Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

With that, as if fearing more questions, she quickly changed the subject. "I'm starving. Didn't we book a table? Let's go grab some food."

There was this popular steakhouse, always jam-packed over the weekend. Leda had booked a table two days in advance and still, it was almost a miss.

Right near the steakhouse was a butcher's shop, ensuring all their beef was fresh off the market, clean and prime.

Especially since this place's secret sauce, filling the air with its savory aroma even before any meat hit the pot.

As soon as Leda sat down, she pointed at the menu, "This, this, and this... and throw in these, these, and these... Let's get two of each."

She'd lost weight this week, all thanks to overtime work. A rare night out meant indulging to the fullest.

Gaining a few pounds was no issue; there was always the gym, but her taste buds and stomach deserved a treat!

Roseanne gazed at the table, laden with meats and veggies, and couldn't help but swallow hard, "Are we... going to finish all this?"

It was just the two of them, and she was genuinely worried about waste.

Leda raised an eyebrow, recalling something, "Oh, forgot to tell you, my aunt asked me to call Owen, to get him to come home this week. When I called, he said he was off, so I... invited him over for dinner. Uh... Anne, you don't mind, do you?" Roseanne choked a little at this sudden announcement.

Seeing her reaction, Leda was puzzled, "You two know each other well enough, no need to be startled, right?"

They were neighbors and now working on the same research project, seeing each other day in and day out, they should be well acquainted.

Besides, Leda had a motive inviting Owen; it was an opportunity to ensure Owen looked out for Roseanne at the lab.

She worried about Roseanne getting bullied without someone to watch her back.

Owen, being the big brother figure, could make a lot of difference.

Roseanne calmly cleaned her mouth, "The soup's a bit hot. I drank it too fast."

Leda advised, "Let it cool a bit then."

"Got it."

Owen caught in the evening rush, was a bit late.

It was drizzling, and as he walked in, his hair dotted with raindrops and shoulders slightly damp.

"Didn't bring an umbrella?"

Leda found his state odd; forgetting an umbrella was common, but Owen was meticulous, how could he slip up like this?

"Ah, forgot," Owen replied nonchalantly.

Roseanne, who had been focusing on her soup, didn't think much of it until Leda mentioned the umbrella, She remembered a rainy day when she'd forgotten hers, and Owen had lent her his spare. She'd forgotten to return it, and he hadn't mentioned it either.

Now that spare umbrella was still at her place...

With that thought, Roseanne's head dipped lower, quietly sipping her soup.

Owen's eyes caught her ostrich-like move, a subtle smile briefly playing on his lips.

...

The rainy ambiance, bustling with conversations and the steamy warmth of the steakhouse, set a perfect scene.

Gathered around the table with

close friends, lazily listening to the

patter of rain mixed with the

elee

occasional honk from the streets, Roseanne felt completely at ease.