44 Ready (2)

Darren pulled the chair out for Alesia, then pushed her in when she sat down before moving around the table to the other chair.

A young waitress came to their table with a pair of menus. She smiled at them. "Wow, you pulled the chair out for her. Such a gentleman." She blushed like a schoolgirl as her eyes remained on Darren. Her eyes were that of a lovestruck puppy, with hearts shining in them. "Here are your menus." She placed the menus on the table before she clasped her hands together in front of her. She looked like she was trying her hardest to restrain herself from touching him. "Don't hesitate to call when you're ready to order."

Cupid's arrow shot through the waitress's heart when Darren smiled a charming, boyish grin in her direction. Perfect pearly whites glimmered in her eyes as he said, "Thanks, Molly."

The waitress turned away, walking with a pep in her step as she squealed.

"You're quite the heartbreaker, aren't you?" Alesia said with a mischievous grin on her face.

"I wouldn't say that. I think it's mostly due to my recent transformation." Darren picked up his menu and began to read the options.

"No way. You don't just become a ladies man just because you get muscles. The way you smiled at her is probably the same way you got Tora to fall for you."

Darren paused, moving the menu away from his face. Alesia was looking at him and nodding knowingly. "How did you know?" He asked.

He and Tora dated for a while, but it was mostly a long-distance relationship, and they broke up a year later. Thank goodness their friendship remained intact. Although it was left strained. They never talked about their romance as they moved on.

"I can tell by how you two look at each other. You guys have such a strong connection that it looks like you can read each other's minds." Alesia lowered her voice, but she did not lean close to him as she knew Darren would hear what she murmured. "This morning, when you fell off the treadmill, she rushed to your side to make sure you were okay. Only someone who truly loves you would be so worried even though she knows you're invulnerable."

Darren smiled as this morning's interactions with Tora surfaced in his mind. Since the moment he woke up, Tora had been by his side, moving heaven and earth to help him adjust to his new powers. He also found fresh Zinnias in a put of flowers on his window sill in the hospital. The nurses gossiped that she had been visiting every day for six months. She brought flowers weekly for his bedside.

Tora cared about him because they are childhood friends; they are like family. He and Tora's romantic relationship ended several years ago, and neither of them had shown any interest in being more than friends.

He was the one who ended things, so he never dared to ask her to get back together.

The problem they had in their relationship was distance. While Tora was attending the Air Force Academy, Darren was in college in LA. She had to follow a strict schedule, so most of their relationship was through phone calls and video chats. They only saw each other when she came back to LA.

Around that time, Darren was depressed after discovering that he did not show any signs of having the Vetus gene. Their relationship ended after they graduated, and Tora left for the Middle East.

Even after she left the Air Force, they never talked about dating again. They reconstructed their friendship after years of separation. Besides, Darren lived in Texas for work while Tora stayed in LA to be closer to her mother after her father's passing.

Darren lowered his head. "Well, we're not dating anymore."

"But it's obvious that you two care about each other. Someone would have to be blind not to see it," Alesia replied.

"She has a boyfriend now." Darren found out about the boyfriend the same day he woke up as she had a date with her boyfriend that afternoon. "It was my fault we broke up. I pushed her away."

Darren looked at Alesia. His heart trembled as images of Tora flashed through his mind. He saw holding Miriam when he attended General Carlisle's funeral. She did not cry during the funeral.

At the reception, Darren went to offer his condolences. Their reunion was not as cold as he anticipated. Tora welcomed his embrace when he tried to comfort her. She cried on his shoulders that night as they looked up at the stars before she fell asleep.

He had to return to Houston for work, but he checked in on Tora ever so often. They called and talked more often, wishing each other a happy birthday. They even took turns visiting each other.

The image of Tora crying as he lost consciousness six months ago remained raw in his mind. Six months had gone by, but to him, it was just a few days. He made her cry on her birthday.

But no matter what, Tora remained by his side. Even if he had no one, he still had her. From the time they were children to now, she never let go of his hand.

Darren finally admitted, "But I don't think I ever stopped loving her."

Before Alesia could respond, the waitress came to their table. "Are you ready to order?" she asked with a flirty smile.

Darren looked at the menu he had ignored while speaking to Alesia. What should he order?

"We'll have one of everything on the lunch menu."

The waitress finally turned to Alesia. "I'm sorry? One of everything?"

"Yes. Thank you," Alesia said dismissively before handing the waitress the menus. "You can bring whatever is prepared as they come out. Can you bring the desserts first?"

…

The other customers grew curious about the pair sitting at the rearmost table by the window as the waitress brought plate after plate of food to their table.

Darren and Alesia paid no mind to the stares. Darren was the one eating most of the food ordered with a glass of lemonade. Alesia only had a slice of cheesecake, a kale salad, a steak sandwich, and a glass of wine after.

"Aren't you only 18?" Darren asked.

Alesia swirled the glass of wine as she answered, "I'm 20. And artificial identities are how I stay off the grid. I didn't come back here as Alesia. If I did, my family and the press would be all over this place." Alesia raised her eyebrow at the glass of juice in front of him. "You don't drink?"

"No. I swore off alcohol when I was young."

Alesia did not ask anymore. She already knew the reason as a result of their conversation as they came down the mountain.

Despite Darren's current metabolism, she theorized he would be able to break down alcohol without the risk of intoxication. Alesia said, "It takes a lot of discipline to make such a decision at such a young age," she said. Darren would apply the same discipline and self-control to using his powers.

"Your syntax fits an adult more."

"First, I'm legally an adult. I don't see why I can't drink just because Congress is dragging their feet on amending the law." She raised a finger in front of his face as she joked. She took the glass and drank the rest of the wine.

"You should-" Darren dropped the fork onto the plate as he raised his head up. His body flushed pink like a rush of heat entered his body.

Something was wrong. Darren could feel it, but he could not quite understand what he was sensing.

His eyes darted around the restaurant. He searched for the source of the energy that made the hairs on his skin stand at attention.

"Darren?"

He gasped as his eyes refocused on Alesia. "Something's wrong."