Chapter 144 Coffee Revelation
Serena’s POV
I paused at the door, looking over at him with a sly smile on my lips.
He smiled back, gesturing to me to get in, I hesitated a bit, smirking back at him instead.
When I finally stepped in, he practically jumped in after me and zoomed off.
He kept that small, secret smile on his face the whole drive.
While I kept stealing glances at him from the passenger seat. His left hand hung loosely over the wheel with his right hand resting on the gear shift and eyes on the road.
But every now and then, they flickered to me like he was checking if I was still smiling too.
“You’re being weirdly quiet,” I said, tugging at the overlong sleeves of his shirt again. “What’s the surprise? You’re not taking me to some secret bunker, are you?” I teased.
He laughed low with the car's music filling the air. “No bunkers tonight. I promise,” he replied with a smile.
I leaned back against the headrest, still swimming in his clothes.
The joggers were rolled up at my ankles and the shirt hung over my body like a robe.
I looked ridiculous, but the way he kept looking over made me feel anything but ridiculous.
“You’re gonna have to explain why I’m dressed like your little sister,” I retorted.
“You look good,” he said again, softer this time. “Trust me.”
I rolled my eyes but couldn’t stop the warm feeling spreading through my chest.
He turned off the main road and pulled into a quiet street lined with trees to each side.
A small building came into view after a while longer, it had low lights with outdoor tables and candles on them.
It was the kind of place that looked expensive without trying too hard and he parked right in front of it, killing the engine.
I stared at the sign. “Dante… this is a restaurant,” I said slowly as if it was something new.
“Yeah,” he said, already getting out, then came around to my side and opened my door for me. “For dinner. Just the two of us, no guns, no running, no surprises, except the food of course,” he remarked.
I stepped out slowly, suddenly very aware of how I looked in his oversized shirt and rolled-up joggers.
My hair was still damp from the gym shower and I wasn't sure I had any make-up left.
“I’m not dressed for this. I look like I raided your laundry basket,” I said, hanging back a bit.
He took my hand and pulled me gently towards the entrance.
“You look perfect, and besides, who really cares how you look right now? I mean, I don't,” he said softly.
I hesitated again, but followed him as he led us inside
The hostess saw us and smiled widely, like she’d been expecting us. She led us to a table outside at the corner, half-hidden by a few lovely flowers and warm lights.
Candles flickered on the table bordering the menu. I sat and scanned through the menu, loving the simple delicacies there.
I could end up going for pasta, grilled fish with fresh salads. Nothing too heavy.
I sat, still smiling at him as I thought of how absurd this all felt.
“You planned this?” I asked once the hostess left.
“Nope, just decided to drop by,” he admitted. “Wanted tonight to feel… normal.”
I reached across the table and touched his hand. “It already does,” I muttered softly.
Dante did the ordering, getting light grilled chicken salad for me, steak with vegetables for him, a bottle of red wine to share.
I could go with that.
The food came fast and was perfect, fresh, simple and warm.
We ate slowly, talking about nothing necessarily important.
He told me about the first time he tried to cook for himself and almost set his apartment on fire.
I told him about the time I tried to dye my hair red in high school and ended up looking like a tomato.
I laughed till my sides hurt. I told him how I feared the whole table going ablaze as the candles flickered and he teased me about it till I faked annoyance.
The moment was in all nothing like what I would have expected, and frankly, it was everything I needed.
His knee brushed mine under the table and stayed like that after we'd finished.
After dinner we shared a small dessert. A single plate of tiramisu with two spoons.
He fed me a bite and I pretended to bite his finger while he laughed again, that deep, real laugh I was starting to crave.
When we finally stepped outside the premises of the restaurant, the night air had grown cooler.
He kept my hand in his the whole walk back to the car.
“How was it?” He asked out of nowhere as we swung our hands while walking back.
“How was what?” I asked, raising a brow.
“The food, the dinner, the—”
“You mean the date?” I asked, smirking up at him.
“You can call it that,” he shrugged.
I laughed and shook my head. “It was nothing like what I expected, I had a great time,” I replied leaning on his shoulder.
“So in short, you are saying you didn't expect to have a good time with me?” He asked with a sly smile.
I laughed and playfully swayed his hands deeper. “Not exactly, you don't strike me to be the fun type you know,” I replied, closing my eyes.
“You'll pay for that,” he teased as we reached the car.
“No, daddy. Please,” I begged with a smirk.
He chuckled as we both stepped into the car. The drive home was quiet but not all that silent.
He had soft music playing from the speakers as his thumb stroked the back of my hand.
I leaned my head against the seat and watched him drive, feeling something settle deep in my chest.
Today was perfect. No danger, no fear, just us, laughing, eating, touching, and being normal for once.
I wished every day could feel like this. I wished I could freeze it and keep it forever.
When we pulled into the garage he killed the engine and turned to me. “You good?”
I smiled, sleepy, stuffed up and happy. “Better than good,” I replied.
He leaned over and kissed my head softly with his lips lingering on my head. “Good,” he muttered against my head.
We went inside hand in hand, all the way to my room.
I fell asleep in his arms that night, feeling lighter than I had in months.
The next morning, I woke up before him, he had his arm still wrapped around my waist and I watched him sleep for a minute.
I watched the way his face looked so relaxed and his chest rose and fell equally. He looked peaceful, I wanted to keep him that way.
But my mom was still out there.
I slipped out of the bed quietly, heading over to brush my teeth.
By the time I stepped out, he had vanished. I chuckled, shaking my head and heading back inside to shower.
After showering, I pulled on his shirt again, I was starting to like how it smelled like him, and headed downstairs.
As I did, I found Nico already in the living room, talking low on the phone. When he saw me he ended the call quickly.
“Morning,” he said. “You look rested,” he added.
I smiled. “I am. You've seen Dante?” I asked.
“Not yet, thought you would have,” he replied and I shook my head.
I nodded. “I’m going to make coffee. Want some?” I offered, trying to be polite.
“I’m good,” Nico turned down calmly.
I nodded slowly. “Okay,” I muttered and walked away towards the kitchen to help myself with some.
Dante came down a few minutes later, finding me in the kitchen with his hair messy and wearing just sweatpants with a top.
He saw me and smiled, a small, tired, but real one.
“Morning,” he said in a rough voice, probably from all the sleep.
“Morning,” I replied and poured him coffee before handing it over to him..
He took it and sipped carefully, then set the cup down and looked at me. “I’ve got some news for you,” he muttered.
My heart jumped a bit. “Good or bad?” I asked.
He exhaled. “Both, but you need to sit for this.”