Janie returns, and Xander opens the car door for her. Brad then races over to his car and opens the door for me. He takes my hand, helping me into his vehicle, ’Thank you, Brad.’
His smile widens, ‘You very welcome,’ he replies, shutting the door and then shouts to Xander, ‘We’ll meet you at the pizza restaurant,’ he says.
Brad turns the stereo on, playing it low enough that we can still talk, ‘I want to apologise, Rose,’ he says as he drives.
‘What for?’ I ask.
‘About failing to give you attention when I saw Xander’s Aston Martin. You should know I’m a huge car enthusiast. When you see my bedroom, which I know you will at some point,’ he smiles confidently. ‘You’ll see why I was excited to see it. My bedroom is covered with posters of cars, and I have a collection of model cars that belonged to my father that he made when he was a kid. We used to go to every car show and event in the state. Aston Martin’s were his favourite cars. My dad used to show me pictures of them all the time. Then when I was fifteen years old, he died of a heart attack. Seeing that car brought back many memories for me,’ he explains.
My stomach sinks with sadness, and I notice his hand clench tighter over the gear stick as he thinks of his father.
I place my hand over his and gently squeeze, ‘I’m so sorry about your father,’ I say to him.
‘You’re not mad at me anymore?’ He asks in a concerned tone.
‘No, I wasn’t mad at you in the first place, but it does put me at ease. I thought the car must have been better looking than me,’ I joke.
‘Are you kidding, Rose? You’re incredibly beautiful and the most intelligent woman at the academy. Every girl there says they wish they were you, and every guy wishes they were your boyfriend. I thought I’d never be lucky enough to get a date with you, but here I am, the luckiest guy in town,’ he smiles and rubs his thumb over my hand.
‘That’s really sweet of you to say, Brad,’ I smile, feeling my stomach skip with joy at his words.
‘So, what about your father?’ he asks.
‘My father is a quiet man and always works overtime. The only time I ever get to see him is in the morning, if I’m not running late for the day.’
As Brad nods, his hand gently squeezes mine, and then his fingers intertwine with mine. I feel a flutter in my stomach at the simple touch, and a rush of warmth spreads through my body. It's as if a silent connection has been made between us, one that transcends words and requires no explanation. I can't help but think that this date will exceed all my expectations after all.
‘There’s the restaurant,’ Brad points out.
He pulls over and parks the car, and only a moment later, Xander parks behind us.
‘Wait right there,’ Brad grins before exiting the car and running around to open my door.
He takes my hand and doesn’t let go as we enter the restaurant together.
The aroma of freshly baked pizza and garlic fills the air. The atmosphere is cosy and inviting, with warm lighting and soft music playing in the background. The decor is sophisticated and elegant, with rustic brick walls and wooden beams.
We are greeted by a host who leads all four of us to a table by a fireplace. The flames dance and flicker, casting a warm glow across the room. Above us hangs a small chandelier sparkling with crystals, reflecting the fire's light.
The table is adorned with a crisp white tablecloth, and the chairs are plush and comfortable. The menu is presented on elegant parchment paper, with an array of gourmet pizzas and exotic toppings. The waitstaff is attentive and professional, ready to assist us with requests.
‘This is so fancy for a pizza restaurant,’ Janie says, surprised.
Xander places his hand over Janie’s, ‘I was going to take you somewhere grand that had the most amazing views, but unfortunately, Brad had booked us here before consulting me about it. If it’s not up to your standards, I completely understand and will happily leave and take you somewhere worthy of your presence,’ he says to her.
Janie giggles, covering her lips with a hand, ‘Oh, you and your jokes, again,’ she laughs.
Xander gives her a puzzled look because Janie thinks he’s not being serious.
I can’t help but laugh with Janie over it for a moment.
‘You were right, Janie. Xander is hilarious,’ I smile at him as he glowers.
‘I love pizza. It’s my favourite food,’ Janie confesses to him.
‘It is?’ he says, straightening up in his chair and smiling again.
‘Just for your information,’ Brad says to Xander, ‘I tried to consult you, but you kept ignoring me also, this restaurant is unlike any other pizza restaurant and is known as the country's best and fanciest. The ingredients are more expensive and luxurious. As you see on the menu, you can order lobster pizza, chicken Caesar salad pizza, Caviar and smoked salmon pizza, Gooseneck barnacle pizza and more.
‘Ooh, so fascinating,’ I say, intrigued as I gaze at the menu.
Brad smiles proudly at himself.
‘What would you like to order,’ Brad asks me.
‘I’ve been craving the taste of meat all day. Ooh, this one,’ I say to him, pointing to the prime steak and abalone pizza.
My mouth salivates as I think of the steak. The waiter steps over to take our orders, but I make sure to tell him that I want the steak to be rare on the pizza. He nods and walks away.
The flavour of blood from the steak is bliss as I scoff the whole pizza down. I used to be lucky to squeeze three slices in, but now, since I’m a werewolf, I’m always hungry for raw and bloody meat and can eat a whole pizza and still feel hungry.
I guzzle down my glass of wine and realise I’ve finished eating before anyone else.
Brad laughs, ‘I’ve never seen a girl eat like that. It’s a nice change to see,’ he smiles, making me feel less embarrassed.