"One chicken Alfredo pasta, please."
Lily glanced at the menu above the counter one last time before turning to the cashier.
The Copper Table was quieter than she had expected for the hour, with only a handful of customers scattered across the dining area.
The smell of garlic butter and freshly baked bread made her realise how hungry she actually was.
"Would you like anything else with that?" the cashier asked.
"No, thank you. Just the pasta."
"Make that two."
Lily turned her head.
Alex stood beside her with his hands in the pockets of his trousers, looking at the menu as though he had been studying it for the past ten minutes rather than listening to her order.
She stared at him.
He looked down at her. "What?"
"You're ordering the same thing?"
"That's generally what 'make that two' means."
"Alex."
"Lily."
She narrowed her eyes at him, but he merely turned back to the cashier.
"Two chicken Alfredo pastas, please."
The cashier tapped something into the register. "Anything to drink?"
"Water for me," Lily answered.
"Same," Alex said.
When the cashier handed them the receipt, Alex reached for it before Lily could take out her purse.
"I can pay for mine," she said.
"I know."
He tucked his card into the machine. The machine beeped, and he collected the receipt.
Lily watched him for another second before letting out a breath through her nose. Arguing with Alex over something as ordinary as dinner was a peculiar waste of energy.
He had always possessed a talent for making simple matters unnecessarily difficult whenever he decided he wanted something done his way.
Unfortunately, he was equally talented at making it difficult for anyone to remain properly annoyed with him.
"Come on," he said, nodding towards an empty table near the window. "Let's sit while they prepare it."
Lily gave him a look and followed him to the table.
She placed her handbag on the chair beside her and settled into her seat. Beyond the window, cars moved along the road in a steady stream, their headlights sweeping across the glass whenever they passed.
The evening had grown cooler, and a faint mist clung to the edges of the window.
Alex sat opposite her and leaned back.
For a few moments, neither of them spoke.
Lily reached for her phone.
She had messages to answer, a schedule to review, and several things she needed to prepare before Adrian's departure. The thought of the following morning was enough to make her shoulders feel heavier.
She opened her work calendar, scanned the appointments, and frowned at the number of tasks she had left unfinished.
"You're doing it again," Alex said.
She didn't look up. "Doing what?"
"Working."
"I'm looking at my schedule."
"Which is another way of working."
"Would you prefer that I stare at the wall with you?"
"Not particularly. I was enjoying the wall."
A small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth before she could stop it.
Alex noticed. He didn't comment, which was probably the wisest decision he had made all evening.
Lily scrolled through her calendar, checked the time, and locked her phone.
It was later than she had realised.
She placed the phone on the table and looked at him. "It's getting late, and I'm tired. Can you take me home, please?"
He glanced towards the counter, where an employee was placing takeaway containers into a paper bag, their order was ready.
He held up his hands. "Alright. Let's go."
Alex collected the paper bag while Lily took the two bottles of water, and they left the restaurant without lingering.
Outside, the evening air brushed coolly against Lily's cheeks. She drew her coat closer around herself as Alex unlocked the car.
He placed the food carefully on the back seat before getting behind the wheel.
Once Lily had settled into the passenger seat, he started the engine.
The drive to her apartment was quieter than the one from Adrian's mansion had been. The city lights stretched across the windscreen, breaking apart whenever they passed beneath a streetlamp.
Lily rested her head against the seat.
She was tired enough that she could feel the beginnings of a headache behind her eyes. Tomorrow would be demanding.
Adrian would want everything in order before the flight, the twins would have their own last minute requests, and there would undoubtedly be something he had forgotten to mention until the very moment they were supposed to leave.
She closed her eyes for a few seconds. Alex lowered the volume of the music.
By the time they reached her apartment building, Lily had relaxed into the quiet. Alex pulled into the space near the entrance and put the car in park.
"We're here," he said.
Lily opened her eyes and looked through the windscreen. "Already?"
She reached for her handbag, then remembered the food on the back seat. "Wait. The pasta."
Alex turned slightly. "I was wondering when you'd remember that."
"I knew it was there."
"Of course."
She twisted around, retrieved the paper bag, and settled it carefully on her lap before gathering her handbag.
For a moment, she sat with her hand resting on the door handle.
Then she turned back to him. "Thank you for bringing me home. And for dinner."
"You're welcome."
"You really didn't have to go through all that trouble."
Alex looked at her. "What trouble?"
"Goodnight, Alex." Lily said defeatedly
"You're welcome, Lily."
She stepped out and closed the door.
Alex remained where he was, one hand resting on the steering wheel as he watched her walk towards the building.
She adjusted the paper bag against her hip, searched through her handbag for her keys, and slowed near the entrance to avoid a man coming out with a large cardboard box.
The man held the door for her. Lily thanked him and slipped inside.
Just before the door closed, she glanced back towards the car and lifted her hand in a small wave.
Alex raised his in return. Then she disappeared from view.
He waited until the entrance had settled behind her before shifting the car into gear. The tyres rolled over the pavement as he pulled away from the building and joined the traffic.