Tolyan follows like he’s been here a hundred times before. I want to look cool and all that, but I just can’t. The place is freaking amazing. There are huge blue aquariums that act like partitions and walls. Colorful tropical fish swim in the beautifully decorated and set-up tanks. I spot small pink anemones in a lot of the tanks as well, looking like little flowers.
“Here you are,” she says, gesturing to a booth ensconced by jellyfish tanks. The pink and orange creatures float like they’re in space. Their movements are amazingly soothing, like a relaxant for the brain. I feel all the tension in my body easing. “Just the table you asked for.”
My head swivels in Tolyan’s direction. It’s like he’s known all along what I like. I’m flattered and surprised he already seems to know so much about me. That’s a lot of observation and processing.
“Thank you,” he says.
I sit down, making sure I can also get a good view of the aquarium. He takes the seat opposite and the hostess hands us elegant leather-bound menus, then leaves.
“This is unbelievable,” I say. “It’s the best restaurant I’ve ever been to.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
“It’s great. And I love jellyfish. The way they move is so nice.”
The skin around his eyes relaxes a little. “Good.”
“I didn’t even know there were restaurants like this. I mean, I’ve read about those marine park places, like in Florida where the restaurants have views of the dolphin tanks, but this is a real restaurant restaurant.”
“Dolphin tanks?”
“Yeah, you know. Attached to the pools where they swim around? I read about them and thought it’d be cool to have lunch and watch dolphins. But this is even better.” I look around. The tanks are situated in such a way that we have complete privacy. “It’s absolutely beautiful.”
A server comes over, carrying a tray with a bouquet of pink roses and two flutes of champagne. He hands the flowers to Tolyan then places one flute in front of him and the other in front of me.
“Congratulations,” Tolyan says, giving me the roses.
Unexpected pleasure heats my face. I can’t remember the last time I received flowers. “For me? Really?”
He nods.
I hold them gently and bury my face in the soft blossoms. They smell amazing. I look closely and note the white silver ribbon around the bunch. It reads, Congratulations. Emotions, warm and sweet, swell in my chest until my heart is full and achy.
I lift my head and gaze at him, my eyes hot. “Thank you,” I manage to whisper through the thick lump in my throat.
He isn’t smiling, but his gaze seems softer. “My pleasure.”
“You’re so good to me.”
He says nothing. The lighting isn’t the best where he’s seated, shadowing a big portion of his face. But I can see his lips curve.
This must be how Cinderella felt when she finally got to attend the ball and have a little fun after years of living a horrible life.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
“It’s nothing. A toast?” He lifts his glass.
I raise mine, and we clink.
And I tell the universe that Tolyan isn’t just a fresh, fragrant lemon, but the whole damn orchard.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Tolyan
The next few weeks go by as planned: uneventfully.
The café doesn’t bother her. Videos of Eric Jones acting like the ass he is go viral on social media, and Coffee Heaven is busy with damage control. They don’t have the bandwidth to pester Angelika even if they wanted to.