Mika was confused by Lex's sudden change in attitude. He had been so gentle and warm with her, but the moment the waitress came over, his demeanor shifted to cold and distant. She tilted her head slightly, watching him with narrowed eyes.
"Is there a reason you were so cold to her?" she asked, keeping her voice casual but clearly curious.
Lex looked up at her, surprised. A faint blush touched his pale cheeks. "Oh, I just… I didn't like the way she looked at your dog. Yeah, that's it."
Mika raised a brow. "Logan?"
Logan was curled under the table, his eyes resting half-shut but his ears perked. He didn't seem bothered by the waitress at all. In fact, Mika hadn't even noticed the waitress glance twice at him.
"Right," she said, not entirely buying it, but letting it go.
She reached down and pet Logan's head, who leaned into her touch with a soft grunt of approval. Lex watched the exchange with hidden irritation. The dog's protectiveness annoyed him—Logan was always there, always in the way, always getting her affection. And Lex wanted that attention all to himself.
The waitress returned with their drinks. "Here you go," she said with a smile that didn't reach Lex. "Is there anything else I can get you two?"
"I'd like the French toast, please. Extra butter," Mika said, handing the menu back politely.
The waitress turned to Lex, her pen ready. "And for you?"
Lex hesitated. He didn't eat human food—it didn't sit well with him—but he couldn't refuse without raising questions. "Uh… the salad. No dressing, please."
"Sure thing," the waitress said and walked off toward the kitchen.
Mika sipped her drink, her eyes not leaving him. "Hey, are you okay? You sounded really nervous just now."
"I'm fine," Lex said quickly, too quickly. He cleared his throat. "Really. Just… not a fan of crowded places."
"You sure?"
"Yeah, I'm perfectly fine," he insisted, offering a tight smile.
Mika nodded, though her expression said she didn't quite believe him. She took another sip and studied him over the rim of her glass.
"You're really not used to this, are you?" she said softly.
"What do you mean?"
"Just... talking to people. Being around people. It's like you're always on edge."
Lex looked down at the table, his fingers tracing invisible lines in the wood grain. "I guess I've been alone for a long time," he admitted. "Makes it hard to... connect."
Mika's eyes softened. "Well, for what it's worth, you're doing okay."
He looked up and met her gaze, the intensity in his blue eyes making her stomach flutter. "Thanks," he murmured. "It means more than you know."
Their moment was broken when the waitress returned with their plates. She placed Mika's French toast in front of her with a polite nod, then set the dry salad down in front of Lex. The sight of it made his stomach twist—not with hunger, but disgust. Still, he picked up a fork and forced himself to take a bite, chewing slowly and swallowing like it was chalk.
Mika grinned as she dug into her food. "I've always loved breakfast food. Doesn't matter what time of day it is."
Lex chuckled lightly, pretending to take another bite of his salad. "I can see that."
As they ate, Mika asked him about his life—where he was from, what he liked to do. He gave vague answers, skillfully avoiding any mention of his true age or the dark secrets he held. He learned that she had always wanted to travel, loved sketching animals, and had an odd fondness for rainy days.
"I like the sound of it," Lex said, watching her twirl her fork as she talked. "Your life."
She laughed. "It's not that interesting."
"It is to me."
They finished their meal and stepped back out into the cool afternoon. The sky was gray, the kind of overcast that promised more rain. Mika pulled her cardigan tighter around her.
"I should get going," she said. "Logan's probably ready to nap again."
Lex looked down at the dog, who was watching him warily. "I'll walk you home."
"You don't have to."
"I want to."
She smiled, and the three of them walked in silence for a while. As they reached her apartment building, she turned to him.
"Thanks again. For... everything."
Lex nodded, stepping back. "Anytime, Mika."
As she disappeared inside, Lex remained on the sidewalk, watching the building with a strange ache in his chest. He didn't know what this feeling was, but he knew one thing for certain:
He needed her.
And he wasn't going to let her go.