Page 40 of Unknowingly Being his Brat

Milo

“Well, isn’t this nice?” Cass stated, eyeing the dark wooden table we sat at nervously. It was almost like the wafting scent of grilled meat didn’t have any soothing effect on his nerves.

I couldn’t help but snort. We’d finally been able to leave our little cocoon at home and decided it was time for me to clear things up with Jeremy. So, here we were, eating at the local diner, just the four of us.

“It really is,” Darius agreed, shooting Cass a blinding smile. “What are you guys having?”

It was lunch time and even though I knew I was hungry, I didn’t feel like eating just yet, my nerves were all over the place and had dampened my appetite. What if Jeremy got angry with me? What if he sided with Dad? What if he’d told Dad about our little meeting here and he just “happened” to show up?

“I’m having the tomato soup,” Cass replied, looking over the menu. “Loren told me it was a fall must-eat, so I believe Imusthave it.”

We all nodded in agreement because, yes, it was truly delicious.

“Try it with her garlic bread,” Jeremy suggested, pointing on the menu where the pictures were. “It’s buttery and so soft. Plus, she makes these croutons for the soup too and they’re made from the leftover garlic bread.”

“Fine, fine,” Cass batted him away from his menu. “I’ll try it all.”

“What are you having?” Darius asked me.

We didn’t need the menus as we grew up eating in here, but I still felt like I needed to try something new. “I don’t know, what are you having?”

“I feel like being boring and just getting the usual,” he said with a shrug.

“Or,” I began, handing him one of the menus from the end of the table. “We could try out something new together?”

His smile was soft as he accepted the menu. “I like that idea much better.”

“Wow,” Jeremy declared with wide eyes at us. “I couldn’t see how you’d fit together before, but now… Fate truly knows what it’s doing, huh?”

I snickered and bumped into Darius. “I for one can’t complain.”

Darius’ smile was blinding. “Neither can I.” His lips found mine in a quick kiss before we looked over the menu together in search of something neither of us had ever tried before.

“I’m not eating the fish,” I stated firmly as we continued to look over the options.

“But the rest won’t be filling enough,” Darius argued.

“Why don’t you just order a little of everything?” Cass suggested his tone a little exasperated. Maybesomeonewas getting hangry.

“I like that idea,” I decided. “And let’s try the smoothies too, I’ve only ever had soda or water here.”

“Done,” Darius agreed. “And an ice tea, just because.”

“Done,” I grinned.

This was the first time we’d ever eaten here together, and something so small seemed so much bigger in a way. Like this was our first of many. I couldn’t wait to try out the other restaurants around the nearby towns, maybe we could even travel together one day. I’d always wanted to visit other countries, maybe Darius would want that, too.

“Hey there lads!” Loren greeted us with a warm smile. “It’s nice to see you out together.”

Loren had always been such a warm person. Same with his wife, but Loren was just a tad warmer, if that made sense. He was one of the few in the pack who seemed to notice me at gatherings. It was a shame they rarely attended nowadays, but it simply meant their diner was doing well. Couldn’t fault them for prioritizing their business, I would’ve done the same.

“Hey,” we greeted back, all smiling.

“We’re up for something new today,” Darius informed him and then proceeded to list all the things we would need. Loren onlysmiled as he wrote each thing down, not caring about the absurd amount of food we needed.

“If you can’t finish it, I know Jeremy can help you out,” Loren said, winking playfully at Jeremy who really was a sort of trashcan when it came to food. I had no idea where he put it.

“It would be my pleasure,” Jeremy agreed with a laugh, his hand finding Cass’ thigh under the table.