Warning: I don't have a beta-reader (yeah that hasn't changed either) and, as English is not my main language, I'm bound to make mistakes. I hope it's not too bad and you'll bear with me.
If you don't like, don't read. Flames will probably be ignored; constructive critics and other reviews are always very welcome. Read and enjoy.
So here we are with chapter 21.
I'm still bad at posting chapters I'm afraid. My dear Sarah and I have too many ideas for Stris and other stories have been discussed at length and outlined. I'm still very committing at finished this one, as I won't post the others before we're done here.
The good news is that I have the next chapters already finished. Here we are at the double date dinner, I know many of you were quite impatient to get to that part. It will be cut in two parts, so here's the beginning and I hope you will enjoy it.
Little explanation "" are for discussions happening 'live', while '' are meant for the discussions through the earpieces.
We're coming to the last chapters, finally. I hope you will like this one.
Thank you all for your nice reviews, as usual they were appreciated.
Disclaimer: Don't own, just playing around so don't sue… Belongs to CBS Studios, Sony Pictures Television and many others.
"We have every right to create our own destiny, but none to interfere in someone else's." Martin Rubin. ;)
Chris sighed loudly as she waited in front of the stylish restaurant. It certainly didn't disappoint. Street had warned her it was the ideal setting for an excellent meal and perfect date. He had already gone inside, and she had listened as the hostess guided him to his table. She had tried to spy him in the busy location but to no avail for now. Of course, she also needed to focus her attention on all the passersby as she waited for her friends. Bonnie had texted her when they had left and just a few minutes earlier, telling her they were struggling to find a good parking spot.
She liked this part of Beverly Hills as there were several nice eateries in the neighborhood, but they all paled in comparison to this future Michelin-starred restaurant. This place was way more expensive than she had expected. No doubt many celebrities were probably dining in the same hallways.
As she pondered, she finally saw her friends walking towards her. She smiled and waved, greeting them.
"Here they are," she muttered to Street. "Let's get ready for the show." His low chuckle made her smile even brighter, and Julian, who was walking briskly in her direction, probably mistook that grin as being for him.
"Chris, you look absolutely stunning." The young man took her hand courteously and gave her a rather passionate kiss on the cheek, leaving her slightly stunned. She wondered if Street had seen it, but she knew for sure that he wouldn't have liked it.
"Julian, you don't look half bad yourself…" she managed, her voice sounding a little out of breath. His smile brightened at the compliment, and he turned around to see his cousin and her husband catching up with them.
"You certainly are quite impatient," Bonnie quipped, and Tan only rolled his eyes. "But Chris is quite the sight. I love this top; you don't wear blue very often."
"It probably has to do with our uniforms," she joked, and Street, as well as Tan, chuckled at the remark. Bonnie shook her head, her pearly laughter pealing through the air, filling the atmosphere with a positive energy as they finally headed towards the restaurant.
'We certainly never wear blue…' she heard Street's voice in her earpiece as their group of four walked. She shushed him under her breath, and immediately Julian's eyes were on her, probably wondering what was happening.
"It's warmer than I thought," she offered as an explanation when she took the arm he was graciously offering.
From the inside, the place was even more impressive. As Street had explained earlier, the dining room was quite big and divided into different sections. She eyed several private seating areas for special events, but on this weekday, they were not in use. The luxurious Grecian ambiance was delightful, and the food promised to be excellent. She was already hungry, and when the hostess guided them to their table on the brightly lit terrace, she was more than eager to experience it firsthand.
The tables were square, with the plates set on each side. She quickly took the place facing the dining room, limiting the chances for Tan or Bonnie to spot Street if he were indeed close by. As she expected, Julian sat down on her left, taking the other seat with a view inside the restaurant, leaving Tan to sit on her right and Bonnie on the other side of the table. She shook her hair, threading her fingers through her brown strands, hiding the earpiece in her right ear as well as she could. She knew Tan's eyes would mostly be on his wife.
'That was a clever way to secure the table, my lady,' Street said in her ear, and she grinned at his comment. 'I'm sure you're wondering where I am...' She groaned unhappily under her breath, thus confirming his suspicion, and she was rewarded with one of his musical laughs. Her eyes wandered once more over the tables.
"It's a beautiful place, isn't it?" Julian said as he looked at the dining room. "I've been to their restaurant in the Rockefeller Center. I must admit, this place feels more intimate. The bar is gorgeous, and the seafood display on our right is mouthwatering."
'Of course, he has been to another of those posh restaurants…' her boyfriend sighed in her ear. At this rate, it would be extremely difficult for her to maintain her seriousness.
"It's all very impressive," she said truthfully, nodding in agreement. "We should really take advantage of it and order something interesting."
She took the menu from the table and went through the selections. The selection was truly amazing. Salads, appetizers, raw bar, fish dishes in all forms, and of course, a small selection of different meats were offered. All four were silent for a moment as they read the menu. Everything looked perfect, and she was quite uncertain about what to select. As usual, she quickly checked the desserts to decide if she would take an appetizer or only a main dish.
'If I were you, I would skip the dessert,' Street advised her again. 'But they have nice coffees. Go for an appetizer and, of course, fish. You don't want to take meat here. It would be a crime.'
She quickly moved her attention away from the desserts, following Street's advice. One thing was sure, he knew her preferences best of all. She imagined for one moment that he was seated next to her instead of Julian and regretfully shook her head.
"Have you decided, Chris?" Bonnie asked, and she straightened in her chair, a smile playing on her lips. "Everything seems delicious… I can't make up my mind."
"I was tempted to take a small appetizer, maybe their Greek salad or the hummus. I'm more hesitant about the main dish. The grilled jumbo shrimp sound interesting, but I'm partial to sea bass."
'Sea bass will be a great choice.' She bit her lip, feeling her inner happiness increase when he spoke. No matter what, Street always seemed to know what she would enjoy, and that was why she always followed his advice.
"I'll take the sea bass plaki," she said, throwing a quick glance around the table as the others nodded at her selection.
"I think I'll copy you," Bonnie said with a confident smile. "I'm in one of those moods where I can't decide for myself. Usually, I just take whatever Victor orders," she added with a fond smile to her husband.
"You better follow Chris' lead," he said with a tense smile. "I can't decide… everything seems delicious…"
"Just take the same dishes I'll take," Julian offered with a small smile. "I promise I won't take anything too adventurous."
"Yeah, what the heck," Tan nodded, closing the menu he had been holding and placing it back on the table.
"It's good to try something outside of your culinary comfort zone," Chris chimed in, looking at her colleague with amused eyes. When he blushed and their companions' quizzical glances fell on her, she chuckled. "He always orders the same things when the team eats together. I hope you show a little bit more variety when you take Bonnie out…"
"I'm not that bad," the young man countered, the red of his cheeks turning a deeper shade as he nervously grabbed the water glass the hostess had filled when she had taken them to their table.
'He's worse,' Street laughed happily. 'Absolutely hopeless… Is it wrong to hope Julian would choose something outrageous on the menu?'
Chris chuckled at his question and shook her head, hoping he could see her wherever he was.
'Of course, it wouldn't be and…' His low voice suddenly stopped as a feminine one joyfully questioned him.
'Are you ready to order?'
Chris's attention snapped back to the restaurant's ambiance, her focus fixed on the sultry voice conversing with Street. She couldn't pinpoint their exact location among the other diners, and it was annoying her to no end. Meanwhile, the chatter at her table dwindled as her friends discussed the menu, oblivious to her distraction. She managed a smile, hoping they wouldn't notice her lapse in attention.
'Yes, please. I'll start with the grilled halloumi, and then I'll have the halibut with spanakorizo,' Street ordered, his tone pleasant and friendly.
'Excellent choices,' the waitress replied, her tone suddenly warmer. 'Would you like a glass of wine?'
'I'll go with the French Grenache, perhaps the 2021 vintage?' Street requested.
'It's a delightful choice,' she remarked, her tone suggestive. 'I'm sure you'll enjoy it. I know I would.'
Chris felt a pang of irritation as the waitress's flirtatious tone grated on her nerves. She shifted in her seat, scanning the room for any sign of the waitress, to no avail. The woman's bold advances toward a patron only added to Chris's annoyance.
"I understand why you're here," the waitress continued, her voice softening. "My colleagues mentioned your thoughtful gesture for your friend. It's not every day we see someone go to such lengths. It speaks volumes about you."
"Thank you," Street replied, his tone hesitant yet polite.
He seemed to hesitate for a moment, and Chris could imagine a shy smile on his lips. She couldn't help but roll her eyes at the situation.
'I understand why you're here,' the waitress continued, her voice softening. 'My colleagues mentioned your thoughtful gesture for your friend. It's not every day we see someone go to such lengths. It speaks volumes about you.'
'Thank you,' Street replied, his tone hesitant yet polite.
'My name is Emily, but everyone calls me Em,' the waitress introduced herself with a sharp intake of breath. 'Don't hesitate to call me if you need anything at any time. I'll bring your wine and, of course, the delicious bread we bake fresh here.'
Chris muttered under her breath, "If you call her Em, I'll…"
'Thanks, Em… Emily,' Street interjected quickly, sensing Chris's agitation. 'I won't forget that... Sorry about that, Chris.'
"Right," Chris nodded with satisfaction, taking a sip of water to calm her nerves. If only she knew where Street was seated, she'd feel more at ease.
"I see you approve of my selection for dinner," Julian smiled brightly at her, not doubting for a second that her outburst had been approval of his words. "See, Victor, Chris agrees also... you're absolutely outnumbered."
"I love tuna, but I must admit I'm not a fan of chard and beets," he answered a little dejectedly, his pleading eyes on Chris. "Vegetables are not my favorite dishes."
"It's very healthy," his colleague told him with a grin.
'Poor Tan,' Street commented with a chortle. 'Have pity on him and tell them the swordfish would be a better choice.'
"Hmm, no," Chris said, and Tan's eyes narrowed at her denial. "We said you needed to try something outside your comfort zone."
"But…" He tried to counter, but Chris raised her hand, and he stopped dead in his tracks.
"You should have chosen something yourself, like the swordfish or the jumbo shrimp, but it's too late."
"Oh, come on, Victor," his wife cajoled him. "Just try this dish."
"Let's compromise," Chris suggested, leaning forward with her face closer to his. "You choose the appetizer."
"I don't mind the crab cake," he added with a small voice, and the women nodded.
"See, then you have no reason to complain," Chris decided as she leaned back in her chair, and Street's chuckle in her ear brought a smirk to her lips.
Chris plunged her spoon into the fragrant fish soup in front of her. She had made a last-minute switch from the Greek salad. Minutes ago, she had heard Emily's obvious attempts to charm Street when she served his halloumi, and her patience was wearing thin. Emily couldn't have been more transparent in her pursuit of her boyfriend. Street, always polite and charming, maintained a neutral tone, but the waitress had persisted.
Glancing at Julian, who was passionately describing his recent trip to Greece, Chris nodded intermittently, her focus split between him and the waitstaff. So far, she had eliminated three potential "Emily"s from her mental list, but two remained. Both were undeniably attractive. Irrational as it was, Chris couldn't suppress the twinge of jealousy growing inside her.
"Do you like to travel, Chris?" Julian asked after his long monologue, his admiring eyes resting on the pretty brunette.
"I must admit, I haven't traveled much," she said with a small smile. "I enjoyed the time in Germany last summer. I used the opportunity to go to other countries while we were there, but not Greece, I'm afraid."
"You went to France and Austria, right?" Tan asked with a large smile, and his friend nodded.
"But only the east of France, and it was quite beautiful. We also visited Prague and Budapest," Chris added with a grin. "I think your first time in Paris should be with someone special. So, no offense to Luca, but he would not be my first choice."
"Of course not," Bonnie chuckled happily. "He will probably want to go with Melissa one of these days. They seem quite enamored."
"Things are definitely getting quite serious," Tan nodded. "Street barely sees him, but then he has the house all to himself. It must be very nice too."
"I'm sure he enjoys that," Julian chimed in, his voice mischievous.
'What the…' Street's exclamation brought her back to the discussion at hand, as her mind had wandered, imagining visiting Paris with him. 'He wouldn't say that if he knew I could hear him…'
"He probably does," Chris said noncommittally, taking another spoonful of the delicious broth with sweet morsels of fish and potatoes. She noticed a hint of annoyance on Julian's face, but he quickly smoothed it away, his good humor returning.
"And what about your hobbies?" Julian suddenly asked, turning his attention back to Chris. "I know you're dedicated to your work, but there must be more to you than just SWAT and LAPD."
"Of course," Chris replied with a soft grin. "I enjoy spending time with family and friends, outdoor activities like hiking or picnics, watching the sunset, going to amusement parks… But I also like dining out, watching movies, trying escape rooms, or exploring museums."
"That's quite the list," Julian remarked, a hint of admiration in his tone. "I'd love to do some of those things with you…"
'I bet he would,' Street's voice chimed in, and Chris couldn't help but smile at the playful banter.
"We definitely should do that together," Bonnie declared enthusiastically, clapping her hands in anticipation.
'Oh God, not Bonnie…' Street grumbled unhappily. 'Don't encourage her.'
"We'll see," Chris said cautiously. "I'm quite busy the next few weekends. We have the party at Hondo's, and then I have a few family celebrations I can't miss. But one of these days, why not?"
"And what's your experience with escape rooms?" Julian wondered with a grin. "I always wanted to do one, but I never seem to find the time or the right friends for that."
"I enjoy a good challenge," Chris pouted, remembering the last one she had run with Street. "Solving complex riddles, searching for clues with the clock ticking, it's exhilarating."
"Knowing you, I'm sure you're extremely competitive in there," Tan laughed, certain Chris would want to finish them in record time. "Who are you doing them with? You never invited me for that."
"My cousin Tomas loves those, and I have a few friends who are quite good," she quipped, watching him intently and not missing his doubtful expression. "I do have friends outside of SWAT, mind you. And I have an extended family too."
'Of course you do,' Street chuckled softly, and Chris almost rolled her eyes at his tone.
"Of course you do," Tan parroted unknowingly. While her boyfriend had been amused, the other officer looked quite uncomfortable at the rebuke.
"Well, if you have time before I leave again, I'd love to run one with you," Julian offered, smiling at her sweetly and absolutely not deterred by her stern look.
"I'll think about it," Chris promised the young man, noticing how Bonnie was looking at her husband with a grin. "What?"
"Victor and I will definitely pass," she simply said, shaking her head prettily.
"No, Bonnie," the young man pleaded with her, and all eyes were on Tan as he shuffled anxiously in his chair.
'Oh, I think that will be good,' Street chuckled in her ear, and Chris' smile widened. 'It's a shame he's backing out on me…'
"Is there something we need to know?" The brunette pushed, staring at her friend. Tan shifted once more, his lips forming a thin line. He shot a warning glance at his wife, but she was too amused to stop talking.
"We did an escape room a couple of years ago," she finally admitted, and Tan sighed in defeat. "His brother Jacob and his then-girlfriend were with us. Let's say, we didn't finish it on time…"
"You know you can ask for help," Chris reminded her, her eyes squinted in disbelief. "I mean, those places can be challenging at times, especially if you miss a few hints or interpret them wrongly…"
"Of course, but for that, the Brothers Tan would have had to admit defeat," Bonnie explained with a wink. "And that didn't happen…"
'Pride comes before the fall,' Street quoted with a chuckle.
"Well, the bigger they are, the harder they fall," Chris noted, unable to resist teasing her friend, who flushed once more at her remark.
Street laughed humorously. 'That's a good one too,' he added, and she couldn't help feeling proud of her retort.
"I suppose that ended your experience in Escape rooms?" Chris pushed, her pretty lips pursed as she tried hard not to laugh at her colleague's unease.
"You're so very funny, Chris," Tan finally said as he took a swig of his wine. "Remind me never to do one with you."
"Oh, don't worry, I go there to win," she teased him mercilessly. "Thanks for the warning, Bonnie."
"Of course, Chris. Aww, come on, Darling," she finally added, her hand caressing her husband's back lovingly. "We had a lot of fun that day. Escape rooms are just not your forte, and that's okay. You have wonderful qualities, and we all love you."
"Exactly," Chris added, feeling suddenly a little bad. "You're a great driver."
"That's all you can come up with?" Tan wondered disbelievingly.
"Well, I'd love to say you are a great shot, but we both know Street and I are better at that."
"I'm faster than you guys," he reminded her, looking absolutely affronted by that oversight.
"You are faster than me," Chris finally admitted, nodding in good spirit. "But you're not faster than Street…"
'Hell no, he's not faster,' the young man confirmed in her ear.
"I beat him the last time," Tan reminded her. "It was fair and square…"
"He had just come back from a major surgery," she replied indignantly. "And you barely beat him… Don't let that go to your head."
"Yeah, whatever, I'll beat him next time too," he promised, nodding his head as he steeled his resolve.
When Chris shook her head, her skepticism was evident on her face. She felt annoyed at Tan, and her expression gave away her feelings. To her surprise, she felt a soft touch on her left hand and saw Julian smiling at her.
"Major surgery?" The young surgeon wondered, his curiosity suddenly piqued. "I didn't know your friend had been ill…"
"Ill? No, of course not," she said without thinking. "He was a living donor… His mother needed a liver transplant."
She paused, her eyes once more scanning the restaurant as she tried to spot her boyfriend. Street had told her that Tan had his back on him, so now at least she knew in what direction she had to look.
"Oh, that was quite generous," Julian said, his voice showing his admiration for her best friend. "And how did it go?"
"It was a success, they both recovered quite well…" She said, her voice tinged with bitterness. "It didn't quite matter though… She ended up dying a few months later from an overdose. He went through all that for nothing."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Julian sounded quite hesitant, which was quite new for him. "But it was his choice, and I'm sure he was still happy to have done it."
"Yeah, of course…" Chris conceded, trying to hide her uneasiness at sharing this information with a small smile.
'I still think it was the right thing to do,' Street whispered, knowing his decision still didn't sit well with her.
"And he's fully recovered now," Tan added with a reassuring smile.
"Yeah, and he'll beat your ass next time you compete against each other…" Chris reminded him with a forced grin.
"We'll see about that…" Tan chuckled, pleased to see her smile, even if it didn't quite reach her eyes. He knew this was a sore subject, and she was still unhappy none of them had been in LA when their friend had gone through this procedure with him and Bonnie on their honeymoon in Bali, while Chris and Luca were in Germany for their training. Tan glanced at Julian's hand still placed over hers, his gaze shifting between Chris and the young surgeon. Bonnie seemed delighted by the gesture, her smile radiant. Perhaps the brunette liked her cousin more than he had thought, he couldn't help but wonder.
Street sighed loudly. The date was going too well for his liking. It was hard to fault Julian; he behaved like a real gentleman, saying the right things at the right moment, and it was definitely getting on his nerves. He grabbed his glass out of frustration and gulped a mouthful of wine. It was quite good, but at this rhythm, he wouldn't have enough for his main dish. His attention was on the table where the four friends were seated, and he couldn't help noticing how Julian had discreetly moved closer to Chris. He had fought with himself, wondering if he should mention it to his girlfriend, and had finally decided against it. Chris was perfectly able to handle the situation, and while he didn't trust the surgeon, he had total faith in her.
"And here is your halibut," his eyes turned towards the sweet voice, and he couldn't help smiling when he saw Emily.
The young waitress was quite striking, he had to admit. Her eyes were a dark blue, and her hair, while strictly done into a low bun, was a vivid shade of red. She placed the plate in front of him, turning it so that the fish was pleasantly presented to his perusal. Of course, it was perfectly grilled, and the scent was mouth-watering.
"It's perfect, thank you," Street said amiably, and he saw her blush with pleasure as if she had cooked it herself.
"I'm sure you will enjoy it," Emily said a little breathlessly. "Do you need anything else? More water or wine, maybe…"
"More water would be good," he answered, his dimpled smile making her blush a little.
"Of course, give me a second," she added quickly as she rushed to grab one of the jugs and came back in no time. "Here you have…"
"Thank you so much," Street looked at her once more and grinned as she held onto the carafe quite nervously.
"How is the date going?" Emily asked, to his surprise, her head pointing where Chris and the others were dining. "They're not in my section, but everything looks fine from a distance. Did you agree with her about a code in case she needs to escape?"
"A code?" He asked, his brows pleating in surprise.
"Yes, maybe a text on your phone," she explained, her fingers tapping nervously against the cold jug. "How would you know if she needs help otherwise?"
"Right," Street nodded, trying to think how to address the question without telling her he was actually listening to their conversation. The young woman would probably find that way too weird. "No, she is supposed to… huh… tap her right ear three times if she needs help."
"Oh, that is clever," Emily added, her eyes turning towards the table. "So, your friend is the pretty brunette. I was wondering…"
'Well, she shouldn't…' Street's eyes opened wide when he heard Chris' displeased voice in his earpiece. He quickly stole a glance in her direction, wondering if she had finally spotted him. He wasn't directly in her line of vision, and he needed to move a little to his left to see her. But Emily was now fully visible to Chris, especially as she was staring at her curiously. 'The redhead…'
Street gulped uneasily; her tone was dripping with venom, a rare instance for Chris to voice her discontent so clearly over personal matters.
'What did you say?' Julian's voice rang suddenly as he had apparently heard her words and was trying to make sense of them.
'Nothing… I was thinking about a case…' Chris said dismissively, apparently to Julian's satisfaction as Street heard the other man laugh.
"She seems a little flushed," Emily commented as she looked at him again. "But not uncomfortable, I think. Well, enjoy your dish. If you need anything, don't hesitate…"
'Of course…' The irony in Chris' tone was hard to miss.
"Thanks, Emily…" Street managed before he leaned over to catch a glimpse of his girlfriend, her narrowed eyes speaking volumes about her displeasure with him.
Chris stared down morosely at her plate, the sea bass looking delicious. The oven-baked fish was masterfully presented on the white plate, adorned with a medley of onions, potatoes, carrots, and herbs, all expertly dressed in a tomato fish broth. Street's conversation with the redhead had negatively impacted her mood and her appetite. She had barely said two words to her dinner companions. Now that she knew what that waitress looked like, she couldn't help but stare at the young woman wherever she went.
Emily was quite stunning, and of course, she was very obviously interested in her boyfriend. Maybe if Chris weren't so extremely annoyed, she would find it funny that the two women hitting on her man were both redheads, but right now, sitting at this table with her three friends present, she was just ready to scream. When Street had asked a few minutes earlier if she was okay, she had just managed an angry growl, and his hesitant 'okay' had not improved her mood. He could try to hide behind the décor of fake trees, but she still knew where he was.
"Are you not going to eat?" Bonnie wondered as she brought the fork to her mouth. "Is something wrong with your plate?"
"Oh no, everything is fine," she quickly said, forcing a smile on her lips. "I think I'm not as hungry as I had originally thought."
"Do you want to switch with my plate?" Tan asked hopefully, his eyes not leaving the appetizing fish in front of her.
"Are you crazy? I don't want your Swiss chards and beets," Chris retorted with a large grin.
"You said they were healthy vegetables," her colleague countered indignantly.
"They are, but I never said I wanted to eat them," she answered as she finally tasted her own dish. "This is wonderful, so flavorful."
"Our tuna is delicious too," Julian said, looking at Tan as he sighed and morosely dug into his own food. "In restaurants like this one, you can't go wrong even with unusual vegetables. Are you sure you don't want to try, Chris?"
"No, thank you," she shook her head vehemently and smiled when she heard Street chuckle in her ear.
"You were quite silent for a moment…" Julian pushed cautiously, and she nodded slowly. "I hope it's not because of me…"
"Of course not," Chris replied quickly. She looked at her friends and plastered a smile on her face. "It has nothing to do with any of you. It's a wonderful evening; I was just lost in my thoughts for a moment. I love your company…"
'I suppose that means you're still angry with me…' Street wondered, a tinge of humor in his tone. 'I guess I got that one coming…'
"Good to know," Julian leaned a little more towards her, and now their arms were almost touching. "I was getting quite worried for a moment."
"You are the perfect gentleman as usual, Julian," Chris cooed prettily, and the blond surgeon blushed in pleasure. "So, I haven't asked you many questions… you must think I'm rather rude, not being interested enough to want to know you more."
"I was quite happy discovering many things about you," he countered with a happy smile. "You are more interesting than I'll ever be."
'What an absolute…' Street started, his voice dripping with frustration.
"Don't sell yourself short, Julian," she retorted pleasantly. "I must admit I was wondering what made you choose your career. Healthcare is quite the calling."
"It is," he nodded pensively. "It's many years of studies, and I had my doubts if I would ever become a good surgeon. It's a rather boring story, one I'm not sure is good for a dinner among friends."
"I have a cousin who also chose healthcare; she is a physical therapist," Chris explained, thinking about her cousin Gabriela, the youngest in their generation.
"Oh, I didn't know that," Tan chimed in. That information brought all the eyes on her as the brunette nodded.
"Gabi is a reputable professional; if you ever need one, she's the best," Chris declared proudly. "Of course, she is a total brat and a real social butterfly, but I love her to pieces."
"Is she also working with athletes?" Bonnie wondered, immediately thinking about her clients. "I have a football player who got hurt recently, and he's quite unhappy with his current therapist."
"Yeah, I can give you her number if you want," she said as she retrieved her phone, and they exchanged information. "She is quite in demand, but if you say I gave you her number, I'm sure she'll take the time to see if she can help. She's quite blunt, so you'll know if it'll work or not."
"If she's like you, I don't doubt it for a single second," Tan teased her, grinning widely at her. "Ouch, that hurt."
"That didn't hurt," Chris chided him with a large grin, ready to punch his arm again. "Don't force me to show what would hurt you…"
"I'm good," he quickly amended, raising one hand in defense. "Julian, I'm not sure you know what you are getting yourself into…"
"Oh, I'm quite sure I know," he smiled widely at the brunette and pressed his arm against hers tenderly.
"Maybe you do, maybe you don't…" Chris laughed at his bold comment.
'He certainly doesn't,' Street declared unhappily, his tone tense, and Chris smirked, deciding this little exchange was the perfect payback for letting that waitress flirt with him a little too much.
Street was morosely tapping his fingers on the table. Julian had turned up the charm since Chris had asked him about his choice of career. He sounded extremely confident, and it was grating on his nerves to say the least. Of course, during his own 'date' with Lauren, things had probably not sounded much better, but Chris seemed way too eager to learn more about the young surgeon. Street rolled his eyes when Julian's voice took on this intimate inflection that made his skin crawl.
'Can I tempt you with a dessert?' Julian drawled softly to the pretty brunette.
'I'm not sure,' Chris answered hesitantly. 'I barely managed to finish my main dish. Dessert just seems like too much.'
'Oh, come on, Chris,' Bonnie pleaded urgently. 'If you don't have one, I'll feel too bad taking one myself.'
'Really, I…" She started, but quickly Tan interrupted her.
'Just check the menu,' her colleague offered. 'It doesn't mean you have to order something.'
'You absolutely can treat yourself to dessert!' Bonnie insisted. 'You're in great shape, so it won't hurt to indulge a little. I can't exactly say the same thing…'
'Don't say things like that, Darling!' Tan corrected his wife, grabbing her hand and placing a sweet kiss on her wrist. 'You're gorgeous.'
'Are you fishing for compliments?' Her cousin wondered, and Bonnie shook her head, chuckling pleasantly. 'See, Chris, you have to have a dessert, or she'll feel bad about taking one…'
'Okay, I'll check the menu,' Chris finally conceded, her voice still hesitant.
Street had advised against a dessert, but it seemed their friends had decided she needed to have one. He had hoped they could cut the dinner short, but of course, Julian was doing his best to keep Chris by his side for as long as he could. He shouldn't be surprised, but he was still annoyed. He wanted them to go home and spend some time together as soon as possible.
"Can I interest you in one of our homemade desserts? They're absolutely divine." Street lifted his head, and his eyes met Emily's. The young waitress took his empty plate with a sweet smile. "We also have a great selection of coffees."
"I wasn't really planning on ordering anything else, I must admit," he started uncertainly, pondering his options. If his friends were going to indulge, he could hardly stay here without taking something himself.
"Allow me to be a little forward, but you look like someone who has a sweet tooth, and our dessert selection is not to be missed," the pretty redhead insisted, sensing he was ready to give in.
"Okay, I suppose it can't hurt to see what you have," Street acknowledged with a grin, and Emily's melodic laugh resonated.
"I knew I could sway you," she said happily. "I promise you won't regret it."
"Yeah, I'm sure…" he added amiably as she left, a happy spring in her step. His eyes were still on the young woman retreating when he heard an unhappy groan in his earpiece. "You are the one who said you'd check the menu. I can hardly stay here without taking another dish if you or the others are."
He leaned a little further, and his eyes finally met Chris'. He winked playfully at her, and his girlfriend did her best to hide the amused grin forming on her lips.
"I see we agree…" he had barely finished his sentence than Emily was back, holding the dessert menu triumphantly. "Thank you… anything you would recommend?"
"Everything is delicious," Emily started as she took the few steps to stand next to him, her body suddenly almost touching his, and for a moment Street wondered if Chris could see them. She pointed an elegant finger to the selection. "If you can't decide, I can surprise you. I think I know which one you would like best…"
"Huh," Street mumbled, his confusion evident. "Okay…"
"You won't regret it," she assured him, a confident smile on her lips. "Do you want to try our Greek coffee? It would be perfect with your dessert…"
"Sure…" He agreed absentmindedly, too stunned to say anything else, as he watched a smiling Emily walk back to the station to place the order. "That was…"
'What the heck…' Chris' voice brought him back to reality. 'Please excuse me, I need to use the restroom.'
He didn't need to see his girlfriend to know she wasn't happy. Her chair loudly scratched the tiled floor as she abruptly stood up.
'Would you like me to come with you?' Bonnie asked, confused by her friend's sudden announcement.
'No, why would I need that?' The brunette frowned at her friend in confusion.
'Of course, not…'
Chris walked briskly in his direction, her eyes shooting daggers. She discreetly pointed at him, her eyes squinted in warning.
"You want me to go to the restrooms?" he wondered a little uncertain about her intentions.
"Do you really think I need to go?"
"Right…" He stood up a little uneasily, his eyes staying on their friends' table, hoping they wouldn't notice him as he followed where Chris had disappeared through a door.
Street gulped as he took the last steps separating him from Chris, plastering a somewhat forced smile on his lips, hoping for the best. The brunette turned around briskly when she heard him approaching, her expression unreadable as their eyes met.
"What was that?" She attacked directly, not caring that anyone going to the bathrooms would see and hear them. "And don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about."
"She took me by surprise," he pleaded, his voice tinged with uncertainty as he struggled to find the right words. "You know it doesn't mean anything…"
"She's very openly flirting with you," Chris interjected, her tone firm as she confronted him with a piercing gaze.
"Come on, she isn't…" he started defending Emily's actions, but Chris stopped him when she raised her hand. "Maybe she comes on a little strongly…"
"A little?" She chided immediately, her tone laced with disbelief as she cut him off. "She's been more forward than Julian the whole evening. In comparison, Lauren was a shy damsel…"
"Lauren definitely is a…"
"Oh, shut it!" She groaned in exasperation, rolling her eyes and looking away from him.
"You're being a little…"
Street couldn't finish his sentence before Chris' lips were on his, a sudden and unexpected embrace that left him momentarily stunned. She grabbed him forcefully, turning him around and pushing him backwards until his body hit the wall with a thud. After a moment of confusion, he felt a rush of warmth flood through him, followed by desire growing within him. He groaned when her tongue teased his lips open before devouring his mouth. Sweat broke on his brow, and his hands eagerly closed on her hips as he drew her body closer to his. As quickly as her passionate kiss had started, it ended, leaving him completely breathless, his eyes unfocused on the beautiful woman in front of him.
"What the…" he muttered uncertainly. When she grinned at him, his gaze followed hers towards the direction they had come from, and he caught sight of the retreating form of a waitress. In an instant, realization dawned on him, and he looked upwards at the ceiling with a chuckle. "That was very childish, Chris."
"At least now she got the message," she said with a satisfied smile, not regretting her actions for a moment. "She will finally stop flirting with you, as obviously you can't make her understand you're not interested."
As Street observed his girlfriend, he sighed heavily, his gaze filled with contemplation. "I didn't peg you as the jealous type," he remarked, a hint of amusement in his tone. When she grinned at him, he chuckled. "You're not even denying it…"
"I'm just staking my claim," she remarked simply, and Street pouted, shaking his head in disbelief.
"How did you even function in a throuple?" he wondered out loud, his eyes fixated on her.
"Well, it only lasted a few months," Chris reminded him. "And none were you… I need to go back. They're waiting for me."
"Alright, but we really need to talk about this later," he insisted, his tone firm. "You can't go out like that; your lipstick is completely smeared..."
"What? Damn..." Chris hurried into the restroom, flustered by the realization. A few moments later, she reappeared, her eyes glaring at him. "You're such a liar, I don't even have lipstick on anymore… you're impossible…"
He chuckled, pleased that she fell for his prank. Continuing on his way, he couldn't resist turning back with a mischievous glint in his eye. "Couldn't resist teasing you a bit," he admitted with a playful smirk. "But hey, you still look perfect to me, lipstick or not."
Chris rolled her eyes in mock exasperation, though a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "You're lucky I love you," she said, shaking her head. Watching him disappear through the door, she knew it was time to return to their friends' table before they started wondering where she had gone.