"Ughh!" she groaned as she scrambled through her closet, looking for the perfect dress to wear for tonight.
She landed her eyes on a slick baby-pink dress hiding deep inside-a place too dark for the naked eye to see, and an identical blue one hanging on the rack right next to it.
She grabbed the hangers of the two dresses and pulled them out of her closet. Giving them a good stare, she turned around and faced the man seated on the couch behind her.
"Which one suits me better, Loke?" she questioned, looking back and forth at both dresses.
His legs were crossed and a blue-hardcover book was laying on his lap as he flipped through the pages, scanning the words before him.
He drifted his eyes from the pages and looked at her.
"Where are you going?" He asked after registering her question.
"Weren't you listening to me at all?" she frustratedly complained as she brought down her hands.
"Sorry, but The Fault in Our Stars is damn captivating. I mean seriously, the author is incredible." He exclaims, looking back down at the book in fondness.
"Since when did the Great Lawyer Loke read romantic and passionate novels?" she sarcastically questioned, placing a hand on her waist.
"What can I say, your love for romantic novels is contagious." He responds. "I blame you for all those nights I cried over non-existing characters."
She chuckled, knowing that was fair.
"Whatever," she rolled her eyes and held up the dresses again. "I'm going on a date in thirty minutes and I need you to tell me which dress I should wear," she urged as she looked at him with hopeful eyes.
"Date?" He shut his book. "You're going on a date?" He placed it on the mini-round table in front of him. "What date?" He slowly stood up from the couch.
"Well, if you were listening you would know." she neatly placed the dresses on her bed sighing, and sat aside them as the bed bounced a little.
"Date with who?" He questioned as he crossed his arms.
"This guy called Nathan." She sloppily explained.
I mean, I already told him about this.
"Nathan..." He thoughtfully repeated his name. "Who's he?"
"He got coffee all over my blouse the other day when I was going to work and was kind enough to buy me a new one. Remember Bloomingdales? Yeah, he took me there." She explained as she pulled a strand of hair behind her ear and leaned back, placing her hands behind her.
"And now, what, you're going on a date with him because of a blouse?" He mocked.
"It's not that!" She defended. "It's the gesture itself. He even placed a little sticky note in my bag with his number on it and everything... it's charming." She smiled, proving to Loke she was actually interested.
He took a few steps toward her with his arms still crossed.
"Did you forget what happened to you last week or something?"
"Yeah, I know. But-"
"There are no buts. You almost got killed, Lucy. And now you're going on a date with some random dude you met on the streets?"
"Loke... " she stood up from the bed. "I know what happened but I'm not going to keep punishing myself over it," she explained.
After a long pause, he let out a sigh as he turned around and scratched the back of his head.
"Where are you going exactly?" He turned to face her again.
"Levy's restaurant, actually." She relaxed her shoulders. "So it's safe," she reassured.
"Well then. I'm coming with you." He firmly said.
"Wh-"
"Just listen. I'll stay seated far away just in case and keep an eye on you. You won't even know I'm there." He explained. "I'm still not one hundred percent sure about this anyway."
She sighed in defeat, knowing this was the best she could do.
He was always protective of her. And now, with what happened last week, it was normal for him to be more cautious and alarmed.
"Besides, Levy is my friend too. So it's not weird going there." He said as he walked closer to her. "I just want you to be safe." He held her shoulders, looking deep into her eyes before embracing her in a hug.
"Fine," she mumbled against his warm chest.
"Good."
He chuckled before breaking the hug and looking into her brown orbs.
"It's for your safety, so lighten up." He tapped her nose playfully before taking a few steps back and looking over at her bed.
"These two dresses are your options?"
"Yes, which one should I wear?" she walked closer, hovering over him, waiting for an answer.
"The blue one." He pointed at it before walking to the couch and sitting on it again.
"Are you completely sure?" she asked for reassurance.
"Yeah. The pink one is prettier, so go for the blue."
She grabbed the small fluffy pillow on her bed and threw it at him before letting out a chuckle.
.oOo.
With her head resting back on her seat, she blankly stared out the window as she watched buildings pass by, cars drive by, and mini shops standing here and there by the sidewalks.
She took in a deep breath as she feel her stomach flutter in nervousness. The closer they got to the restaurant, the faster her heart beat.
"Nervous?" The ginger head questioned from the driver's seat next to her.
"Do I look like it?" she turned towards him, looking at his side profile as he had one hand clenched onto the wheel.
"The last time you made that face was when you were about to get the flu shot." He stole a quick glance at her with a teasing smile.
"It's not my fault I hate needles," she rolled her eyes with a smile as she looked ahead.
"I'm just so nervous for some reason," she rubbed her sweaty palms together as an anxious sigh escaped her.
"You're eating dinner with a guy, not with the president."
"I know but-"
"Do you want me to turn back around?" He looked back at her with raised brows.
"No!"
"Stop complaining then." He swerved.
.oOo.
"I have a reservation under the name Nathan Dryer," she told the hostess standing by the front desk of the restaurant.
"Alright, let me just check the list."
While waiting, she roamed her eyes around the restaurant taking in everything around her. She hadn't been here since Levy upgraded the place, which was about a month ago. The yellow chandeliers hung from the walls, creating a warm vibe as round white-clothed tables scattered around here and there. The area was filled with chuckles, chatter, and laughter. It really was lively.
"Damn, looks like Levy really nailed it with this place." Loke standing next to her said, observing the place in wonder.
A brief whistle comes from a table in the distance, catching her attention. She looked towards it and saw a man with messy salmon hair wearing a white buttoned shirt and a black tuxedo jacket sitting on the table. His back was resting on his chair as one hand laid itself on the table in front of him. A toothpick was clipped in between his lips as he gave her a smirk.
"It's him." She finally spoke.
"Who?" Loke whispered.
"Nathan."
"Where?"
"Right there." She didn't take her gaze off him as she offered him a smile.
Loke followed her gaze and landed his eyes on the very man she came here for.
"That guy? He looks like a total douche." He whispered with a mocking smile.
"How?!" She looked at Loke with narrowed eyes, confused. "He has a suit on and everything." She defended.
"An expensive douche then."
She giggled at his comment.
"You're table 24, ma'am."
"Oh! Yeah, thank you. I see it." She smiled at the lady.
"Good luck," Loke whispered in her ear before he parted ways and walked toward the kitchen area, probably to greet Levy.
With one last shake, she began walking toward Nathan as she clenched her black purse. She wore the flowy pink dress Loke semi-chose for her with black heels. She let her hair down, reaching her waist, to flow carelessly as her bangs fell over her eyes.
(Ignore the purse/basket she's holding)
She felt her heartbeats accelerate the more she closed the distance between them. He watched her walk towards him with that smirk of his as he scanned her from head to toe, liking what he was seeing from his expression.
God, relax Lucy.
"Hey!" She greeted him as she finally reached the table. Perhaps a little too cheerful.
The salmon-haired man stood up from his seat and walked around the small round table to her chair.
"Hello there." He greeted her with a smile as he pulled her chair back.
"Why thank you," she sat down as her cheeks slightly turned red, feeling good about this date already.
He walked back to his chair and took a seat charmingly.
"I must say, you look very beautiful." His olive orbs met her brown ones.
Her face began to heat up at his compliment, turning redder by the second.
"Th-thank you," she said softly as she gently smiled.
"Welcome Sir, Ma'am. Here are the menus." The waitress came out of nowhere and greeted them before placing the menus on the table. "My name is Tracy and I'll be your server for tonight. Let me know when you're ready." She pleasantly smiled, looking back and forth at the both.
"Thank you, Tracy," Nathan responded to her introduction.
She nodded before taking her leave.
He diverted his attention back to her.
"I'm glad you made it." He said. "I was beginning to think you weren't coming." He slipped his toothpick out of his mouth.
"Well, why wouldn't I come?" She questioned as she smiled.
"You sounded hesitant on the phone yesterday."
"I mean, I was," she truthfully responded. "But as I said, I had a tough week, and going out with a man like you is just what I needed."
"Mm." He leaned back on his chair. "How has your week been exactly, if I may ask?" He searched her brown orbs for answers as he spoke.
She sighed as she placed her purse on the table, not finding anywhere else to put it really.
"Well..."
I can't exactly tell him what I've been through... I mean, how would one react to such a thing?!
"Work has been difficult. I've been working for late hours and it's just been really stressful."
"Right, you're a journalist. I thought you loved your manager though. Kyra, was it?" He narrowed his brows in remembrance.
"Yeah." She chuckled, amused that he was actually paying attention to her that day in Bloomingdales. "It's not about my manager though. It's mostly my work itself." She explained. "But I keep myself occupied every now and then. My friend, Loke, helps me push through."
"Loke? Is he the guy giving me a death glare five tables to your right?" He questioned, looking straight into her brown orbs as her stomach fluttered in stress and a strong shiver ran down her spine.
She turned her head in that direction and found Loke watching their table. As soon as he made eye contact with her, he instantly looked away, as if he hadn't been staring.
"I- That's-" She stuttered as a sweat drop formed on her forehead. She nervously giggled as she looked back into his olive orbs. "Y-Yeah.. that's him." She looked back at Nathan embarrassed, secretly feeling like throwing up already, but hiding it well. "I'm sorry about him, he's just a bit much sometimes..."
He chuckled,
"An overprotective friend you got there." He teased.
She nervously giggled,
"Loke's just... Loke." She justified as if that meant something. "He's been my best friend ever since we were children. He's always been one to look out for me." She explained, knowing she couldn't expose the real reason Loke was there— though she still didn't lie.
"I see." He held up his menu. "Don't worry about it. I respect a man who looks out for his loved ones." He said, making her shoulders relax a bit.
I need to have a talk with Loke when I'm back home.