Page 35 of Dark Sold Mate

They got out of the truck. The bistro was small, cozy, and had warm lighting and the smell of fresh bread. A waitress guided them to a corner table by the window facing the street.

Silas pulled out a chair for Elle. She glanced at him and sat down.

The waitress came back, and Silas ordered a cup of coffee and told Elle to order whatever she wanted. She ordered a sandwich and chicken soup. Her voice was so soft and polite when addressing the waiter. She never talked to him like that.

The waiter walked away after writing their orders in a notepad, and an awkward silence settled again.

“So,” Silas started.

So,” Elle still looked out the window.

“How is the book you were reading?”

“Fine.”

“What's it about?”

“Things.”

Silas bit back a sigh. This was more difficult than he had imagined.

The food came, and they both had something to focus on. Silas watched Elle eat and noticed the way she was enjoying each bite, as if she were examining the taste. Maybe this was a habit she’d developed over time.

“This is good,” Elle said after a couple of minutes, unable to help herself.

“Yeah?”

“The soup. It's really good. They use fresh herbs.” Elle took another spoonful. “Most diners use dried ones. Fresh herbs make a lot more difference than people think.”

“You know a lot about cooking.”

Elle shrugged. “I worked in a restaurant for years. You pick things up.”

“Tell me about it,” Silas said. “The restaurant.”

“Why?”

“Because I want to know. I would like to know what your life was like. What you did in the span of those eight years.”

“Why do you care?”

“Because you are my mate.”

Elle set down her spoon. “You do not need to know me because we are bonded.”

“You're right. I don't. But I'm asking anyway.”

They stared at each other on either side of the table. It was as if Elle was fighting herself, and Silas could understand that she was trying not to knock down her walls, but maybe, deep within her, she wanted someone to know what she went through.

“Fine,” she exhaled sharply. “But that is because this soup is actually good, and I am currently in a little bit of a better mood.”

Silas smiled. “I'll take it.”

Elle picked up her spoon again and took another sip. “I initially started cleaning dishes at a diner called Rosie. It was the only place that was going to employ me without any references or experience. This crass old man called Marcus intimidated me in the beginning. But he saw how hard I worked, and he promoted me to a waitress.”

“What was that like?”

“Awful at first. I was terrible at it.” Her lips twitched. “I spilled beverages and confused orders. Marcus nearly fired me in the first month.”