The moment we get out of the car, I realize how beautiful everything is. The outside area is surrounded by nature, and the lake by the right reflecting the sun rays accentuates how beautiful the day is.

When we step inside the restaurant, I'm definitely impressed. The settings are stunning and the energy is just right. It has a friendly atmosphere and the perfect view.

As we make our way to the host, I feel Thomas hands on my lower back, and it throws me off for a second. "Are you okay?" I hear him ask, and turn to him.

"Yeah, just... This place is amazing."

"You've never been here before"?

"No..." I look around and suddenly realize how reclusive I've been since I moved here.

Thomas doesn't say anything but when stop in front of the host, I smile when I hear him say, "Hi! I have a reservation under Thomas Mitchell. Do you think we could get a table on the deck?"

"Hello, sir! Yes, sure. Follow me, please."

"The view is so beautiful," I whisper, totally in awe of this place.

"Would you like to drink something now? " The host asks us.

"How about some Tequila?" Thomas looks at me and I snort.

"How about some beer?" I raise my eyebrows.

"Two Stella Artois, please." He orders, trying to sound serious.

"Here are the menus. The waiter will be here soon to take your order." The host says, before leaving.

"I think I'll never drink Tequila again."

"Hmm..." He murmurs, clearing teasing me.

"Come on, it's not fair! Tell me at least one embarrassing story so we're even."

"No way! I'm your handsome charming friend. Let's keep it like that!"

"Pretty Please!" I try to make a sad face but he's just too easygoing, and I can't help the fixed smile on my face.

"Okay. So I'm visiting my sister and she's craving some super delicious cupcakes from this amazing bakery. I drive for thirty minutes to get them but then discover they're closed. I see some lights are on so I knock for like ten minutes until a hot chick comes to the door. I think, Score! Only to have her puke all over my shoes for a good five minutes." He keeps a straight face but I end up bursting out laughing.

"You're so bad!" I throw a napkin at him. "Why do guys call girls chick, anyway? You're a Vet, you should know."

"Some people say it comes from the word 'chica', it's like girl in Spanish."

"I don't know. I always have this image of a small bird in my mind when I hear that word."

"And you say I'm weird..." He studies his menu.

"All right Thomas, tell me your story."

"So we're going with blunt today. Okay!" He puts his menu aside and leans back on his chair.

"You know it's the only way I do it." I smirk, and he lets out a soft chuckle.

"All right. Okay, well, I live a few hours North in St. Clement. My parents own some land they turned into an animal shelter when they got married. My mother has always been an animal lover and wanted to do something to help all the animals she could... So becoming a Vet was a natural option for me, I think. I have two good friends I met in college and right after we graduated we decided to rent a small place with the help of my dad and turn it into a clinic. We couldn't make much money in the beginning but I'm proud of what we have today. Working with animals in a way or another is what I've been doing all my life."

"How old are you?" I ask.

"I'm thirty-one."

"Wow, pretty impressive."

"Told you I'm not just a pretty face." He winks and the waiter chooses this moment to bring our beers.

"Yeah... I wish I knew what I was doing when I went to college." I say after we're alone again. "I kind of went with the flow and got a safe job. I mean, it was always me and my mom, you know? My dad was around but he's not really the affectionate type. He helped us while I was growing up, but money was always tight."

"It makes sense you wanted to be an accountant, then."

"I guess... But just now I understand how amazing it is to do something you really love. I still have a huge loan to deal with, but I'm happy with the shop, you know?"

"This is great, Lisa."

"Yeah." I smile and the waiter chooses this moment to come to our table.

"Are you guys ready to order?" he asks and Thomas looks at me.

"Uh, I'll have the cioppino, please, and another beer," I say.

"Me too," he says and the waiter writes down our order before leaving.

We keep making small talk and soon our food arrives. The stew tastes delicious and after a minute or two of eating in comfortable silence, he kicks my foot under the table.

"This is nice, right." He takes a sip of his beer.

"It is." I study him for a second. "Do you think we could go for a walk after we're done here? The weather is nice and it's not too late.

"Of course." He grins and we enjoy the rest of our meal.

*****

"I had no idea I needed some fresh air until now." I sit down on a bench facing the lake and Thomas immediately follows my lead, sitting by my side.

"It's hard finding a balance when we love our jobs, but I think it's important to take some time for ourselves," he says, looking at the lake.

I take a moment to look at him and he seems so at ease, so comfortable in his own skin, that I kind of envy him. I've never really been able to just enjoy a beautiful day and find contentment or fulfillment. It always felt like there was something missing.

"You're staring..." He turns his face to me and I avert my eyes.

"Just trying to figure you out."

"I'm pretty normal." He keeps his eyes on me but I keep mine on the lake.

"So they all say." I shrug.

"This guy really did a number on you, huh?"

"I should've known better. He was never into me but I thought... I don't know... I'll be twenty-seven in a couple of months and I've never been in a real relationship. And deep down I know it's because of him. How pathetic is that?" I glance at him, only to find him studying me curiously.

I don't know why I told him all that. He is a nice guy, easygoing and so handsome it hurts to look at him sometimes. I should've been excited he's enjoying my company but it's like, subconsciously, I know it won't last. That he'll forget about me as soon as he's back home. And that it will be just me again.

"How do you know he's not into you?" He searches my eyes.

"I met him when I was fifteen." I sigh. "I thought we had some connection... but then I introduced him to my best friend and saw them falling in love firsthand." I stand up and walk to the pier. I feel Thomas following me but I don't look back.

"Is your best friend the one he is marrying?" He stops by my side.

"Nah... He broke up with her after six years together and for a second there I thought I could have a chance, but he made it clear he didn't want me." I shrug.

"So now what?" He asks and I look at him.

"What?"

"So, he made it clear that he's not into you. Nothing much you can do about that. But then what? You're giving up on all men? You're gorgeous, funny, intelligent, independent... I find it hard to believe you friend-zoned all guys who approached you."

"I didn't friend-zone all of them..."

"So I'm the only one?" I see him fighting a smile and I shake my head.

"You're impossible."

"And you're sad..." He touches my face, making me look at him, and I gasp when I look into his eyes. He is warm and serious and for a split of a second, it's like I've known him all my life. It's gone too soon and when I blink I see him searching my eyes as if he felt it too.

"You know what you need?" He clears his throat putting some distance between us.

"What?" I whisper.

"A day at the shelter."

"A what?"

"Every three months, my parents host a kind of charity event at the shelter. Next month we're bringing some school kids to help us with the animals. I've never met anyone who hasn't fallen in love with that place. You say you don't get out much and that place is so beautiful. I'm sure you'll have fun," he says, his eyes excited.

"And now, you're feeling sorry for me." I groan.

"What? No, I just want to hang out with you again. I feel like you're going to make yourself extremely busy after I'm back home." He playfully touches my nose with his finger.

"I am busy." I pull my face away, "I can't just take some time off whenever I want." I give him a small smile.

"I know. I just- I'll send you a Facebook invitation to the event and if you're free and willing to go just let me know." He looks at his watch and back at me. "I promised my sister I'd not be home so late... Her husband is coming back soon from his trip and I told her we'd hang out, do something fun before I go back home."

"Oh, okay. Is she feeling well?" I ask as we make our way to his car.

"She's counting the days to have this baby." He gives me a small smile.

The trip to my place is silent, both of us lost in our thoughts. Thomas turns on the radio and I turn to him.

"So... uh... how does this event work? I've never been to a shelter before."

"Our mission is to prevent cruelty to animals by striving for a more humane world for both people and animals. Lots of animals are left behind or suffer the consequences of natural disasters. Some are lost or abandoned and there's also sick or wounded wildlife that needs rehabilitation. And let's not talk about wildlife trafficking!" He shakes his head. "I guess we're all a bunch of animal lovers trying to make some difference. We want to raise awareness and we also need money to run and operate in all these areas I told you about and-" He stops and looks at me for a second. "Sorry, I'm rambling."

"Wow!" I shake my head, totally taken off guard. I was thinking about something along the lines of cute dogs and cats, but he just blew my mind. A more humane world? Isn't it what we all really need?

He looks so passionate and enthusiastic about his job that I wonder how much more there's behind his easy smiles.

"What?" He glances at me and I see he's kind of blushing.

"I'll have to add adorable to the list." I smile.

"Yeah... I kind of get carried away when I'm talking about it sometimes." He shrugs, eyes fixed on the road.

"You know, send me that invitation... I'll see what I can do about the bakery."

"You don't need to. We can hang out here or-"

"I want to, Thomas." I interrupt him. "I can't promise I'll be able to go but I'll try my best."

"Really?" He parks the car in front of the shop and turns his body to me. His smile so big it's contagious.

"Yeah." I nod and after a second, I realize we're both staring at each other. "So, uh... I had a great time. I'm glad we became friends. You got me out of my place twice in a week and we're kind of planning something else again. You're good for my social life." I joke.

"Uh, yeah." He clears his throat. "Me too. I really hope you can come but I understand if you're busy."

"I'll try my best." I open the door and get out.

I want to invite him in, but in my world guys always have expectations when a girl invites them to hang out at their places after a date. Thomas seems like the perfect gentleman, but I've been a fool before so it's like they say, fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.

"I'll send you the details later, then." He holds my hand and kisses the back of it.

"Okay." I smile at the gesture.

"I just need those cupcakes before I go." He shrugs, kind of embarrassed, making me chuckle.

"Yeah! Of course!"

_____

A/N: Hi guys! How are you all doing? :D Isn't Thomas a charmer? *sigh*

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XOXO

- Celeste