10. Chapter Ten
Chapter Ten
" I ...okay," I heard myself say, surprising even myself with the acceptance. "Lunch sounds nice." The words felt foreign on my tongue, as if someone else had spoken them. When was the last time I'd shared a meal with someone other than Avery?
Elias's face lit up, his warm honey scent spiking with happiness. "Wonderful! There's a great little bistro just down the street. They have the most amazing sandwiches."
Finn nodded in agreement, his green eyes twinkling. "And their soup is to die for," he added. "Perfect for a day like today."
As we stepped out of the café, I felt a flutter of nervousness in my stomach. The busy street seemed overwhelming after the welcoming interior of The Cozy Corner. Elias must have sensed my unease because he gently placed a hand on my lower back, guiding me along. I felt a jolt at his touch but let him continue to guide me out more into the busy streets and sidewalk.
“It's not that far.” Elias told me as he let his hand drop to his side. I blinked up at him and gave a nod, still feeling a bit out of my element.
The walk to the restaurant was mercifully short, giving me little time to second guess my decision. Elias and Finn flanked me on either side, their presence both comforting and slightly overwhelming. The crisp air carried the scent of blooming flowers and freshly baked bread from a nearby bakery, mingling with Elias's honey-sweet aroma and Finn's earthy, woodsy scent.
"Here we are," Elias announced, stopping in front of a cozy looking bistro. The scent of fresh bread and herbs wafted from the open door, making my stomach growl again despite my nervousness.
Finn held the door open, ushering us inside with a gentle smile. "After you," he said, his deep voice surprisingly soft.
The interior was warm and inviting, with exposed brick walls and soft lighting. A hostess greeted us with a bright smile, leading us to a quiet corner booth.
As I settled into the booth, I found myself sandwiched between Elias and Finn. Their larger frames seemed to envelop me, and I felt a mixture of comfort and unease at their proximity. The leather of the seat creaked softly as we adjusted, and I couldn't help but notice how Elias's thigh brushed against mine. A shiver ran through me at the contact, and I quickly averted my gaze to the menu before me.
I tried to keep my eyes on the menu, Elias's honey-sweet scent mingled with Finn's earthy aroma, creating a heady mixture that made my head spin slightly.
"So, Lydia," Finn began, his deep voice gentle as he turned towards me. "How long have you owned your art supply store?"
I blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the question. "Oh, um, about a year now," I replied softly, my fingers fidgeting with the edge of the menu. "It's been... quite an adventure."
Elias leaned in slightly, his warmth radiating against my side. "That's impressive," he said, his eyes on me, “Though it is surprising it took a year for us to meet you.”
I bit my lip at this, it actually didn’t surprise me. It took me a while to actually go out and interact with people. I had been keeping to myself and only doing the minimal interactions.
“I stayed to myself a lot and had prioritized getting the shop going before anything. That might be why.” I wasn’t going to tell them the real reason. That I wasn’t comfortable going out, that I didn’t want to be around people.
“So what is good here?” I asked, changing the subject. There was a pause from the other two before Elias spoke up.
"Their grilled chicken sandwich is excellent," Elias offered, his voice gentle as if sensing my unease. "And Finn wasn't exaggerating about the soup."
I nodded, grateful for the suggestion. "That sounds good," I murmured, peeking over the top of my menu. Elias and Finn exchanged a glance, a silent communication passing between them that I couldn't quite decipher.
The waitress approached, her cheerful demeanor a stark contrast to the nervous energy thrumming through my body. "What can I get for you folks today?" she asked brightly.
Finn ordered first, his deep voice confident as he requested the soup of the day and a turkey club sandwich. Elias followed, opting for the grilled chicken sandwich he'd recommended to me. When the waitress turned to me, I felt my throat tighten.
"I'll have the same as him," I managed, gesturing vaguely towards Elias. "And a glass of water, please." As the waitress jotted down our orders and departed, I felt Elias shift beside me. His honey-sweet scent enveloped me, and I found myself unconsciously leaning towards him before catching myself.
"So, Lydia," Elias began, his voice soft and warm, "what made you decide to open an art supply store?"
I tensed slightly at the question, memories of my past life flashing through my mind. How could I explain that it was both my sanctuary and my rebellion? That each brush and tube of paint represented a step away from the life that had been planned for me?
"I've always loved art," I said carefully, my fingers tracing patterns on the condensation of my water glass. "And when I… when I left my family's pack, I needed something that was just mine. The store seemed like the perfect way to combine my passion with a fresh start."
I could feel both Elias and Finn watching me intently, their gazes heavy with unasked questions. The air around us seemed to thicken with tension.
"Left your family's pack?" Finn echoed his eyes soft as he looked at me.
I tensed at Finn's words, my fingers tightening around my water glass. The memory of that night — the ultimatum, the fear, the exhilarating and terrifying rush of freedom— washed over me in a dizzying wave. I took a deep breath, struggling to find the right words.
"Yes," I said softly, my eyes fixed on the table. "It was... it was time for me to forge my own path." The words felt hollow, inadequate to convey the magnitude of what I'd done, what I'd left behind.
"I'm sorry," Elias said softly, his honey-warm scent washing over me in a soothing wave. "We didn't mean to pry. You don't have to talk about it if you're not comfortable."
"It's okay," I murmured, though my heart was racing. "It's just... not something I talk about often."
Elias leaned in slightly, his honey-sweet scent wrapping around me like a comforting blanket. "You don't have to explain if you're not comfortable," he said gently. "We understand that pack dynamics can be... complicated."
Finn nodded in agreement, his deep voice soft as he added, "Everyone has their own journey. We're just glad you found your way to Haven's Rest." I know what was left unsaid. Usually Omegas were not without a pack, be it a family or one made themselves of friends or lovers. I didn’t have any of that…I was alone in this town.
I gave a small nod, grateful for their understanding. "Thank you," I murmured, my eyes still fixed on the table. "It's been... an adjustment. But opening the store has given me purpose, a place to belong…I'm happier now." And it was true, despite the loneliness and uncertainty that often plagued me. The freedom to make my own choices, to pursue my passion for art, was worth the hardships.
As I spoke, I could feel the weight of their gazes on me. There was no judgment in their eyes, only a gentle curiosity and something that felt almost like protectiveness. It was a stark contrast to the controlling, oppressive atmosphere of my family's pack.
The arrival of our food provided a welcome distraction. I breathed a sigh of relief as the waitress set our plates down, grateful for the interruption. The aroma of grilled chicken and fresh herbs wafted up, making my stomach growl appreciatively.
"This looks amazing," Elias said, his eyes lighting up at the sight of his sandwich.
Finn nodded in agreement, stirring his soup. "It smells delicious too."
I took a small bite of my sandwich, the flavors exploding on my tongue. The chicken was perfectly grilled, juicy and tender, complemented by the crisp vegetables and tangy sauce. For a moment, I closed my eyes, savoring the taste and the simple pleasure of a good meal.
When I opened them again, I caught Elias watching me, a soft smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Good?" he asked, his honey-warm voice sending a shiver down my spine.
I nodded, swallowing before I spoke. "It's delicious," I admitted. "Thank you for suggesting it."
Finn chuckled, the sound deep and rich. "Elias has excellent taste," he said, his green eyes twinkling as he glanced at his partner. "In food and in company."
I felt a blush start to form on my cheeks as I glanced at Elias, who gave me a beaming smile, a small dollop of sauce clinging to the corner of his mouth. "I'm glad you like it," he said warmly. Without thinking, I reached out, gently brushing the sauce away with my thumb. The moment I realized what I'd done, I froze, my eyes widening in shock at my own boldness.
Elias blinked, surprise flickering across his face before a soft smile curved his lips. "Thank you," he said softly, his eyes almost glowing with warmth as he looked at me.
I felt my cheeks flush hot as I quickly withdrew my hand, mortified by my impulsive action. "I'm sorry," I mumbled, dropping my gaze to my plate. "I don't know what came over me."
"It's alright," Elias said gently, his voice warm and reassuring. "No need to apologize."
I dared to glance up, catching the soft look in Elias's eyes. There was no judgment there, only a gentle understanding that made my heart flutter. Finn watched us with a knowing smile, his green eyes twinkling with amusement. I went back to my meal, my cheeks still warm, but as I glanced back up to look at Elias, he just gave me another smile.
"So, Lydia," Finn said, smoothly changing the subject, "do you ever showcase local artists in your store? Or is it strictly supplies?"
Grateful for the distraction, I latched onto the new topic. "Mostly supplies," I admitted, taking a sip of water.
"Do you have any plans to expand your store? Maybe offer art classes or workshops?" Elias spoke up, curiosity in his voice as he took another bite of his food.
Grateful for the distraction, I considered his question. "I've thought about it," I admitted. "But I'm not sure I'm ready for that level of... interaction yet.” I was fine with the amount of people that came into my shop now. It was steady and not overly busy. I didn’t have any employees but myself.
Elias nodded thoughtfully, his honey-warm scent wrapping around me like a comforting blanket. "That's understandable," he said gently. "Running a business is challenging enough without adding more to your plate."
Finn leaned in slightly, his green eyes soft with understanding. "But if you ever decide to take that step, we'd be happy to help. Elias has experience running workshops at the farmers' market, and I've done a few woodworking demonstrations."
Their offer of support caught me off guard, a warm feeling blooming in my chest. It had been so long since anyone other than Avery had offered to help me, to support my dreams. "Thank you," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. "That's very kind of you both."
Elias smiled, the warmth in his eyes making my heart skip a beat. "We're happy to help," he said softly. "That's what community is all about, right?"
I nodded, a small smile tugging at my lips. The idea of community— of belonging somewhere, of having people to rely on— was both alluring and terrifying. For so long, I'd kept myself isolated, afraid to let anyone in. But sitting here with Elias and Finn, I felt a glimmer of something I hadn't experienced in a long time: hope.
As we finished our meals, the conversation flowed more easily. Elias and Finn shared stories about their experiences at the farmers' market, their laughter infectious. I found myself relaxing, even contributing a few anecdotes about some of my more colorful customers.
When the waitress brought the check, I reached for my purse, but Elias gently placed his hand on my arm. "Please, let us treat you," he said, his honey-warm eyes meeting mine. "It's the least we can do for you joining us on such short notice."
I hesitated, torn between my ingrained independence and the genuine kindness in Elias's eyes. "Are you sure?" I asked softly, my fingers still resting on my purse.
Finn nodded, his smile warm and reassuring. "Absolutely," he said, his deep voice gentle. "We've enjoyed your company, Lydia. Consider it a thank you for brightening our afternoon."
I hesitated, torn between my instinct to be self-reliant and the genuine kindness in Elias's offer. "I... thank you," I finally murmured, feeling a blush creep up my cheeks. "That's very generous of you."
Finn smiled, his green eyes twinkling. "It's our pleasure, Lydia. We've enjoyed getting to know you better."
As we stood to leave, I felt a pang of regret that our time together was coming to an end. The afternoon had been unexpectedly pleasant, a rare moment of connection in my usually solitary life.
"Thank you both for lunch," I said softly as we stepped out onto the sidewalk. "It was... nice." The word felt inadequate to describe the feelings I had because of these two today.
Today was definitely a great day, and I went out of my comfort zone… but as I looked at Elias and Finn, I knew it was worth it.