The corner Walker leads us to is dim and quiet. There’s a quaint atmosphere to the restaurant in the main building of his vineyard. White lattice decorates the walls of the restaurant, and what I’m pretty sure is actual ivy crawls up through the slats. The ivy is layered with fairy lights that glow with a warmth that accents the dim atmosphere of the place.
Amazing smells filter in from the kitchen, too.
A few random people sit at the restaurant tables, but we’re ushered to a booth in the corner by Walker. It’s almost like he thought about sight-lines and noise and decided I didn’t need either.
My gaze finds him to thank him, but he’s already blazing a trail back in the direction of the kitchen.
I sink into the booth before my knees can argue about going after him.
Knox sits beside me without asking, but I don’t mind. Our upper arms brush, and the contact sends a small, grounding jolt through my system. There’s a pleasantness to him that reminds me of a steady tree.
His smell of spring rain and mocha swirls around me, providing a heat deep in my belly that threads its way through my veins. I want to lean into it instead of away from it. My body aches to seek more of it. Draw comfort from it.
I’m not sure how I feel about that yet.
The haze of my trance is pierced when I hear a familiar voice.
“Hey, hey, hey,” Eli says as he slides into the booth across the table from me. “This seat taken?”
His glasses frame his beautiful face, and his sleeves are rolled up to his elbows. The sweater-vest he’s got on suits him, but there’s concern behind his gaze.
I actually smile. “Hey there. I didn’t know you were joining us.”
Eli’s smile is breathtaking. “Got a text from Knox. Said everyone was gathering for some lunch. Figured I’d drop by since it’s my free period at the school.”
Eli’s scent of citrus and honey soothes something inside of me. Like a cup of hot tea when one is sick.
“He also said you almost tipped over because you’re so hungry,” Eli adds.
I balk. “What? I did not almost tip over.”
Knox snorts.
Traitor.
I quickly change the subject. “How’s Amber feeling?”
Walker comes over with silverware and water for all of us. “Hey, Eli.”
Eli smiles at Walker. “Need any help with anything?”
Walker just shakes his head. “Give me twenty and I’ll be back.”
I hold up my finger to try and get Walker’s attention, but he’s gone just as quickly as he popped up.
Shouldn’t a waiter or a waitress be doing this for us?
“Amber’s good,” Eli says, snapping me out of my trance and tugging my attention back to him. “Those honey popsicles were a great idea.”
I smile. “How are the lavender baths? Helping with the sleep at night?”
Eli nods emphatically. “It’s helping her to focus at school as well. They really relax her. She’s been doing the lavender baths at night, but I got her these little lavender-scented shower tablet things. She just places one under the water and it fizzes and gives off a nice lavender scent that helps calm her before we have to leave the house.”
Knox nods toward me. “Speaking of Omegas, our brilliant Omega here forgot to eat breakfast this morning.”
OurOmega.
The words slam against my chest and make something inside of me ache.
