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Chapter 12

Keefe seemed like he wanted to leave, so Sophie attempted to pull him into the restaurant. Before she made it all the way, Lord Cassius had caught up with them. 

"Miss Foster, what a pleasant surprise." he said with an oily smile. 

"It isn't so pleasant for me, that's for sure." Sophie replied with an insincere smirk. Lord Cassius glared. 

"So, what are you doing here, with my disappointment of a son?" Keefe flinched only the slightest. Lord Cassius had never physically abused him, but his words did plenty the same. 

"Actually, we're here on a date." Sophie said, and Lord Cassius' eyebrow raised. "Which you are ruining right now."

"I find that a bit hard to believe. Last time I checked, you were still with that Vacker boy. He would have been a better match for you."

"Well, believe it. Because I've moved on from Fitz. And besides, Fitz didn't want to deal with my Unmatchable status. But I don't care."

Keefe seemed to come alive and said, "We need you to leave."

"What are you getting so defensive about? I'm just saying hello."

"Well we don't need your hello. You can't bully me into submission as a child and try to come back into my life like I'm some sort of doorway. Let's go, Sophie."

"Agreed."

"Just wait a minute!" Lord Cassius called after them. "Just . . . wait a minute."

"Ignore him." Keefe said, gently pulling her with him into the restaurant. "Let's enjoy our date that Biana so kindly set up for us."

They checked into the restaurant and the owner set up a private booth for them. A minute or two later, a waitress came up to them and said, "What would you two like to order?"

"Could I have the Mashed Carnissa root with Umber leaves? And also the . . ." he looked at the menu. "Fluffcream, please."

"Of course. And for you?" she asked, turning to Sophie. 

"I don't really know anything on here, so I'll just have the same." Sophie replied. The waitress looked a bit confused, but quickly went to the kitchen with their order.

"That was quite awkward." Keefe teased.

"Stop teasing me! It's not funny." Sophie replied, as Keefe laughed quietly. A wonderful, melodic sound. Sophie couldn't help but laugh with him. "You should laugh more."

"Hmm?"

"Laughing looks good on you. I'm used to all your snark and confidence. "

"You think just because I'm confident means I don't laugh, Foster?"

"It's not that. It's just . . . I don't see this side of you very often."

"Well, I guess you're going to see it more often, then."

"What are you talking about?"

"When we go on our dates, of course. I feel a lot more relaxed around you."

"That's good. I wouldn't want you to be scared around me." Sophie said, and cautiously grabbed his hand. He smiled in return and gave it a gentle squeeze. 

Their waitress came back in a flash, carrying all four of their plates precariously on her arms, and in her hands were two glass cups. 

"Oh! Do you need help with those?" Sophie asked, getting up to help.

"It's fine. I got it." Sophie read her nametag, and it read Ariawyn. Ariawyn set down their food and asked, "Now what would you like to drink? she asked, gesturing to their empty cups.

"I'll just have some Lushberry juice." Sophie said. 

"I'll have the same." Keefe replied with a wink at Sophie. She only rolled her eyes and smiled at his behavior. 

"Of course. I'll be right back." Ariawyn replied. 

After Ariawyn had left, Sophie asked, "So, what should we do after?"

"That depends on what you want to do."

"I don't know, why don't you decide? You probably know more about this place than me."

"We could get some jewelry for you." Keefe said, glancing at the bracelet on her wrist and her finger without his promise ring. "But it seems you already got some from somebody. How many guys do you have chasing you around?"

Sophie glanced at her hand and wrist, saying, "It's not like that, I promise.  Biana got me this bracelet after she found out that we were dating. And about the ring you got me, I completely forgot. I have such a terrible memory." Sophie said, hitting her head with her hand. 

Keefe grabbed it and said, "It's fine. I was kidding. You don't have to wear the ring all the time. But it looks nice on you." Sophie blushed. 

"Melanie's a great designer."

"Indeed she is." Keefe said, and glanced up at Ariawyn returning with their drinks. 

"Enjoy! You two make a cute couple. I'll leave you two be."

"Thanks." Keefe replied. 

While they were eating, Keefe kept cracking jokes and making her laugh. One time she laughed so hard Lushberry juice almost came out of her nose. 

"We should probably get out of here before people start thinking that we're crazy."

"Relax, Foster. It's just us here." he said, and walked up to her side of the table. "You wouldn't mind if I . . . ?"

Her breath hitched in her throat. "Of course not."

He gently kissed her, and she smiled against his lips. They pulled apart after a few seconds and Keefe said, "I guess we should get out of here."

"Don't we have to pay?"

"Yeah, but don't worry about it. I'll pay. Let's go." he put his hand on the small of her back and led her out of their private booth. They walked to the receptionist and Keefe was about to present his green cube representing his birth fund, but Sophie quickly gave hers to the receptionist. Keefe looked at her in protest, but the waitress had already swiped the cube against a scanner and totaled the cost of their brunch. She pulled him with her out of the restaurant. "Why'd you do that?" he asked. 

"It's fine. I don't mind."

"But I told you that I'd pay-"

She shut him up with another kiss. This time it was public. She heard whispers around her, but she didn't care. 

Is that Sophie Foster and Keefe Sencen?

I thought she was dating Fitz Vacker. 

 I heard that he cheated on her. 

Really? What a jerk. He doesn't deserve his Vacker name. 

I can't wait to tell my friends. They'll completely freak. I knew they would end up together. 

As their kiss ended, Sophie looked up to see Fitz and Novaline shy a few feet of her and Keefe.