The Perfect Love Story

Chapter 6

Leanna sniffled and wiped her eyes as Encanto ended. She cried 3 or 4 times during the movie. She was very hormonal because of her pregnancy. I ran my hand through my hair and sighed softly.

"Are you okay, Melody?" She asked me softly and I looked over at her. I gave her a small smile and nodded my head.

"Yeah, I am okay, Leanna. I am going to go check on Toro and Milo." I got up and went to the kitchen door. Milo and Toro were rolling around in the grass, playing together. It was nice that Milo had someone to play with now.

"Hey girls, we're home." I heard JJ's voice in the foyer. "Were you crying, my love?" I heard him ask Leanna. I turned around and TJ was going up the stairs with a couple of duffel bags. They got their travel bags today. I went back into the family room and JJ helped Leanna up from the couch. "Are you guys ready to go to lunch?" He asked. Leanna nodded her head. She looked at me to make sure that I was ready too.

"Sure." I smiled slightly. "Should we leave the dogs out back?" I asked softly as I grabbed my purse from the back of the kitchen chair.

"That would be a good idea. There are no holes for them to get out of. They should be fine." JJ smiled slightly and TJ came down the stairs. "Luis and Jacob are waiting outside. Did you guys want to all go together or in separate cars?" JJ asked once we were all standing around each other.

"I want to talk to you about something so separate cars, let's go," Leanna spoke kind of quickly and grabbed JJ's arm to drag him outside. That was weird of her. TJ and I looked at each other kind of awkwardly before going outside.

"Do you want to drive? You can drive my car." I asked TJ softly. I knew he was waiting for his stuff to be delivered. Leanna was telling me about him when we were watching movies. We had watched Luca before Encanto.

"Whatever you want," TJ said softly as he looked at me. I grabbed my keys out of my bag and handed them to him. JJ and Leanna were sitting in their car, waiting for us to follow them. Jacob and Luis were sitting in a sleek black SUV, behind my car. Jacob was watching me and TJ like a hawk. TJ opened the passenger side of my car politely for me and then walked over to the driver's side. We pulled away from the house and followed behind JJ and Leanna.

"So, Leanna says you are getting into event planning. That is pretty cool." TJ drove casually with one hand while he drove.

"Yeah, I have a degree in business, and I planned Leanna's baby shower/gender reveal so it was just fitting. I like it so far." I responded softly, chewing on my lip. TJ smiled a little and followed JJ into the parking lot of Fiori's. We parked next to each other and before TJ could come to open my door for me, Jacob was there. Luis looked confused for a second and then opened the door for Leanna. As we walked to the restaurant, TJ walked close to one side of me, and Jacob walked close to the other. I felt claustrophobic but I did not want to say anything. Luis opened the restaurant door for all of us and then followed us inside.

"Welcome to Fiori's, how many?" The host asked while looking at her little tablet. Jacob finally gave me some space once we were inside, returning to his stoic, professional self. TJ did not move from my side.

"Can we get a private table for four please?" JJ was always so polite wherever we went. I was glad that Leanna didn't end up with someone that was stuck up.

"Absolutely. Follow me." She grabbed four menus and we followed her through the restaurant. I heard quiet gasps when people saw JJ and TJ, but no one got up to bother them. "Is this, okay?" She had led us into an empty room and made sure that we were out of the eye-line of the rest of the restaurant.

"This is perfect, thank you." JJ smiled and gave her a tip and then pulled out Leanna's chair for her. We all sat down and started looking over our menus.

"Hi, my name is Roberto, I will be your server for the evening. Can I get you guys started with some drinks?" The waiter asked as he poured us each a glass of water.

"Can I have a beer in a glass please?" JJ asked softly and the waiter nodded his head. Leanna smiled softly as she looked at me.

"Can I have a coke please?" I asked and the waiter nodded again and wrote it down. He looked it up at Leanna and she rubbed her stomach.

"A sweet tea please." She said softly and the waiter wrote it down and then looked at TJ who was looking at the menu.

"A red wine please." He said and the waiter wrote it down. I smiled slightly as I looked over my menu. It was cute that TJ wanted a glass of wine with his lunch.

"I'll have those right out for you." The waiter disappeared and I tried to focus on the menu. I glanced up at Jacob and I could tell that he was trying to look at me while also trying to stare ahead and be professional. I honestly didn't know why but he didn't like me being around TJ.

"Melody, we were thinking of throwing TJ a welcome party at the house. Would you be interested in planning that?" Leanna asked me softly.

"Sure, I can do that. I will just need a guest list and a day and time frame that you were thinking about." I gave her a small smile. I glanced in TJ's direction, and he was smiling at me slightly. He looked away when I glanced at him, and I took a deep breath. "If you could also give me a list of things that you like, TJ, which would help as well." I tucked some hair behind my ear and the waiter came back to bring our drinks.

"I'll get that to you as soon as possible." TJ gave me a small side smile and I gave him a small smile back.

"What can I get everybody to eat?" The waiter asked as he took out his menu book. I glanced back up at Jacob and he was staring straight forward but I could tell that his face was a little red and the vein in his neck was slightly noticeable.

"Can I have the lasagna with a side salad please?" Leanna asked softly as she closed her menu and handed it to him. He nodded his head as he wrote it down and took the menu from her.

"Can I please have the beef rib?" JJ asked and handed his menu to TJ. TJ put the menu behind his and then reached his hand out for my menu politely.

"Can I have the beef rib as well please?" TJ looked at the waiter and my hand brushed him as he took my menu.

"And for the lady?" The waiter asked me politely. A little too politely. I squirmed slightly in my seat.

"The gnocchi alla sorrentina please." I focused on adjusting the napkin on my lap. I could tell that TJ was trying to meet my gaze, but I did not want to look at him. "Excuse me, I'm going to use the bathroom." I put my napkin on the table, and I could tell that TJ was debating whether to get up and follow me. JJ looked back at Jacob who nodded his head once and then followed me to the bathroom.

"Are you okay?" Jacob's voice was hurt, and I could tell that he was still upset about TJ for some reason, but he was still willing to check on me.

"I'm fine." My voice came out shakier than I expected it to, and it caused Jacob's face to soften.

"None of us are going to let anything happen to you." He brushed my face with his fingertips softly. I gave him a slight smile and then went into the bathroom. I just needed a moment alone.