Chapter 104 Double Date Disaster
Chapter one hundred and four
Valenticia’s POV~
Life felt lighter after my dinner with Dimitri. The kiss outside Mario’s lingered in my mind, creating a mix of excitement and caution. I spent my days balancing Clawford’s sensor project and caring for Nana, who was settling into our routine at home. Work kept me busy, the meetings, emails, and production checks, but Dimitri’s texts were a bright spot. “Thinking of you,” he’d write, or “How’s Rosanna?” I’d smile, texting back about my day or Nana’s latest doctor visit. It felt good, like a small step toward something new, though I wasn’t sure what.
One evening, as I helped Nana with her tea, my phone buzzed. It was Dimitri. “Hey, Val. Dinner again? Saturday, 7 p.m.? There’s a place called Bella’s, great food.”
I hesitated, stirring Nana’s tea. Our last dinner had ended with a kiss, and I wasn’t sure if I was ready for more. But talking with him had been easy, and I was curious. “Sounds good,” I texted back. “See you there.”
Nana looked up, her eyes sharp. “Dimitri again?”
“Yeah,” I said, sitting beside her. “He wants to go to dinner. Bella’s, Saturday.”
She nodded, sipping her tea. “You like him, don’t you? Be careful, Val. He’s your ex for a reason.”
“I know,” I said. “It’s just dinner. We’re catching up, that’s all.”
She smiled, coughing softly. “Just keep your eyes open. You’re too good to settle.”
Her words stuck with me, but I pushed them aside, focusing on the week. At Clawford, I worked with Mark on sensor deliveries, keeping my distance from Stefan. Our meetings were still awkward, his nods too polite, and I stuck to emails to avoid him. By Saturday, I was ready for a break, excited for dinner with Dimitri.
I arrived at Bella’s, a cozy restaurant with soft lights and small tables covered in white cloths. I wore a simple black dress, my hair loose. Dimitri was waiting outside, in a jacket and jeans, smiling when he saw me. “Val, you look great,” he said, hugging me.
“Thanks,” I said, feeling my nerves settle. “This place looks nice.”
We sat at a corner table, ordering appetizers—mozzarella sticks and salad. “How’s your week been?” he asked, dipping a stick in sauce.
“Busy,” I said, taking a bite. “Clawford’s got a big sensor shipment due. Keeps me on my toes. You?”
“Same,” he said. “Logistics is crazy right now. Had a client lose a whole shipment, but we tracked it down.”
I laughed. “Sounds stressful. Any fun stuff?”
He grinned. “Took Dad to the park yesterday. He likes Willow Creek, but he misses home. You and Rosanna doing okay?”
“Yeah,” I said. “She’s stronger, loves her tea and game shows. We’re planning a movie night soon.”
“That’s great,” he said, his voice warm. We talked more, sharing stories about work and family. He told me about a new project at his firm, and I shared a funny moment from a Clawford meeting where Mark spilled coffee on his notes. The conversation was easy, like we’d never stopped talking. I felt relaxed, enjoying the food and his company.
Halfway through our appetizers, the restaurant door opened, and I froze. Stefan and Natasha walked in, dressed for a date. He wore a dark shirt, she a red dress. They spotted us, and Stefan’s eyes widened. “Valenticia? Small world,” he said, approaching our table.
Natasha smiled, but it looked forced. “Nice to see you,” she said, her hand on Stefan’s arm.
“Hey,” I said, my voice tight. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”
“Same,” Stefan said, glancing at Dimitri. “Date night for us, too.”
Dimitri nodded and smiled politely. “Good to meet you,” he said, shaking Stefan’s hand. “I’m Dimitri.”
“Stefan,” he replied, and then gestured to Natasha. “This is Natasha, my fiancée.”
The word “fiancée” hit me, but I kept my face neutral. “Nice to meet you,” I said to Natasha, though we’d met before.
Our waiter brought our main courses—pasta for me, and steak for Dimitri. We tried to keep talking, but it was hard with Stefan so close. “So, that project you mentioned,” I said, picking at my food. “How’s it going?”
“Good,” Dimitri said, but his eyes flicked to their table. “Just a lot of paperwork.”
I nodded, hearing Stefan laugh at something Natasha said. It reminded me of our dinner at Luigi’s, and I couldn’t help glancing over. He caught my eye, and for a moment, we just looked at each other. “Remember that safehouse in the mountains?” he called over, his voice light. “When we burned that pizza, trying to cook?”
I laughed despite myself. “Yeah, we set off the smoke alarm,” I said. “Worst chefs ever.”
Dimitri shifted in his seat, his smile fading. Natasha looked down at her plate, poking her food. The memory was ours—Stefan and me, from the Galden days—and it felt like we’d slipped back into that old rhythm. “What was that about?” Dimitri asked, his tone stiff.
“Just an old story,” I said, trying to change the subject. “So, you were saying about your project?”
He nodded, but his eyes stayed on Stefan’s table. “Just work stuff,” he said, quieter now. Natasha whispered something to Stefan, her hand tight on his. She looked uncomfortable, and I felt a pang of guilt. Our talk had shut them out.
We kept eating, but the mood was off. Stefan and Natasha’s conversation was low, their faces tense. “How’s the steak?” I asked Dimitri, trying to focus.
“It’s good,” he said, but he barely ate, glancing at their table again. I heard Natasha say, “Let’s order dessert,” her voice sharp, like she wanted to move things along.
Stefan called over again. “Val, you still hate olives?” he asked, pointing to his salad.
“Always,” I said, smiling before I could stop myself. “You used to eat mine.”
He laughed, and Natasha’s fork clinked hard on her plate. Dimitri cleared his throat, pushing his food around. I wanted to leave, to escape the tension, but we hadn’t finished eating.
“Let’s get the check,” Dimitri said, signaling the waiter. “Early night, right?”
“Yeah,” I said, relieved. Stefan and Natasha did the same, their voices low as they paid. We all stood to leave at the same time, the awkwardness unbearable.
“See you at work,” Stefan said to me, his eyes lingering.
“Yeah,” I said, avoiding his gaze. “Good night.”
“Night,” Natasha said, with her arm around Stefan’s while Dimitri nodded at them, his jaw tight.
We walked to the parking lot in silence. Dimitri opened my car door for me. “That was weird,” he said, rubbing his neck.
“Yeah,” I agreed, my stomach churning. “Didn’t expect them here.”
He nodded, kissing my cheek. “I’ll call you tomorrow?”
“Sure,” I said, getting in. Stefan’s laugh, over our shared memory, felt so natural, but it made Dimitri and Natasha uncomfortable. I felt bad for them, but a part of me missed that ease with Stefan.
At home, Nana was asleep, and I didn’t wake her. I sat on the couch, staring at my phone, wondering if I’d messed up by laughing with Stefan, and what it meant for me and Dimitri.