"What are the rules?"

Cress didn't even blink. "Eye contact, steady voice and not caving in immediately. Also, being polite and smiling."

"Good. What else?"

"Having good arguments for why they should give you a discount, such as hinting at a long partnership by recommending them to your clients."

"Very good. I'm pretty sure there was something else though."

Cress shook her head with pursed lips. "Nope, I'm pretty sure that was it."

"Ah-ah. Only a B+ then."

Thorne could see her internally debating with herself. It was terribly amusing, especially since it was only for made-up grades. But he figured Cress was big on getting good grades even if it was for a make-believe lecture. He took a sip of his drink while she decided what to do.

"And flirting," she mumbled, almost too low to hear.

Thorne of course knew exactly what she had said. "What was that? I couldn't hear you." For good measure, he cupped his ear and leaned in closer.

"And flirting can work wonders too," Cress quoted him between clenched teeth. "I'm not big on flirting, Thorne."

An unfortunate fact he knew about. Though now he could chalk up her indifference to his flirting techniques to her relationship status, jumbled as it was. "Everyone can flirt. And it's not about leaning forward to show your cleavage, don't misunderstand me. But a few flirty touches, a smile here or there, you just need to figure out what works for you."

Cress dipped a piece of bread into one of the spicy dips. "But isn't that the same as being polite and smiling?"

"Close but not exactly." He took a kibbeh, the last one on the plate before Cress could and bit into it. "It's about being interested, in more than just the job at hand. But not so much that the other person gets a wrong impression."

Lost in thought, Cress brushed some crumbles from her side of the table. "It seems difficult."

Strangely enough, it didn't seem that way to Thorne. He had just exuded confidence and charm for as long as he could think. Half the time he didn't even have to think what to say. The words just found him. "Maybe. Don't do it if you don't feel like it. It's not for everyone," he admitted.

Cress smiled at him, relief evident on her face but Thorne thought, if she dared to flirt a little, her contacts would drop to their knees, begging her to let them give her a discount.

"Enough theory. Let's practice a little."

"What? Right here? Right now?" Cress looked around. Every table in the small backyard was full and the waiters were hustling to get their dishes to the tables. Excitement was in the air, people were talking about the entertainment that was going to take place later.

But Cress had no idea how she could practice her new negotiations skills here.

Thorne seemed to have read her mind. "Get the attention of one of the waiters. And pick one that you think would respond well to you."

"Respond well to me?"

"One that might think you're hot," Thorne elaborated with a wink.

Cress sputtered. "Thorne!"

"No excuses," he told her but then relented at her shocked face. "I'm not asking you to go home with him but just try to find someone that you think will be receptive to give in to a little favor."

"That's weird."

"It's not. Some people will like you on sight, others won't. It's a bit easier with the opposite sex. Trust me. So, pick someone who might think you're attractive. A waiter, I don't count," he clarified with a chuckle.

He thought she was attractive? Her cheeks grew warm but Thorne was already looking elsewhere and it gave her a few seconds to calm her racing heart.

She wasn't used to compliments like this. Julian complimented her of course but it never caught her off-guard like it did with Thorne. Julian complimented a new dress or when they went out but not ... just like that.

It probably didn't mean anything though. She had seen how Thorne behaved around Emilié, so it was just part of his charm.

"What should I ask the waiter?" It was a lesson about negotiation she reminded herself.

"Ask him if he could get us two more chairs because we expect two friends."

"But it's full?!" They had had been lucky to get a table without reservations but to add two more people? Wouldn't that be rude? "And... we're not even expecting anyone? That isn't a nice request."

Thorne shrugged. "Let's worry about that later. First, let's see if you can get us two more chairs." He leaned forward, almost conspiratorially. "Keep eye contact and a steady voice. But eye contact is the key here. Look him straight in the eye while you ask him until he gives in."

Cress doubted it would work but Thorne seemed convinced it would help her negotiation skills. And what was the worst that could happen? He could say no and that was it.

"Dessert is on me if that helps."

Thorne usually paid for the both of them, so Cress felt a bit uncomfortable adding more to her meal. But she had seen the amazing desserts they had here and had her eye on the baklava with pistachio creme. Her mouth watered at the thought. "Deal."

Thorne chuckled, as if he had known that bribing her with dessert would work. He already knew her well. "But only if you get us two more chairs."

Cress checked out the waiters scurrying around. It was one thing to find one that she thought was attractive - she involuntarily glanced at Thorne before catching herself - but a whole different one to find one that might find her attractive.

There was one very handsome waiter that flirted with a table full of girls, obviously enjoying the attention. He probably had his fair share of attractive girls already and was used to their charms. There was an older woman and Cress wondered if it was cheating to pick her and try her luck by just being friendly. But no, she looked a little bit no-nonsensical. Another waiter seemed stressed and Cress felt like he wouldn't appreciate any extra wishes.

There was another waiter, maybe one or two years younger than Cress. He was calm and steady as everyone else was rushing around him while he took orders. Not tall, nor as handsome as the waiter that flirted but there was something about him ...

"This one," Cress said with a jerk of her chin.

Thorne followed her movement. He raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything.

Cress waved to get the waiters attention, hoping he would see it. She caught his eyes in just the right moment and he gave her a nod to let her know he had seen her before he made his way into the restaurant, probably to pass the orders.

Nervousness bubbled in Cress's stomach when he came back and made his way towards her table.

Steady voice, eye contact.

"What can I do for you?" He had a slight accent and even though he didn't smile, his eyes were kind and open.

"Um, I was wondering"-she shallowed before continuing with a steady voice"-I know it's full but there are two more people on their way and do you think we could get two more chairs for them? Please?"

If he was exasperated, it only showed in the quick tug on the corner of his mouth. "I'm sorry, miss, but we're already full, we don't even have extra chairs anymore. And the table you're sitting at is meant for two people, not four."

"I know." Cress tried not to sound deflated when she saw Thorne mouthing "eye contact" and her and made a gesture for her to smile. She hadn't even notice that she had stopped smiling. She gave the waiter her best smile. "I understand. It's just a great evening and we would rather stay here than go somewhere else. We'll squeeze in tight and not be in the way, I promise."

She doubted it was a convincing speech but she didn't let her doubts show. Instead, she held his gaze, her smile still firm on her lips. It was weird because usually, Cress would cower or dart her eyes here and there but once she held eye contact, she could really see the emotions playing on his face: First annoyance, then he checked the tables around them as if counting, another glance to her where his eyes darted a bit lower to her cleavage - it caught her by surprise and it took her a second gain back her composure- before nodding, although looked as if he did it almost against his will.

"We don't have chairs but ... if some wooden boxes will suit you?"

Cress smiled more genuinely at him. "It would suit us perfectly. Many thanks."

He nodded, a bit dazed as if he couldn't believe that he had given in. A few minutes later he brought two wineboxes he upturned to turn them into makeshift seats.

Cress grinned triumphantly at Thorne.

"Well done." He gave an approving nod but if she expected him to be ecstatic, she was wrong. He looked kind of gloomy. "Order your dessert."

"Is everything alright?"

"Yeah." He shot their waiter a sour look when their waiter returned with two colorful cushions he put on top of the wineboxes.

Cress ordered her dessert before leaning forward to whisper to Thorne. "He went to all that trouble with the boxes and no one is coming. He'll be mad."

"After the way he checked you out, I doubt it. Never mind." He shook his head and he grinned rakishly at her. "You thought this was it? Getting us two chairs?" He made a sound like a buzzer in a game show. "Wrong. That was easy. Now comes the task that will decide if you really learned something today."

He was just kidding around but her palms still got a bit sweaty. She rubbed them inconspicuously on her skirt. "Okay?" maybe he would ask her to tell the waiter that no one was coming? Oh, the waiter would be so mad. She would refuse it. They should just pay and quietly leave if that was the case.

Instead, Thorne pointed to her phone. "Take it." She did, a bit uneasily. She should call someone but whom? "And now, call Kai and Cinder and use everything you've learned to get them here."

"Wha-?" That was his plan, to get Cinder and Kai to join them? "But they're busy."

Thorne huffed. "They always are. Get them here. I tell you it's good for them to actually not work for one evening. They need a break."

Cress softened. He was right and it was very considerate of him. Many couples were stressed out before their big day, to have an evening off would be good for them. But also, she had the feeling that Thorne just missed having his friends around.

He would never outright say but it was enough to convince her to try.

She dialed Kai's number.

He picked up on the third ring. "Hi Cress."

He sounded tired. That wasn't good. "Hi Kai. How are you doing?"

"Fine. Just got home. What about you? You're outside?"

He had probably heard the chatter around her. "Yes, I'm at this really nice place with Thorne. They have great food and there will be some music too."

"You and Thorne?" Kai asked in a tone Cress couldn't interpret. "That's nice."

Cress realized how difficult it had become to talk to Kai. They usually kept it at small talk lately or some details about the wedding. The last few times they talked, really talked about their lives, Kai had told her about Cinder, about meeting her, dating her, proposing to her. Maybe that's why Cress also had tried so hard to be part of the wedding, so she could be a part of Kai's life again.

Cress knew it was her fault. Kai had been open about Cinder while she hadn't told him anything about Julian. On the contrary, she had tried her best to avoid him since she came to Los Angeles, so he wouldn't ask her about her messed up life back home in Burlington. If she wanted a real conversation, she would have to start it.

At least, she would like to spend a friendly night out with him and Cinder. "Yes, it's great. You and Cinder should come too. We still have room at our table. I'll send you the address," she added quickly.

Kai sighed on the other end of the line. "That's nice of you, Cress." He would say no, Cress could hear it. "But I still need to check a few documents and I have a skype call first thing in the morning. I can ask Cinder but I think she said something about having to wake up early tomorrow too."

"Oh, okay." What else could she say? She glanced at Thorne but his face was unreadable.

"Some other time though, okay?"

"Sure." But it wasn't just about her negotiation skills. It wasn't even about the two extra seats. Kai and Cinder worked way too hard (to make up for the time they would lose on their honeymoon) and so shortly before the wedding they needed -deserved- a time out. An evening with music and friends and not just at the reception dinner or the wedding. Something casual. It was something she always advised her couples to do, to plan a few good moments ahead of the wedding. Because the wedding only left little room and time for bride and groom to be just together.

Cress changed her strategy. "I understand," she said, with a defeated sigh. "I mean, the wedding is in two weeks, so we'll see each other then, of course."

There was a short pause. "Yeah."

"It's too bad since I will leave shortly afterwards and before that we all have so much to do with the wedding." She knew Kai couldn't see her pout but she added it for her own performance. She winked at Thorne when he raised an eyebrow. "But never mind. We'll keep in touch as we usual do. You can call me once you return from your honeymoon if you like?" She asked quietly.

"Right." There was a long pause during which Cress drew a few shapes on the table. And then ... "You know what? I think a night-out would be just what I need right now. For Cinder, too. We'll be there."

Cress gave Thorne the thumbs up. "Aww, really Kai? That's great. I'll send you the address. See you!" She quickly hung up before he could change his mind.

Thorne gave a small whistle. "Guilt-tripping, nice. Not among my methods but I'll give it to you, that was well done." He indicated a small bow.

Cress gave him a proud smile. "You better not underestimate me," she teased.

The smile he gave her was so genuine it warmed her heart. "Never."