Cahill walked slightly ahead of Evie, holding the door open as they walked into the night air. The humidity that hung in the air clung to Evie, wrapping her in a blanket of warmth. Even so, a light breeze tickled her cheek, caressing her face slightly. She breathed in deeply, inhaling the wonderful aromas that had become so familiar in only a week's time: street food, cafes, and the sweet smell of the buildings cooling down after being beaten in the sun. She swore she saw the city physically breathe a sigh of relief now that the sun had dipped below the horizon and the stars were twinkling and winking at the pedestrians below. Evie closed her eyes and took in everything, not noticing that Cahill had come to stand beside her.
"What are you doing, waiting for another accident?" Cahill marveled, teasing her. He watched the starlight play with the blond strands of her hair. The way she moved; the faint light made her icy blue eyes glow in the darkness. Beautiful, Cahill thought, mesmerized by Evie's appearance.
Evie stopped and looked at him, her eyes wide in delight. "I'm embracing the evening sky," she told him innocently. She winked and asked, "Why? Are you jealous?"
Cahill threw her a devilish grin and motioned their way with his hand. "If it pleases you, I thought we would walk. The restaurant isn't far, and the weather is nice."
Evie could only manage to nod in agreeance, suddenly feeling very timid and shy. She walked side-by-side with Cahill. They remained quiet, but the tension filled the void. As their arms aimlessly swung by their sides, brief brushes with hands and hips sent jolts of electricity surging through their bodies. Each seemed lost in their own world, each seemed to be searching for the other to find them.
Cahill was the one to break the silence. "So, what brought you to the city?"
Evie shrugged, "I guess the stereotypical quest to find myself." She looked at him. "I never felt like I really belonged. Like I was lost in my hometown."
Cahill looked back and nodded. "I can understand."
"YOU?! There is no way you can get how I feel!" Evie insisted, but a look of mockery danced in the corners of her mouth and the sparkle of her eye.
Cahill nearly lost it and worked to ground himself. She isn't ready for it yet, he thought. "Yes, believe it or not," Cahill replied. "I may have been popular but that doesn't mean I felt I belong."
Evie looked down, nodding slightly, seeming to accept his explanation. They continued walking, settling into the silence. "Where are we going?" Evie asked.
Cahill smiled, "A charming café I discovered that serves divine cuisine. I thought it would be an easy way to settle into this dah..." He stopped himself and hoped she hadn't caught it.
He was mistaken. Evie smiled broadly, raising an eyebrow. "This date?" She looked down, clasping her hands behind her back as they continued to walk. "I certainly am not dressed for a date. I merely thought it was a business meeting."
Cahill watched as she glanced down at her dress and appraised her attire. He held his breath as she smoothed the wrinkled fabric, wiping away evidence of her recent struggle. He bit his lip as her hands reached the nape of her neck, smoothing the fine hairs. The neck he longed to nuzzle, to kiss, to have as his. "Uh, you look amazing," Cahill stammered. He softly cursed himself for not being smoother. He glanced over and thought he saw Evie blushing. He looked more directly at her and she was. Though it was dark outside on their walk, he could see the color creeping into her cheeks, feeling the warmth suddenly radiating from her hand. Feeling emboldened, he continued, "Truth be told, I always found you beautiful."
"Then why did you stay away in high school?" Evie asked. She searched his eyes for a secret response, but Cahill was not letting her in that easy.
"I had a lot of expectations on me," he answered, the lie slipping from his tongue was so easily rehearsed. Truth be told, Cahill did have a lot of expectations, but not in the human realm. His enrollment in the high school was to placate human authorities, to make his presence known so he didn't just seem to appear. It was to make his presence normal. He only was in school half a day on average, splitting his time with Mythics subjects and lessons on how to be royal. "I guess making friends was an afterthought."
"Oh," was all Cahill heard from Evie.
"Here we are!" Cahill chirped, pleased to be free of the uncomfortable subject. He wanted to tell her who he was, the secret of his world, their world. He wanted to tell her how she was his Fated One, how she can become a member of the Mythics, how she had all the makings of a dragon. But it wasn't time. Not yet. He held the door open and caught a whiff of her perfume, mixed with faint traces of that beast Mr. Chromeon. His dragon leapt up, ready to protect her, but Cahill quickly reigned him in using breathing techniques that had become all too familiar.
Considering the incident and HR investigation, Cahill had called ahead and requested they placed his reservation on hold. "Hughes, party of 2," he directed the hostess. She looked at him, a pleasant smile plastered across her face, as a delicate finger scanned down the list. When it stopped, she had to maintain her composure as he was indicated as an esteemed guest.
"Right this way, Mr. Hughes," she eagerly replied, tucking two menus into her arms and quickly walking ahead of them.
Cahill took a breath and covered Evie's hand in his, holding it. Ignoring the electricity, he turned and winked at her. "So you don't get lost." He watched Evie smile and that rosy color return to her cheeks, making her eyes appear more pronounced. I could get lost in those eyes, he thought. He focused on the hostess and navigating through the restaurant.
The hostess guided them into an elevator. Evie missed what floor was selected as she was busy marveling at the feel of his hand dwarfing her own. His hands are so amazing, I feel so safe, she thought. She looked at the callouses that surrounded his hand and lightly ran a finger along his, noticing the sharp inhale from her companion. He glanced at her as her eyes sparkled with mischief. "Who's lost now?" she asked him and saw his eyes go wide, the pupil growing large.
"Here we are! Right this way, " the hostess beamed, interrupting their secret thoughts. Evie gasped as she looked around. They had been escorted to a terrace overlooking the city skyline. The weather was perfect, and she noticed the café had blankets nearby and a roaring fire.
Cahill laughed at her response. "Well, I only speculated this was a date, so this isn't me going all out," he said with a wink.
She brought her hand to her mouth, as though to catch the wrong responses. "I think this is perfect for our 'business meeting'," Evie responded, emphasizing the meeting with air quotes. The two giggled and sat down, the hostess busy pouring water for them as they reviewed the menu.
"So," Cahill started, still gazing at his menu. "Any ideas of what you may want to eat?"
Evie, feeling cheeky, couldn't help herself. "Besides the obvious?" She laughed as Cahill's eyes met hers when his menu dropped. He collected himself, clearing his throat as she continued to laugh. "I'm sorry, I couldn't resist."
"Ms. Charon, we haven't known each other officially for eight hours and this is the way you address your boss?" Cahill asked, raising an eyebrow, a hint of dare in his voice.
"Au contraire," Evie replied. "We knew OF each other for over eight years. I will accept none of that. Besides," she paused before she continued, in almost a whisper, "I feel like it is so natural with you."
He nodded, "I know the feeling." A dazzling smile danced across his face.
"As for the meal," she redirected the conversation. "Can I put my trust in you?"
"It would be my honor and privilege," Cahill answered. "Anything to stay away from?"
"Nothing," Evie answered coyly. "I'm an open book."
***
Across town, Matt walked into a dive bar, worse for wear. His conversation with Dr. Mills had been terrible and now, Arual wouldn't answer his calls. He took little solace in finding another in for the doctor, but this Evangeline Charon would be his undoing. She was their ticket into the Mythics, he knew it, Dr. Mills knew it, the higher ups knew it. But how?
He waved to the bartender, who knew him as a regular. He signaled for a drink and sat down in the nearest booth. He pulled out his phone and opened the article connected to the Hughes humanitarian mission Dr. Mills was going to pursue. He sighed, his head heavy in his hand, as the waitress walked his beer and shot over to him. He looked up long enough to say, "Keep 'em coming," before returning to his phone.
He downed the shot and turned to begin nursing his beer when the door slammed open. There was a large commotion and he turned around to look in that direction, as did all the other patrons. They all watched as a lone man stumbled into the bar, clearly already inebriated. Matt looked him over and sneered. He could have been in Dr. Mills' family. His appearance left nothing to be desired and, even drunk, his voice was like nails on the chalkboard. He watched the man struggle to sit on a bar stool while other patrons moved away from him.
"Hey!" he slurred. "Where ar' you goin'?" He turned to the bartender. "I wanna have two beers," he demanded, holding up found fingers.
"Buddy, I think all you need is a good night sleep," the bartender responded, turning his back on the man and returning to his customers.
"Hey! You don't know who I am!" He called out. "I am amazin'. Or I was. 'Til some stupid bitch took it 'rom me."
Matt's ears perked up. Drama was always of interest to him. He leaned back in his seat and kept an eye on the action.
Garnering no response, the man attempted to stand on the barstool sides, "Ya hear tha'? Some bitch took it. Some 'good news' she was." He noticed the remnants of a drink on a table nearby and swooped down to take it, throwing it back to the cries of the waitress. "Now I know why the Incels do what they do!"
"Alright you," the bartender said, his attention now directed to the man. "You either get it together or take it out of here. I will not stand for that kind of talk in my bar!"
"Psssh! You prolly got some bitch wife..." the man started, but his words trailed off into incoherent babble. Matt saw fire in the bartender's eyes as he moved toward the man, arm cocked to deck him. Matt quickly ran over there.
"Now, come on, Mickey, we all have tough nights," Matt reasoned. "My friend, he is just fine. Lemme take him to sit with me, alright? Away from ya?"
Mickey eyeballed Matt, looking him over head-to-toe. "Only 'cause I know you. But Matt, he can't be talking about my wife like that."
"You're right. In earnest, he shouldn't be talking about anyone like that! I'll talk to him," Matt promised, meeting his eyes. Mickey nodded and turned back to the drinks he was preparing. Matt slung the man's arm over his shoulder and pulled him over to his table.
The man roused and looked around suddenly confused. "I wanna talk to Mr. Hughes!"
Matt looked at him, his brow furrowed. "Mr. Hughes?"
The man nodded, "I just lost my job there taday because of Miss 'good news.'" He snorted, "Some good news."
"Who is good news?" Matt prodded.
"Some girl who started in my department, um" the man brought his finger to his chin, trying to remember, while swaying a bit. "Charon. Evangeline Charon. Yup, that's her."
Matt's eyes grew huge. He found a way to redeem himself into Dr. Mills' good graces. "You know Evangeline Charon?"
"Yup. She turned down my advances too. Told on me," he slurred. "And then...BOOM!"
He yelled out the last word, again drawing the entire bar's attention to him. Matt waved them off, motioning that he didn't mean it. Interest piqued, he returned his attention to the man, "Boom?"
The man nodded and whispered, "Boom."
Matt moved both hands, puzzled, "What does that mean, 'boom?'"
The man looked to either side and leaned down close to the table, motioning Matt to join him. When he did, the man whispered, "I saw a dragon!"
"A dragon?" Matt tried to hide the glee in his voice, but this was a big break. "Who was it?"
"Mr. Hughes, the younger one," the man replied.
Matt smiled and then, looking concerned, he asked, "And you lost your job today?"
The man only nodded to which Matt continued, "And Evangeline Charon caused it?" Again, seeing a nod, Matt elaborated further, "And I'm sure you want some revenge?"
The man met Matt's eyes, they were dark and seemed to be devoid of soul and conscience. Matt knew this man had dark intent when he replied, "Yes."
Matt smiled and extended his hand, "My name is Matt. I think I have someone who would very much like to get to know you."
The man looked at him in his drunken stupor and struggled to join his hand with Matt's. "My name is Gary Chromeon. It's nice to meet you."
"Oh, trust me," Matt replied. "The pleasure is entirely mine."
***
Cahill and Evie were laughing as they finished their meal. Cahill had ordered steak, medium, with a side salad and dressed baked potato. Evie brought her napkin, touching the corners of her mouth as she leaned back from the table. "Cahill, that was excellent! A superb choice, thank you."
Cahill raised his glass to her, "To our amazing evening." Evie raised and met his glass with a quiet clink. She smiled into her glass, glancing over the rim to gaze at him. He's so handsome, she thought dreamily, as though she were a schoolgirl again.
"So, down to business," Evie said steadily, placing her glass down. "You mentioned replacing my watch?"
Cahill smiled at her and stood to his feet. He walked over to her side of the table and placed down a gift bag. "I always admired your easy elegance and I didn't want to do anything grossly ostentatious for the first gift," he told her.
"First gift?" Evie asked, an inquisitive look on her face.
Cahill smiled and began to lean down. "Yes," he simply said. Brushing a piece of hair away from her face he continued, "Because I intend to give you many more." With that, he gingerly placed his lips on her cheek, pressing them into the rosy surface.
When he returned to stand, he saw Evie was holding the cheek he kissed and smiled. She reached for the gift bag. "Only if you insist," she replied, attempting to reply with coolness in her tone, but her giddiness made her voice shake. She pulled out a jewelry box and opened it, only to gasp. It was a watch like the one she was wearing, with a delicate and bracelet-like quality. "Oh, Cahill," she whispered. "It's beautiful!"
Cahill was marveling at her face when his phone chimed, signaling a call. He picked it up and, upon seeing the caller, his face immediately fell. "Excuse me please, Evie?" With Evie's nod, he stepped away from the table and answered the call. "Father?"
"Cahill! Where are you?" his father replied.
"I'm out to dinner at the moment," he answered. "There was a big HR issue at work that took longer than normal to resolve."
He heard his dad huff, "Yeah, I heard about it. Look, son. You better get back to the Cavern. STAT!"
"Yes, sir. I'm on my way." Cahill hung up the phone and made his way back to Evie. He saw she had placed the watch on her wrist and was admiring the way it looked, the light weight. He took a knee and cleared his throat.
Evie turned toward the noise and gasped, teasing him, "Cahill! This is so sudden. A marriage proposal so soon?" Her eyes twinkled at the joke.
Cahill willed a small smile before replying, "I'm sorry, Evie, but it's a little too early for that. Even eight years in." He looked down, running his fingers absentmindedly through his hair. "I'm afraid I have to go. But I will have a car take you wherever you need to go."
Evie took his hand from his head and slipped her hand, squeezing it lightly. "I understand, Cahill. I'll see you soon?" Her eyes looked up at him, pleading for a positive response.
Cahill kissed her hand and then her cheek. "As soon as possible, Evie." He rose to his feet and disappeared into the night.