Lunch at Viv’s

You and your girlfriends went back to the apartment building after your morning run with Brooke, while Brooke went back to her place, so you could all prepare for lunch at Viv’s restaurant. Tanya returned to her apartment to shower while you and the girls each took separate showers... much to Cassie’s and Stella’s disappointment.

You explained to them that, although the shower can tightly fit all three of you at once, you’ve barely recovered from this morning and last night. Plus, you thought it wouldn’t be fair to Tanya, which both girls conceded was true.

As soon as you’re all dressed in your casual best, and after waiting for Tanya to be ready to leave, you all make your way to Viv’s restaurant to meet up with Brooke, Celeste, and Viv to have lunch.

The four of you are now seated with Brooke at Viv’s restaurant, where the chill and relaxed vibe from when you and Tanya were here hasn’t changed; despite the restaurant being much more packed with people now, and all the servers being busy taking everyone’s orders. What you also notice is that you can’t find Celeste and Viv anywhere.

“Wow, this place is pretty packed for a soft opening.” Brooke observes.

“I know right? It’s only been around two weeks since it opened too.” Tanya adds.

“I didn’t know Viv’s restaurant was so popular.” Stella mentions.

“I googled Viv yesterday. She was apparently listed by the same magazine Celeste works for as one of the new up and coming young chefs in the country back in her previous restaurant a few years ago.” Cassie adds.

“Yeah, Viv told me about that after the first time I visited this place to support her. It was like the first day they opened and it already had a line. Apparently, the foodies in the city were excited that she was finally opening a restaurant here.” Tanya adds.

“Woah. So we were lowkey hanging out with a celebrity?” Stella asks.

“What do you mean? We live with one.” Cassie asks Stella, then points to you.

“Jay’s a celebrity?” Brooke asks.

“Jay’s a pretty accomplished author.” Cassie answers proudly.

“That’s not a celebrity!” your daughter reacts.

“Ouch, baby.” you say in fake indignation, making Cassie and Tanya chuckle.

“A celebrity to some nerds on the internet maybe.” Stella retorts.

“Hey~, those nerds put food on your table.” you reply jokingly, defending your fandom.

“So you are a celebrity?” Brooke asks.

“In common society? No. In the literary world? No. In a very specific niche in the literary world? A little bit.” you answer Brooke.

“So, you know, not a celebrity.” Stella jokes, making Brooke laugh.

“My daughter, ladies and… ladies. My number one fan.” You joke back.

“I’m guessing you’re relatively popular if you’ve made a living off of writing for so long.” Brooke observes.

“A fact that my own daughter seems to ignore.” You answer Brooke with a chuckle. “I’ve been blessed with a loyal fanbase... which doesn’t include my daughter apparently.” you add.

“I tried reading some of it when I was younger. I just… I couldn’t even.” Stella tries to defend herself, and fails to not sound like a sorority girl in the process. You can’t blame her though, your books aren’t exactly targeted for kids, which is when she started reading them; and it’s still a very specific niche.

“Oh god. This reminds me of movie night. Did you know we had to watch Fellowship of the Ring three separate times because she kept falling asleep.” Cassie teases Stella.

“What? When was this?” you ask, feeling offended that your own daughter would ‘betray’ you like this.

“We have movie nights in our dorm room and we agreed to watch the trilogy on three different nights, and I ended up just watching Fellowship by myself with a sleeping Stella for the first and second night, and then a really bored Stella on the third night.” Cassie reveals.

“I used to read those books to you!” you say, still very much in shock.

“Yeah, Dad. As bedtime stories. Guess what happened when I watched the movies?” Stella says sarcastically.

“We watched those movies together too and you enjoyed them… right?” you ask your daughter.

“Of course, but Fellowship just doesn’t engage me as much as the next two movies.” Stella explains, and you’d like to discuss that opinion further, but Stella says something that she knew would get a rise out of you before you could ask anything.

“It’s not like it’s Twilight.” Stella obviously jokes, as you know she hates those books as much as you do. You still take the bait though.

“I’m disowning you.” you joke to your daughter, and she gasps in fake offense.

“For what? For liking a literary masterpiece?” she asks you jokingly, and now you’re the one who gasps in fake offense.

“He’s disowning you for having bad taste.” Cassie teases.

“Oh? Is that why he’s dating you?” Stella retorts.

“He’s dating you too, genius.” Cassie fires back.

“I feel like I should be offended.” Tanya jokingly chimes in.

“Actually, I’m not dating Stella… yet.” you chime in as well, which leads to four shocked faces from the women with you, none more so than Stella.

“WHAT!?” Stella shouts, looking hurt in the process.

“Wait, wait, wait! That came out wrong! I just meant to say we haven’t been on a date yet, and I wanted to ask you out.” You immediately explain.

Cassie and Tanya just sigh in relief from your poor choice of words. Brooke covers her mouth to try not to laugh. Fortunately, Stella smiles at your explanation and seems excited at the idea.

“For real!?” Stella asks you. “Yes, baby. You and I haven’t spent alone time together yet—” you say, and Cassie coughs to joke, “—outside the bedroom” you clarify, looking at Cassie who just giggles in response, “and I want to hang out with my girlfriend.” you add.

“Definitely! I want to hang out with my boyfriend too.” Stella responds genuinely.

“Are you free tomorrow night?” You ask her, and Stella answers with a quick “Yes!” before giving you a kiss on the cheek since she’s seated next to you.

“So, she’s your girlfriend, but you haven’t been out on a date?” Brooke asks.

“Yes.” The four of you and your girlfriends unintentionally answer in unison, signaling how onboard everyone is regarding this set-up.

“Wow. All together too.” Brooke chuckles. “How’d that happen though? From what I heard, you and Tanya have had that one date. Cassie told me the other night you’ve only been on a date as well. Now Stella’s already your girlfriend and you haven’t even gone out yet.” Brooke clarifies her curiosity.

You’re not exactly sure how to answer that since part of the answer is magic, and you don’t want to reveal that to Brooke this early as she doesn’t know you all that well yet, and might think you’re brainwashing the girls instead of just amplifying their affection. You look at your girlfriends; Cassie and Stella are looking at you to answer her, while Tanya is looking at Brooke with skepticism in her eyes.

“Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy for all of you and I’m not questioning your relationship status. It’s just…” Brooke tries to explain but she pauses, and Tanya takes the opportunity to cut in.

“I knew it. You’re baiting.” Tanya says, assuredly. Brooke has a defeated smile on her face, a bit embarrassed that her friend knows her so well.

“Yeah. Okay. I admit it. I’m baiting. I just can’t believe after one night of sleeping together, you’re all willing to share the same guy in a romantic relationship. He can’t be that good.” Brooke admits, half-jokingly, but you still rub the back of your neck embarrassed at the perception Brooke has of your relationship.

“Not really. The sex was just—” Cassie tried to explain but she notices that the waitress was standing on the side waiting to serve the appetizers and drinks.

“I’m sorry, I can come back later.” the waitress informs Cassie who is blushing from embarrassment.

Brooke and Tanya motion the young waitress that it’s fine and she’s not bothering and she serves the appetizers and drinks before informing you that the main dishes are just a few more minutes. You all took some time to eat the appetizers you ordered, and discussed how good everything tastes.

“You were saying?” Brooke asks Cassie to continue her point before taking a bite of an appetizer, but Cassie still seems embarrassed at the earlier situation. “The sex was just…” Brooke reiterates to remind Cassie who then takes a sip of her sugar cane juice that she looks to be pleasantly surprised with.

“Oh, um, I was going to say that the sex was just a celebration of years of knowing him. I don’t want to speak for all three of us, but we’ve known Jay for years before the nights we individually spent with him. He used to babysit me and practically raised me before I moved out and visited this summer.” Cassie explains.

“I’m his daughter. Go figure.” Stella succinctly adds before taking a bite of an appetizer.

“Oh, I fell in love with him after fucking him. Not gonna lie.” Tanya says half-jokingly, and all of you can’t help but laugh as well.

“You know how it was, Brooke. We’ve gone out together enough times for you to know my stand on relationships. He changed all that. He made me wonder about opening myself up again. After just one amazing night together.” Tanya says before giving you a wink.

“Then he asked me out on a date, and you know how skeptical I was about that too, since you already told me you saw him with Cassie. I started thinking he was just another guy who wanted to keep fucking—” Tanya started to explain but, like Cassie, she saw the waitress ready to serve the food.

“I could really come back later if it’s a bad time.” The waitress reiterates, but unlike Cassie, Tanya’s unfazed and assures the young waitress that she’s not bothering your conversation at all.

“Anyway, I thought he was just another guy who wanted to keep fucking,” Tanya immediately continued, while the waitress served your main dishes. “And I was afraid that was all he wanted... but he wanted more than that, and I couldn’t be happier... because I realized I wanted that too.” Tanya revealed with an appreciative smile on her face when she looks at you.

“Those are all your orders, enjoy your meal!” The waitress says, with a pleasant smile on her face after hearing Tanya’s complete thought, but also eager to leave the table so as to not look like she’s intruding.

“I get it Tanya. I think more than anyone on this table.” Brooke says. “I really am happy you found someone to love.” Brooke adds.

“I know how much you’ve wanted to settle down with someone Brooke, if I could find one, you definitely will too.” Tanya assures her.

Brooke smiles at Tanya’s sentiment. Eerily similar to how you used to notice Cassie’s looks before you became a couple, even thinking you were just imagining it like you used to think with Cassie, you notice something in the split-second it happened after Tanya said that Brooke will find someone too…

Brooke glanced at you.