Favoring Fortuna

Chapter 4

The restaurant they walked into was kind of cozy with warm lighting and a lot of high backed booths. It was the kind of place that was low key enough to be appropriate for families, but nice enough to work for dates as well. She was just happy it appeared comfortable and deserted. Since it was so late and the place was mostly empty they were told they could just pick a table. Finn chose one off to the side that was out of the main flow of traffic, but when they went to sit down, Finn wouldn't let her sit across from him.

"I thought we were past you being uncomfortable around me. Come sit next to me." She didn't understand why it mattered, but slid in the booth next to him anyway and he draped his arm across the back behind her. They were quiet as they looked over the menus and placed their orders. It looked like he was about to say something when the sound of the distinctive voices of Enzo, Carmella, and Cass could be heard, and they both looked over to see the three along with a few others enter the restaurant. Finn looked irritated for a moment before his face calmed into a blank mask and she could no longer tell what he was thinking or feeling. She did notice that his arm dropped from the back of the seat to around her shoulder, subtly pulling her closer.

The small group got settled pulling tables together on the other side of the restaurant, but Carmella had spotted them and she came over. Bayley had always liked Carmella. They weren't close, but the sassy, sweet personality combined with the bold attitude had always clicked with her, and she'd always thought it was a shame they'd never really spent a lot of time together.

"Hey girl!" She said excitedly, "I promise I won't bother you long. I know you guys probably want some privacy. I just wanted to tell you how happy I am for you." Before Bayley had a chance to reply the looming figure of Cass appeared behind his girlfriend.

"Hey man that move you did tonight was bad-ass," he said putting his hand out for a 'too sweet' that Finn returned. Carmella was true to her word though, she said,

"Come on babe, let's let them enjoy their date. See you guys later!" and the two rejoined their group. After they were gone Finn asked,

"How come you don't hang out with Carmella more instead of those other two? You seem to get along with her pretty well."

"I know, and I was just thinking the same thing. I guess when I met her my relationship with my ex was still so new. He didn't like her, and I didn't want to rock the boat, so I didn't really pursue a friendship with her, but looking back that kind of pisses me off. I know I can come off as being a pushover sometimes, but I'm really not, and I hate looking back and seeing that I did stuff like that for him."

"I don't think you're a pushover. Everyone does stupid stuff when it comes to relationships, and you can't really do anything about the past so there's no use getting down on yourself about it, besides there's nothing stopping you from pursuing a friendship now."

"That's true, and I really could use an ally in the locker room if I'm not going to have my girls around." He grinned at her, and she wasn't sure what she'd said to cause such as response so she asked, "What?"

"It's just that you seem to see yourself as someone who others perceive as weak, but I can tell you know that isn't really true. You think like a fighter, like a leader, a champion. Once you get it out of your head that everyone else thinks that way, it's going to be amazing to watch." She had no idea what to say to that. He was so hard to read but he seemed to have that same faith and assuredness in her that he had in himself, and it amazed her. Despite all of the drama she was grateful for everything he'd been willing to do for her, and felt guilty for everything he'd had to put up with.

"I'm sorry you've had to deal with all of this."

"I really don't mind, but I get the feeling you don't believe me."