Evan chatted with Lena while he drove, one hand on the wheel, just relaxed. In the back seat, Lara glanced at him now and then, and the more she watched, the more one thing stuck in her mind—her best friend had scored big.
Evan wasn't some guy who'd turn heads as soon as he walked in. Nobody would call him movie-star handsome. But the longer you looked, the more you realized how easy he was to be around. His clothes were simple, but he wore them well—clean, coordinated, and never like he was trying to prove anything.
Honestly, most of the guys she'd met so far were loud, restless, always out to show off. Evan wasn't like that at all. He talked in this calm way, handled things with patience, and had a sort of quiet confidence that made everyone else relax, too.
Next to those guys, he just seemed… real. Down-to-earth.
Yeah, Lena got lucky, Lara thought, glancing over at her friend. Lena was chatting away with Evan, her eyes practically shining. There was nothing subtle about the way she looked at him—pure affection, totally open.
Made sense. If she were Lena, she'd feel the same.
"Lara?"
Lena's voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
"Hm?" Lara blinked. "What's up?"
"I've been calling you," Lena said, giving her a look. "What were you thinking about?"
"Oh—nothing," Lara said, shaking her head fast. "Just zoned out. What's up?"
Lena smiled, turning back toward the windshield. "We're here."
Lara looked outside. The restaurant sat quietly along the street—modern glass doors, warm lights inside, a couple of fancy cars out front. She recognized the sign right away.
Her eyes widened. "Wait… This place? Isn't this Aurora Dining?"
Lena nodded. "Yeah."
"I've heard of it," Lara admitted. "It's expensive."
Evan slowed down and pulled in close to the entrance. "Only if you stare at the menu too long," he said, almost teasing.
A valet came up, and Evan handed him the keys without any fuss. "Please park it," he said.
"Of course, sir," the valet replied.
Lara noticed how easy the whole thing felt. No showing off, no awkwardness—just natural.
They all got out, the cool night air brushing past as they headed inside. The restaurant felt calm and comfortable—soft music, gentle lighting, just enough to see by. People kept their voices low. It felt private, almost cozy.
A hostess greeted them with a smile. "Good evening. Do you have a reservation?"
"Yes," Evan said. "Under Evan."
She checked, nodded, and led them to a window table. The city lights outside flickered on the glass.
Lena set her bouquet on the table, absently touching the petals.
"You didn't have to bring us somewhere like this," she said, her voice soft.
Evan shrugged. "I just wanted somewhere nice."
Lara watched the two of them, her chin resting in her hand. There was no over-the-top sweetness, no showy gestures. Just a comfortable rhythm, like they'd been together for ages.
"So," Lara said, breaking the quiet, "I already know how you two met."
Lena blinked. "You do?"
Lara nodded. "You've told me. More than once, actually."
Lena coughed, a little embarrassed.
"But," Lara went on, turning to Evan, "I don't know much about you."
Evan looked up from the menu. "Me?"
"Yeah. You're my best friend's boyfriend. That automatically makes you important."
Lena shot her a look. "Lara—"
"I'm serious," Lara said, holding up a hand. "Not grilling you. Just curious."
Evan grinned. "Fair enough."
When the menus arrived, Lara flipped hers open, glanced at the prices for a couple of seconds, and shut it like she'd already seen enough.
"I'll trust you," she said. "You order."
Evan raised an eyebrow. "You trust me that much?"
"Or I'm just being realistic," Lara replied dryly.
Lena laughed. Evan just smiled and ordered, calm as ever—no fussing, no checking prices, none of that.
Lara leaned back, watching. He really wasn't trying to impress anyone. That, weirdly enough, was pretty impressive.
"So," Lara asked again, more at ease now, "what do you actually do when you're not busy being a good boyfriend?"
Evan thought about it. "Study. Work out sometimes. I drive. I think."
"Think?" Lara echoed.
"Too much," he admitted.
Lena smiled at that. "That's true."
When the food arrived, the mood got even warmer. Lena started sharing stories about work—crazy deadlines, clients who drove her nuts, all the little things she usually kept to herself.
Evan listened. Not the distracted kind of listening, but really listened.
He remembered people's names. He actually listened, asked about things they'd mentioned before, and didn't cut her off when she needed a second to think. Lara noticed all of it.
No wonder she fell for him, she thought.
A little later, Lara stood up. "Restroom. Try not to get too romantic while I'm gone," she said, tossing it out like a joke.
Lena rolled her eyes. "Go."
Once Lara walked off, the table got quiet. Lena sipped her water, leaned in, and dropped her voice a bit. "She thinks you're… decent," she said, a small, half-hidden smile on her lips.
Evan looked up. "That's it?"
"That's a lot, coming from her," Lena said. "She doesn't hand out compliments."
Evan grinned. "I'll take it."
Lena sat back. There wasn't any tension—no awkward gaps, no weird looks. Lara just acted like herself: teasing when she felt like it, quiet when she wanted to watch. That alone told Lena what she needed to know.
Lara came back from the restroom and slid into her seat like she'd never left. She picked up her fork. "So," she said, acting casual as she cut into her steak, "did I miss anything good?"
Lena shook her head, smiling. "Not really."
Evan glanced at her plate. "You were gone two minutes."
"Long enough," Lara shrugged. "You never know."
Lena rolled her eyes. "You're impossible."
The rest of the food arrived—nothing fancy, just solid, well-made stuff. It was the kind of place where you could relax and not worry about which fork to use.
Lara tried a bite and nodded. "Alright. I'll admit it. This is good."
Evan smiled. "Told you."
"Still expensive," Lara shot back, pointing her fork at him. "But good."
Lena laughed, the sound light and easy. The conversation wandered—stories from first day of work, dumb college memories, little things that didn't mean much on their own but somehow made the night warmer. Lara talked about campus life. Evan chipped in when he had something to say, but mostly just listened and let things flow.
No awkward silences. No forced affection. Just… comfort.
At one point, Lena reached for her glass and Evan did too. Their fingers brushed. She paused, then smiled, leaving her hand there.
Lara noticed, but didn't comment. She just leaned back, cut another piece of food, and kept an eye on the two of them.
Nothing dramatic. Nothing flashy.
Just right.
Dinner ended and nobody even thought to check the time.
Evan signaled for the check while Lena and Lara were still talking. When the bill landed, Lara glanced at the total and looked away fast—suddenly fascinated by the pattern on the tablecloth.
When the check landed on the table, Lena spotted it before Evan even moved. She frowned. "Wait."
Evan stopped, hand hovering.
"I want to pay," she said, sitting up straighter. "First day at work. I want to celebrate."
Lara went still, her gaze darting between them.
Just as Lena started to pull out her card, Evan had already caught the waiter's eye.
"I've got it," he said, voice easy but not taking no for an answer.
Lena stared at him. "Evan—"
He shrugged. "First day. That's exactly why I'm paying."
Lena shook her head. "That makes no sense. I'm the one celebrating."
"And I'm the one who's proud of you," he shot back, grinning.
Lena went quiet.
Lara focused hard on her water, pretending she wasn't eavesdropping, though the corner of her mouth twitched.
The waiter came back. Evan handed over his card.
Lena looked like she might argue again, but stopped herself. She let out a breath, half defeated, half amused.
"You're impossible."
Evan grinned wider. "Get used to it."
When everything was paid up, Evan stood. "Come on. We're not done celebrating."
Lena shook her head, but she was smiling as she got up.
Outside, walking to the car, Lena leaned in closer. "Next time," she said under her breath, "it's on me."
Evan glanced at her. "okk."
"...Yeah, okay," she muttered.
"Figures," Lara said under her breath. "Boyfriend privileges."
Lena laughed, looping her arm through Evan's as they got up.
"Yeah. Let's get out of here before it fills up," Evan said.
They walked out together. The doors opened, and the night air hit them—cool, fresh, full of city noise and lights and passing cars. Lena drifted closer to Evan. Lara noticed, said nothing.
Evan stopped at the curb. The valet recognized him and pulled the BMW around. As the car rolled up, Lara let out a tiny breath.
"Nice timing," she said.
Evan took the keys, nodded at the valet, and opened the door for Lena. "Careful," he said.
Lena smiled and slid in. Lara got in the back.
The door shut with a soft click. As Evan walked around to the driver's side, Lara watched him through the glass. He looked calm, natural, like he belonged right there. The car started, and they pulled away from the restaurant, the lights fading behind them.
The city slipped by, engine humming, streetlights flickering across Lena's face. She leaned back, looking relaxed in that way you only get after a good meal and better company.
Evan drove with one hand on the wheel, the other resting near the gearshift.
"Dinner was really nice," Lena said quietly, breaking the silence.
"I'm glad you liked it," Evan said. "I worried it was too much."
She shook her head. "No. It was perfect. Not because of the place—just… the time."
Evan glanced over at her, then back at the road. "Yeah. I felt the same."
Lena smiled, fingers tracing the bouquet beside her. After a moment, she spoke again
Lena smiled, her fingers playing with the bouquet beside her. She lingered in the moment, then finally spoke up.
"Thanks," she said, voice soft. "For tonight."
Evan glanced over. "For what?"
She gave a little shrug. "For bringing me here. For just… the way you treat me."
Evan looked at her, eyes warm. "You don't have to thank me."
"I know," she said, turning to face him. "But I want to."
From the back seat, Lara leaned forward, trying to break up the mood. "Alright, lovebirds. Cut it out. We're not in some cheesy movie."
Lena rolled her eyes but couldn't help laughing. Evan caught Lara's grin in the rearview mirror.
"You're the one who wanted to come," he said, grinning.
Lara shrugged. "I didn't know I was third-wheeling a date. I thought this would be, you know, normal."
Evan laughed. "Normal's boring."
Lara snorted. "You dragged me here."
He smiled at her in the mirror. "Guilty. Sorry."
She waved it off. "Don't be. I'm just saying, Lena's lucked out."
Lena shifted in her seat, a little embarrassed. "Lara…"
Lara kept going, teasing. "Seriously. You found a guy who doesn't have to be the center of attention, who actually listens. That's not easy."
Evan chuckled. "She's just lucky, I guess."
Lena squeezed his hand. "No, I'm the lucky one."
His smile softened. "Alright, if you say so."
The car slipped through the city, streetlights drifting by like slow, steady breaths. Lena sank into her seat, finally letting the day's tiredness catch up with her. Not that heavy, dragging kind—more like the quiet ache you get after a day well spent. She glanced at Evan behind the wheel. He looked calm, unrushed, like he had all the time in the world.
"I'm tired," she said, her voice soft, "but… happy."
Evan smiled without turning, eyes steady on the road. "That's the best kind of tired."
Lena just nodded and let her eyes drift shut for a second.
In the back seat, Lara watched them. No jokes, no smart remarks. She just got it. Some moments said enough without any words.
Outside, the city lights blurred into streaks, and the car rolled on—easy and sure, carrying all of them exactly where they belonged.
*********