekend," she shared with a tremble in her voice. "As I got older, it became reserved for special occasions. And now that I've left home, I always look forward to it when I go back home." Her emotions were palpable as she reminisced about her family.
"Do you miss them?" I asked, picking up on the emotions in her voice. "When was the last time you visited them?" Bambi sighed sadly before explaining that she could only see them during breaks from work and study. She had to skip her last break due to the Lowell project, which she proudly mentioned. Seizing the opportunity, I quickly mentioned Mr. Lowell's request for us to work together on upcoming projects. Bambi's face falls for a moment before putting on a brave front and exclaiming, "I guess it's better this way. It will be great to work with you!"
Not wanting to add any more disappointment to Bambi's day, I dropped the topic of my upcoming engagement and suggested we inspect the progress at the museum the next day while she worked.
"Sure, just make sure I don't end up drinking too much tonight," Bambi joked, trying to lighten the mood. We both laughed and continued enjoying our meal as our waiter brought out pulled beef burgers and fries. Lina's face lit up with amazement once again at how perfectly the dish fit her taste. I, on the other hand, was slightly disappointed as I had hoped for something else. The restaurant's secret is that they hire witches with strong clairvoyance abilities as waiters, and I can't help but wonder if their antennas were off or if someone was playing a prank on me today.
Despite my minor frustration, I dug into the messy burger with Lina, grateful that she didn't seem too affected by Mr. Lowell's rejection. She playfully teased me about my messy face and we continued to enjoy each other's company. As we finished our meal, I couldn't help but feel grateful for Bambi's understanding and presence.
As we finished our meal, Lina and I tried to clean ourselves with the napkins. I can't help but feel relieved that it's a weekday - the restaurant is usually packed, and I'm grateful for the quiet atmosphere. "Well, that would have been quite the spectacle if it were crowded," Lina said mockingly, a smile playing on her lips. It's nice to see her feeling more comfortable around me now. Suddenly, I remembered something and suggested, "We should probably freshen up."
After attending to our restroom needs, we were interrupted by three stunning girls around Lina's age. Two of them had the distinct scent of wolves, while the third gave off an aroma of magic - a witch. "Shut up! How did you get here, Lina?" The red-haired girl, who seemed to be their leader, asked incredulously. Their scents tell me they are not from our pack, but I don't recognize them. Her question hits home - since Lina is human, she wouldn't have been able to enter this part of the building alone.
Lina introduced me excitedly as her new friend Coco, adding that I worked with her. "Coco, these are my flatmates Melissa, Joy, and Sarah," she said with a grin, gesturing towards her friends.
"Coco, how did you manage to drag this workaholic out of her cave? We've been trying to get her to come out with us for ages, but she always ditches us because of work," the girl with long brown hair and deep green eyes pouted while looking at me. Despite it being a weekday, you'll have to make it up to us for neglecting us like that, Lina. We won't let you get away with it so easily. And you will help us too, Coco," Joy, the girl with a short blond pixie cut, declared, her tone playful yet demanding. I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement at the prospect of getting to know Lina and her friends better.
"So, what were you guys up to up here?" I asked curiously as we made our way towards a lounge near the dance floor, where we all got comfortable.
"We were just looking for some fresh air and drinks," Melissa replied, but I noticed her eyes darting around a bit. "Well then, let's go get some drinks!" Joy declared with a mischievous glint in her eye, leading us towards the bar. As we settled in and began chatting and laughing, I couldn't help but feel grateful for this unexpected encounter and excited for what the rest of the night holds.