Chapter 3: The Brunch
Xavier led the woman that he just saved to the famous café that was popular among the tourists these days. He did not understand why would the tourists would come here and right now, he will be experiencing that as well.
Luckily, there was someone that he knew who worked there as well.
Xavier opened the door for the woman that he did not yet get a chance to hear her name. But in due time, it will come. He just hoped it will be a beautiful name like the woman herself.
Sam perked up as he walked into the café since she can sense his presence anyway. She waved at them before she was returning to put the coffee that was being ordered before and Xavier was pulling a chair for the woman to sit down. He was looking at her now.
"I know this is awkward but I don't even know your name and we're about to eat together," he said before he was smiling at her. she blushed again before she was clearing her throat.
"Stella Canali, nice to meet you, and thank you for saving my life," she said as Stella was focusing her blue eyes on him. He nodded.
"Stella," he tested and he liked it. His wolf purred as an approval to the name. "And I am Xavier Marchand and thank you for treating me today," he said before he went to show the menu. Stella looked at it before she was furrowing her eyebrows. Clearly, she could not read Greek.
"I am sorry but I don't even know what was written here. I don't even speak the language," she said before she turned to look at Xavier.
"Will you order than for me? If you don't mind," she said before her cheeks warmed at that prospect. She was shy with him, that's a new one.
"Of course, it would be my pleasure. What would you like?" he asked her before Stella pulled out her cell and showed a picture to him. Xavier nodded before he was moving to the counter as Sam was smirking at him.
"I can see that you have a new companion, Beta," she said before Xavier was frowning at her. she laughed before she was sniffing around. He growled.
"Woah, relax big guy. I just wanted to know if you bang her or not," she said before she was getting ready for his order. He ordered two Special Brunch and two café's hot chocolates as Sam was arching her eyebrow at him.
"And you're paying? For that woman you just met?" she asked before Xavier was rolling his eyes at her.
'That woman is my future bride,' he said in the mind link before Sam was blinking at him. He smirked. Served her right or making fun of my mate, he mused before he was giving her the credit card that he had and Sam swiped it.
"Thank you and it will be ready in 10 minutes," Sam said before Xavier was going back to the table that Stella occupied. She was staring out the window of the small café before she smiled when she was looking at the little ones that were running around. She turned around when she sensed that he was near her.
Hypersensitive, are we?
"I nearly forgot that I have to pay for the meal. I am so sorry, how much was it?" Stella asked him before she was pulling out her purse to get some cash to pay to him. Xavier put his hand on hers and instantly, electrics were flowing between them. Stella jerked back before she was gripping her purse tightly. Xavier smiled.
"It's fine. I don't wish for a woman to be paying when she was in my care. Besides, I just asked you out so it is common for me to pay for your meal," he said before Stella blushed. Clearly, she was not used to be pampered at all.
"Thank you then, I supposed," she said as she turned to look at him and smiled for the first time. It hit him like a rock was throwing at his head for it was the beautiful smile he ever saw in his life. Xavier cleared his throat when Sam was putting the trays in front of them consisted of two Special Brunch and two famous hot chocolates.
"Enjoy your meal," she said before she was eyeing Xavier. He rolled his eyes before Stella was thanking her and turned her attention to the meals in front of her.
"Wow, this was much more than I can digest, I'm afraid," she said but she was digging in her meal as Xavier can sense that her stomach growled just now. He smiled before he was taking a bite as well.
"Well, don't be shy now. It is really good stuff," Xavier said before he felt another brush of mind link inside his head. He sighed inwardly, thinking it was Sam but apparently, it was his mom.
'Mama, why are you trying to reach me?' Xavier asked her before his mother sighed. Not good, she never did that before.
'Where have you been? It has been hours since you went into town. I am afraid that you would be attacked by the locals,' she said before Xavier was taking a deep breath.
'I am just having a brunch so I hope you don't mind,' he said before his mother was weeping.
'Mama, what is it?' he asked her before she was taking a deep breath.
'It's...your sister. You have to come home now,' she said before everything was frozen inside him. No! No, no, no! Not her sister. Not Diana!
'Okay, I will be back now,' he said before he stood up abruptly from the chair, sending it to the floor. Everyone in the café stared at him before Stella was looking at him strangely.
"I am sorry but I have to go. Something came up," he said before he was rushing out the door and before he could say anything, he was running toward his home.
*****
Stella looked at the retreating figure of the man that has saved her life for the first time in her 25 years of existence. She was looking at his broad shoulders, lean body, and those powerful thighs. She cannot get enough of those before the young man from earlier was greeting him and they went away.
She sighed before she was looking at the untouched Special Brunch that Xavier did not take the time to enjoy. She turned to look at her own. It was big enough to share for 4 meals but this was much worse.
Eating alone in public like she was just being dumped by Xavier.
Stella shook her head. No, that cannot be right. She was not dating him and he told herself that he wanted her to treat him for saving her until it was him that paid for their meals and him that took off early.
Now, she felt like an idiot.
"What am I even doing? Wanting for him to notice me?" Stella mumbled in Italian before she was chuckling lowly. She has been a virgin for too long now and it was time for her to lose it.
Maybe during the Folk Festival if that's any consolation prize after all. She was about to enjoy her meal again when someone was greeting her.
"Hey, may I seat with you?" the voice was feminine enough with its light accent and when Stella turned to look, it was the waitress that was waving at them when they first came inside the café. Stella smiled at her before she was ushering her to take a seat.
"I'm Sam, by the way. I see that you are going out with my friend," she said before Stella was blinking her eyes at her. Stella was checking this woman out in front of her with her brunette hair and her peculiar irises.
It was red, or was it maroon? She could never tell in this lighting and perhaps this woman was wearing red contacts.
"I'm sorry, friend? Who are you referring to?" she asked her before Sam chuckled a little. She turned to look at the untouched meal and then Stella suddenly blushed. So, Xavier was not running away because she was afraid that this woman would be finding him with her but he did not want his friend to find out about him going out with her.
Well, that was...complicated enough.
"Don't worry. This is new to him for he has been waiting for so long to find his other half," Sam said before Stella was blinking her eyes at her.
"Other half?" she asked her as if Sam was talking in a different language, a language that she did not understand.
Sam chuckled before she patted her hands. It was warm and Stella liked it. Just like Xavier's.
"We talk later. Why don't you go around town and I pack this up for you? I will be out at 3 PM if that's okay with you?" she asked her before Stella was processing the information. Was Sam asking her to hang out?
"Sure, that would be great," Stella said as she was smiling at the waitress. She might be alone in this island but at least she was making new friends.
"Okay, I pack this up and meet you later, yes? I have to go now," she said before she was picking the unfinished meal of Xavier before Stella was finishing hers. She could eat that later if Xavier was not coming back to take it.
No harm in eating his for he has abandoned it. Let's not waste our food, yeah, Stella mused before she focused on the streets again but this time there was a smile on her lips as she was watching the children played.