The Unspoken Promise

Breakfast.

The families settled into the restaurant, the warm aroma of freshly brewed coffee and pancakes filling the air as they found a large table tucked into a cozy corner. The morning sun poured through the windows, casting a golden glow over everyone as they settled into their seats, scanning the menu with eager eyes. Naturally, Jace and Vivienne ended up side by side, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. By now, no one even commented on it—they just accepted it with smiles, each parent sharing knowing looks.

The waitress came by, taking drink orders first. Jace ordered a caramel latte with extra foam, and Vivienne couldn't help but smirk as she ordered her usual hot chocolate, topped with whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel.

"Oh, come on, you're ordering a kid's drink?" Jace teased, his eyes twinkling.

Vivienne shot him a playful look. "Excuse me, but hot chocolate is a classic. Much better than whatever super-sweet concoction you're drinking."

Jace chuckled, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "We'll see about that. You can taste it when it comes, and we'll let you decide."

The parents continued their conversations, glancing over at the pair every now and then, quietly amused by how effortlessly Vivienne and Jace seemed to gravitate toward each other. Meanwhile, Sophia and Lydia were on the other side of the table, whispering as they quickly started snapping pictures of everything—their drinks, the menu, even each other as they posed with exaggerated smiles.

"Lydia, please," Sophia said with a laugh, pulling her phone closer. "At least try to look natural."

"Oh, sure, natural," Lydia replied, striking a dramatically serious pose as she snapped another picture. "Like I'm just casually sitting here with a pancake the size of my face."

They burst into laughter, prompting Serena to glance up from her game on her mum's phone, curiosity flashing in her eyes. "What's so funny?"

Sophia quickly slid her phone out of sight, shrugging. "Oh, just... you know, making sure we document this amazing breakfast," she said with a wink at Lydia.

Serena tilted her head, suspicious. "Why would you need so many pictures of breakfast?"

"Memories, Serena," Lydia chimed in, laughing as she leaned back in her seat. "We need evidence of how much fun we had!"

Just then, the waitress returned with their drinks, and Jace wasted no time holding up his caramel latte, presenting it to Vivienne with a challenging grin. "All right, go on. Try it, if you dare."

Vivienne rolled her eyes but leaned forward, taking a tentative sip. She scrunched her nose almost immediately, laughing as she handed the cup back. "Way too sweet! How do you drink that?"

"Oh, please, like yours is any less sugary," Jace teased, nodding toward her hot chocolate topped with an impressive mountain of whipped cream and caramel drizzle.

Vivienne lifted her cup defensively. "This, my dear Jace, is a masterpiece."

She scooped a bit of whipped cream onto her finger, holding it out to him with a smirk. "Here, taste it."

With a grin, Jace leaned forward and tasted the whipped cream off her finger, making an exaggerated sound of approval. "Not bad. I take it back—yours might actually be better."

"Of course it is," Vivienne replied smugly, taking a triumphant sip from her hot chocolate.

Sophia, who had been watching the whole exchange, leaned over to Lydia, stifling a laugh. "They're ridiculous," she whispered, snapping another picture of the two just as they leaned in close to taste each other's drinks again.