It’s a short drive there, and I happily uncoil myself from the vehicle with a slight wince. Oh well, it’s an excuse to use the tub in our bathroom, and I get to see Caelia now. I’ll deal with the trade off with a smile.
The Sweet Cafehas dim lighting, books everywhere, and cute candelabra inside. The place smells amazing too, making my stomach grumble.
“There’s a bakery here,” Levon mentions to me as he looks for Caelia. “Why is she back in that corner?”
“I bet it’s so she can watch the door,” Miles says, his long legs already walking in her direction.
“What the fuck has this girl gone through to have to think about that?” I ask under my breath. I look around with new eyes, noticing that the barista is staring at us.
At least she has people looking out for her. I don’t care if someone watches us the entire date, it means there are still good people protecting her.
Walking over with Levon, I smile at Caelia.
“Hi, beautiful. The bakery smells amazing. I’m going to grab a coffee and something from the case. Can I get you anything?” I ask.
“Just more water, please,” she says with a small smile.
I notice there is a plate already on the table and nod.
“I’ll get it,” Levon says. “You want a cinnamon roll if they have one?”
“Mmm. Yes please,” I say, sliding into a chair.
It doesn’t escape me that Miles moves a chair to the end of the table so Caelia has more room. We all need to sort our shit out.
“How was the drive?” I ask her, inhaling slowly, hoping to catch her scent. I almost frown when I only catch a very slight hint of cherries.
“It wasn’t bad,” Caelia says with a smile, leaning forward on her arms. Her hair tumbles down her back, and I get lost in her hazel eyes for a moment.
“What made you change your mind about us?” I ask, desperate to hear her voice again.
“My dad,” she admits. “It’s what I like to call ‘ice heart to hearts.’ Lately, when he wants to have a difficult conversation with me, he tosses my skates at me to skate with him.”
Miles snorts, covering his mouth with his hand when I glance at him.
“You can’t hide from him on the ice,” he says. “That’s neutral territory, right?”
“It didn’t use to be,” she says. “I had a long stretch where I was terrified of an ice rink. I couldn’t be on the ice at all.”
“Yeah?” Miles responds, sobering as he gazes at her. “It sounds as if you’re moving past that.”
“I am,” Caelia says. “I haven’t been on the ice with anyone other than my dad which helps. He clears the ice or makes sure it’s early enough that it’s just us.”
“No one gives you shit about that?” Miles asks as Levon rejoins us.
“I’m pretty sure the world would stop with a single glare from my father,” she chuckles.
This is an omega who believes the stars were hung by her dad, and I love that for her. He’s obviously been her protector her entire life.
“He scares the shit out of me,” Levon says, making sure Caelia and I have what we need. “Has it always been the two of you?”
“It has,” Caelia says, her eyes reflecting a remembered pain. “My mom left when I was little, and one of my first memories was learning how to skate with my dad. I’d nap while he worked when I was little.”
“I didn’t know her when she was that young,” Miles grumbles when Levon and I sneak a glance at him.
“Are you giving him shit?” Caelia asks, rolling her eyes. “Miles reminds me of something bad that happened to me, and it makes me uncomfortable. I know it’s unfair. However, we didn’t really know each other. He used to tease me occasionally for not paying enough attention to the game.”
“You remember that?” he chuckles. “I don’t even know why I yelled that at you. It was a really bad game. I had to have my nose packed because I caught an elbow to my face. I couldn’t smell shit.”
