Thirty-Six. Dinner

*Lore Sokolov*

"Well don't make fun if you don't like it!" She said and I looked at Hale who just shrugged.

"It's a nice dinner, a nice night, sweetheart, you'll look great." I said and the door opened.

I just... wow.

"Do you like it? Is it too formal? I-"

"You look... absolutely incredible." Hales hands were on her silk coated waist.

She smiled, hands on his chest and I watched as he kissed her forehead and inhaled.

The smell of her freshly washed hair, her perfume and deodorant.

This was a feeling I'd never had before.

But I'd never seen Hale so at peace.

His hands now on her elbows, gliding up her arms.

His eyes were shut as he just felt her.

She stepped back, smiling at him.

She looked at me, walking toward me and twirled, pretending to be faint as she fell back.

I laughed, catching the small of her back as she arched over my arm, back of her hand on her forehead.

"Is there a reason for this?" I asked.

"I'm going through compliment withdrawals." She stood, hands on my shoulders.

She was... everything.

Her freckles coated in a light shade of pink from the beach, her stunning dark eyes sparkling as she smiled at me.

"If we didn't have a fun night planned I'd lay you on the bed and take you in a million different ways. Lucky for you, we have a schedule." I smiled and her eyes were wide.

"Oh." She whispered.

I gently moved her hair behind her shoulders and grabbed her throat, guiding her to my lips.

Absolutely perfect.

Her hands were on my wrist.

Pulling away her eyes were wide.

"Satisfied?" I asked.

"Yes." Her face was blistering red.

I smiled, grabbing her hand, turning as Hale tossed the keys of the rental to me.

The drive there was nice.

I had my hand on her thigh, Hale's from behind her seat, grazing her breasts before touching her throat.

Getting there he helped her out of the car.

We walked inside, getting our reserved seat for the back patio that brought a beautiful view from the ocean and rocks around us.

"Wow." She let our hands go, looking before looking at the seats.

"Can I sit here?" She pointed to the chair that let her look out at the water.

Hale laughed.

"Yeah why wouldn't you?" I pulled out the chair for her and she sat as I scooted it in.

When we sat we were immediately helped.

We got one of her favorite white wines. She's a fruity wine girl we learned.

I studied her, the sun on her skin, she was absolutely stunning.

She was everything.

"You're gorgeous." Hale said and I smiled as she looked down into her lap.

"Thank you." She looked at him, tilting her head slightly.

He reached and fixed a piece of her hair.

She looked so in love. And seeing Hale reciprocate the feeling was an odd joy I'd never felt for him.

"You both look... drool worthy. Very handsome." She smiled, almost laughing at herself.

She looked at me and my hair.

She fixed mine how Hale adjusted hers.

Then she cupped my cheek.

"It's wild how different you look from one another. Like, I think I could touch your face and know it's you blindfolded regardless of how identical you are." She murmured.

Hale looked at me shocked.

"Our parents couldn't even tell us apart right until we got our first neck tattoo." Hale laughed.

"Seriously? That's kind of funny, sort of sad." She smiled, hand falling from my face as she looked between us.

"Who's older?" She asked.

"Baby A. Whoever that was. Who knows we might have each others names wrong our entire lives too. We saw baby pictures and pictures of us out of grade school. We can't even tell each other apart unless we have a memory with the photo in mind." I answered.

She laughed.

"Do you really think you'd be able to tell us apart blindfolded without touching hair?" Hale asked.

"Yes. I just can't tell your voices apart as far as I know." She shrugged.

"A fun experiment." I looked at Hale and he agreed.

She sipped the wine when he delivered the glasses and then we ordered.

"I'm going to use the restroom." She stood and walked inside and to the left where the bathrooms were.

"You should go first." Hale said and I looked at him.

"Hm?"

"With her. She looks relaxed with you."

"As she does with you. It's not a competition." I smiled at my brother.

"Yeah but... I think I intimidate her more with... added things." He looked at her seat.

"Okay. Are you alright?" I frowned.

"Yeah... I just- I'm nervous I won't lie. I want her to feel loved with the both of us." He said.

"I know. We just take it slow, at her pace, reassurance will be key. You'll do great, you're the best at communicating when you're with her. I've never heard so many feelings leave your mouth until her." I smiled.

"Yeah?" He frowned, clearly stressed.

"Yes. And she'll be nothing except understanding with you. She loves you. She knows you'd never intend to harm her in any way." I nodded.

"If... the night I plan... can you keep your phone on you?" He asked quietly.

"Absolutely. We may love the same woman but you're always gonna be my brother first. I'll of course have my phone on."

He finally met my eyes and nodded.

His eyes moved to her as she walked back out here and sat down.

"I'm the girl who goes to the bathroom just to hope the food is out by the time I'm back." She sighed.

And Hale smiled.

I related.

It was all going to be perfect.