CHAPTER 26: A DINNER DATE

For a long moment, the question just hung in the air, soft, hesitant and too unexpected to feel real.

Evelyn blinked, unsure if she had heard him right. "Dinner?"

Alexander’s fingers flexed against the steering wheel. "Only if you want to," he said quickly. "I just thought, maybe it would be nice. No pressure."

His tone was calm but she caught the faint edge of nervousness beneath it, something she had never heard from him before.

"I—" Evelyn started then stopped. The words were tangled somewhere between surprise and the faint warmth spreading through her chest. "I will think about it."

Alexander nodded once with his jaw tightening slightly. "Of course." He tried to sound indifferent but the quickness with which he looked away betrayed him.

Evelyn reached for the handle, hesitating. "Drive Safe, Alexander."

He met her gaze briefly and a faint, polite smile tugged at his lips. "I will, Evelyn."

When the door shut and she walked toward her porch, Alexander’s shoulders slumped against the seat.

Through the windshield, he watched her walk toward her front porch and for a second, she paused as if she wanted to turn back but then continued inside.

He exhaled, dragging a hand down his face.

"What were you thinking, Reid?" he muttered to himself and groaned.

Of all the things, all he could think of was dinner. He had spent years building a reputation on control, restraint, composure and now, in a single moment, he had managed to sound like an uncertain teenager asking someone out for the first time.

He leaned back in his seat, staring at the empty passenger side. The faint scent of her perfume still lingered. It felt soft, floral and maddeningly gentle.

He wanted to believe it was harmless. It was supposed to be just dinner and just conversation but a part of him already knew it wasn’t.

As he started the car and pulled away from the curb, a wry smile ghosted across his lips.

"Too late to take it back now," he muttered to himself before driving away.

.....

[Carter Mansion]

When Evelyn entered the house, Patricia was curled on the couch in a loose bun and oversized hoodie, a mug of cocoa balanced on her knee.

"When did you come?" Evelyn asked, taking off her coat.

"I have been here since morning," Patricia said without looking up. "But you are late. Don’t tell me Mrs. Reid kidnapped you again."

Evelyn slipped off her shoes and let out a soft laugh. "Something like that."

Patricia lowered the mug and gave her a long look. "Okay, that tone means something happened. Spill."

Evelyn hesitated, then sighed. "Alexander drove me home."

Patricia raised a brow. "Well, of course he did. The man has practically been trained by royalty. What else?"

Evelyn brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "He asked me to dinner."

That got Patricia’s full attention. "Wait—what? Dinner dinner?"

Evelyn nodded, almost embarrassed by how small her voice sounded. "He said it was just casual, but—"

Patricia leaned forward, eyes wide. "And you said—"

"I said I would think about it."

Patricia let out a dramatic groan. "Evie— You think too much. It’s Alexander Reid, the quiet, impossibly stoic and emotionally unavailable one. The man barely speaks at social events and if he is asking you to dinner, the world might be ending."

Evelyn couldn’t help the laugh that escaped her. "Come on, he is not that bad."

Patricia softened. "I know what is wrong, you are just scared it will look wrong."

Evelyn nodded slowly. "It’s not just that." She sighed, "Everything feels too recent. I don’t want anyone to think this is some kind of revenge act, or worse that I am moving on like it never mattered."

Patricia sighed, setting her mug aside. "Evie, it’s been weeks. You are allowed to breathe again. He is not asking you to marry him, it’s just dinner."

Evelyn smiled faintly but didn’t argue. "I know. It’s just complicated."

Patricia tilted her head, studying her carefully. "You like him, don’t you?"

Evelyn froze and her heart skipped a beat. "That is not—"

"—an answer," Patricia finished, smirking.

Evelyn laughed softly but it faded quickly. "He is kind and he listens but he is also Jack’s brother."

Patricia rolled her eyes. "And you are Evelyn Carter and not a supporting character in Jack’s drama." She placed a hand on Evelyn’s shoulder. "And not to forget, Jack had already found himself a hippie."

Evelyn couldn’t help but laugh. "She didn’t look like a hippie."

Patricia rolled her eyes. "She looked like someone he picked up from a downtown club."

"No she does not," Evelyn blurted in between her laugh.

"I am serious." Patricia chuckled and hugged her. "But I am also serious about you saying yes to the dinner thing with Alexander."

Evelyn did not say anything, she smiled and continued hugging Patricia.

.....

Later that night, Evelyn sat by her bedroom window watching the city lights glimmering in the distance.

And she was also thinking about Alexander and how flustered and cute he looked when he asked her for dinner.

After considering all the pros and cons, a dinner didn’t seem like a bad idea.

Just then her phone buzzed quietly. It was a message from Alexander.

Alexander: No pressure about what I said. Just wanted to ask.

Her lips curved faintly, almost involuntarily. She stared at the screen for a moment then locked the phone and set it beside her pillow.

And for the first time in weeks, the quiet in her room didn’t feel heavy, it felt warm.

She pondered for a while, she finally typed a reply:

Evelyn: A dinner sounds good :)

And the reply came instantly.

Alexander: Are you sure? I don’t want you to feel pressurized or something.

Evelyn: No, I don’t mind dinner but nothing fancy, okay?

Alexander: I promise not to wear a suit

His reply made Evelyn chuckle and also wonder if she had ever seen him without one.

Evelyn: I have never seen you out of one. Are you sure you own clothes which are not fancy tailored suits?

Alexander: I have clothes.

Evelyn: Then I will see you soon.

....