Chapter 6

Friday ended up coming quickly and I was starting to get nervous. I’d talked to Sara earlier and she insisted that everything was going to be fine, but I couldn’t help it. I was also getting hungry, which wasn’t helping. All of that was compounded by the increasingly familiar, but still frustrating heartbreak I felt from being away from my mate, but at least that would only last until David got home, so when he finally pulled up I breathed a huge sigh of relief.

“Hi, sweetheart,” he greeted as he walked through the door. I rushed over and immediately engulfed him in a big hug. “Hey!” He exclaimed with a chuckle. “I missed you too.”

“I just kinda nervous about tonight, that’s all.” David ran his hands under the back of my shirt and his fingers through my fur. It felt nice and helped me relax a little bit. I pulled away and he smiled up at me.

“It’s gonna be just fine. I think the worst part is going to be sitting across the table from you and not being able to hold hands!” I returned his smile, grateful he was able to put me at ease. “I should probably get cleaned up though.” He glanced down at his pants, which had a fair bit of dirt on them. “Want to keep me company?” He asked with a wink and I grinned.

“Yes, I would!”

While in the shower, David brushed me down and it was lovely. With every stroke my anxiety melted away, bit by bit. In return I washed his back for him, and we otherwise got clean with only a little bit of fooling around. After that we got dressed and were ready to go.

“Still nervous?” Asked David once we’d left.

“A little,” I answered. “But not as much as earlier.”

“That’s good,” he said with a smile. “So, I probably should have already asked, but what sort of food does Serafina’s have anyway?”

“All sorts” I replied with a chuckle. “I normally get a big tofu salad, and Sara normally gets their soup-of-the-day in a breadbowl.”

“That sounds good.”

“It is. Considering their diverse patronage, they have most kinds of food you could think of. I’m sure you’ll find something you’ll like.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right.” He took my hand in his and started stroking the back of it with his thumb.

Before long we’d arrived and when we got out of the truck my anxiety returned in full force. I started reaching for David’s hand for support, but stopped myself. Instead, I took a deep breath.

“You ok?” Asked David.

“I will be. Let’s go.”

We entered and Serafina slithered up. She eyed David for a moment.

“Welcome, jussst the two of you?” She asked.”

“Yes,” I answered.

“Very good.” She glanced between David and I, and a hint of a smirk came to her face. For a moment I was worried that she knew about our relationship, but quickly remembered that she had a similar relationship and even if she did know, she wasn’t likely to be judgmental over it. “What would you like to drink?” David glanced at me, offering to let me go first.

“I’ll have a water.”

“Do you have Dr. Pepper?” Asked David.

“Yesss, we do. I’ll be right back with those.”

She left and David peered over my shoulder.

“Hey, wait a second, I think that’s Raylund!” He exclaimed. I turned and saw a grey lupine couple a few tables over. David waved and they waved back. “I haven’t seen him since the move. Mind if I go say hi?”

“Of course not.” I leaned in so I could talk more quietly. “I don’t mind if they know, but I don’t think this is the place for that conversation.” David nodded in agreement, then got up and headed over to his old neighbors. He received a few strange looks on the way, but when him and Raylund greeted each other cheerfully everyone went back to their own business.

A minute later Serafina slithered up with our drinks. After setting them down she looked at David, smirking again before turning back to me.

“I hear we have a mutual friend,” she said quietly.

“Julie?” I guessed, figuring that’s who she meant.

“Indeed,” confirmed Serafina with a smile. “And it also ssseems that we have sssomething else in common too.” I glanced at David again and smiled.

“I’ve heard that seem to be the case.”

“If you wish, you are welcome to ssstay for a little chat after we close.” She leaned in close again. “You can meet Van. We share the apartment above the diner,” she added quietly.

“I would like that. I’ll see what David thinks, but neither of us need to get up early tomorrow.” Serafina chuckled.

“I’ll need to get to sleep before you anyway. Owning a restaurant can be very demanding.”

“I’ll bet.”

“Anyway, Alice will be here to take your order soon, but I’ve got to get back to work.” She turned and left just as David was making his way back.

“How is Raylund and his mate?” I asked after he sat down.

“He’s doing ok. I guess the couple that moved into my old place aren’t very friendly, but they at least keep to themselves.”

“I see.”

“Yeah. I suggested that we should get together sometime.” I couldn’t help thumping my tail nervously at the thought of spending much time with a couple of apex predators. “You ok?” He asked noticing my unease.

“I have a sort of ... primal fear of predators ... like Raylund...” I muttered and David’s eyes shot open.

“Oh, I didn’t even know that was a thing! I’m so sorry,” apologized David quickly. “If I’d have known, I wouldn’t have even suggested it!” His concern made me feel a bit better,

“It’s ok,” I reassured, trying to speak soothingly to calm him down. “Raylund seemed very nice when you were moving in. Besides, I would like to be there if you tell him the news.” David perked up a bit.

“You sure?” He asked and while I was still a little nervous, I nodded with a smile. “Alright, sounds good!”

“It seems that Julie has already spoken with Serafina,” I said, changing the subject.

“Wow, that was fast.” He said with a laugh.

“Indeed. We’ve been invited the stay for after closing, if you don’t mind.”

“That sounds like it could be interesting. I’m game!”

I looked over toward Serafina and waited for her to look back. After a few seconds I caught her eye and when I nodded she grinned. She directed Alice, who happened to also be working, to our table. She made her way over, legs clicking on the floor as she did so, and a little smirk came to her face when she got closer. My heart started pounding as I couldn’t help wondering if she knew about us as well.

“I apologize for the wait. Are we ready to order?” She greeted politely

“Umm...” muttered David as he frantically scanned the menu. Luckily he seemed to find something almost immediately and he grinned. “Yeah, I’m ready,” he said before looking at me as if to let me go first. He always let me order first, but I still smiled at the sweet gesture.

“I’ll have the usual tofu salad.” Alice turned to David.

“And I’ll have the salmon.”

“Good choice!” She said with a grin. “I’ll have those right out to you.

After Alice left we sat in awkward silence.

“I’m not really even sure what to talk about...” David said quietly after a minute.

“Yes, this is a little strange. I’m not used to being with you around people that would recognize us.”

“Same here. We’re gonna have get used to it sometime though.”

“Agreed.” I glanced around and it seemed like we weren’t attracting much attention. “You’ve said that you’re concerned about your father’s reaction to us. What exactly are you worried about?” I asked quietly. David nodded slowly and leaned in.

“While I don’t think he’d have any problem with you personally, as a rule he tends to be a bit more ... traditional, to put it nicely.”

“Oh, I see,” I replied with a sigh.

“Try not to worry too much about it. I think he’ll come around eventually.”

“What makes you think that?” A tender smile sprouted on David’s face.

“Because I did.” My shoulders slumped as I melted. I almost reached out and took his hand, but remembering where we were I refrained. However, I was willing to risk brushing my leg against his affectionately and his grin grew even wider. His face straightened after a moment as he glanced over my shoulder. I looked too and Alice was coming up with our meals. She was also smirking like she was earlier.

“Here’s your salad,” she said cheerfully as she put down my dinner, then David’s, “and here’s your salmon.” She then leaned in closer. “It’s a good thing no one is bothering to look because you two are pretty obvious,” she said quietly. My heart started to race as David and I exchanged worried glances, then looked back at Alice.

“What do you mean by that?” Asked David.

“You know what I mean,” she added with a low chuckle as she left.

“Well, she clearly knows.” I mumbled.

“Yeah, but she also seems to be willing to keep it to herself.

“I suppose that’s true.”

After Alice calling us out we ended up eating without much further conversation. We took out time to try to make the meal last until closing and even ordered dessert. Eventually though it was time and the rest of the patronage trickled out, leaving just David and I. Alice turned off the ‘open’ sign while Serafina shut the blinds.

“I can get the rest. You go on and entertain your guests,” Alice told Serafina.

“Thank you, Alice,” the lamia replied with a smile before turning to us. “Follow me.” She slithered to a door near the back of the restaurant. She opened it to reveal a short hallway attached to a narrow staircase and another door.

“The door leads to the back entrance,” explained Serafina.

“Oh, that’s handy,” replied David. I watched in fascination as Serafina pushed her way up the steps in a sort of sideways, rippling, zig-zag motion. Once she’d reached the top, we followed with David letting me go first, like he always did.

Immediately after passing through the door Serafina’s upper body fell down to the floor and she groaned.

“Are you ok?” I asked quickly as David and I rushed to help.

“I’m fine,” she replied with a chuckle. “It’s just tiring staying and moving upright for that long.” Her body twisted so she was looking up at us. “I’m much more comfortable down here.” Relieved that she wasn’t hurt, I glanced around and the most most of the furnishings seemed to cater to Serafina’s preferred posture. However, the presence of a coatrack and ‘normal’ sized desk Indicated someone else’s presence.