99 Times for Alpha’s Bestie novel Chapter 129

My eyes darted around nervously.

I hadn’t even noticed that I had been clinging to him the whole drive here. Clinging to him as naturally as I hugged the pillow I slept with every night. It was a reckless and utterly shameless act. What he must be thinking, I knew Lucien wasn’t a man to allow women to touch him.

Now what do I do?

Should I pretend nothing happened and sit up straight? Do I keep crying and play dead? Or-maybe just doze off and let it slide?

While a thousand different scenarios ran through my head, Lucien’s voice drifted above me.

“Have you finished struggling with yourself, Claire?” He ran his fingers through my blonde hair. “If you keep this up, the restaurant’s going to close before I get to feed you.”

I shot upright like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, springing out of his arms in a panic.

I ducked my head so low it nearly buried into my chest, not daring even a sideways glance at him. I was too embarrassed. I shoved open the car door and bolted out.

I marched forward unquestioningly until a teasing voice floated after me with the night breeze.

“If you keep going that way, in another fifty yards you’ll be swimming in the river.”

I froze on the spot. Lifting my head, I saw it-the shimmering ravine ahead, and behind me, the bright lights of the restaurant called ‘Little Wolf’.

My face flushed scarlet.

Lucien had already strode in the opposite direction, heading into the restaurant.

I trailed after him in silence, like a little shadow at his heels.

The best restaurant was empty except for the two of us. He had already arranged this. But when?

When the door opened, the owner himself came to serve us, smiling warmly as he handed over the menu directly to Lucien.

I quickly surveyed the menu board behind the register area, clever man. Nothing on here was spicy.

I sat across from Lucien, my back stiff as a board, feigning a natural and collected composure. Even though everything about this felt like a date. My faintly trembling fingers gave my nervousness away.

Lucien’s hand tapped the menu with practiced ease, reading off dish after dish like water flowing over stone.

“We’ll have the Pork Fennel Sausage, Roasted Crimini, Roasted Carrots, Black Cod Belly, Fried Foccacia, Tom Yum Fried Garlic Scapes, and we’ll share a bottle of Asolo Prosecco. That’s all, bring two plates to share these portions.”

My heart skipped a beat.

I have never been here before, and I find it hard to believe that this is a place where Lucien would dine. It was a small business with a limited menu selection compared to how the Alphas and Elites typically prefer things.

As Lucien set the menu down, I snatched it up with suspicion-and sure enough, every single dish he had chosen was something I would have loved to order for myself.

It was like this menu was catered straight to me in this moment.

But how? This was the first time we had ever gone out to eat alone. How did he know exactly what I liked?

I bit at my bottom lip, absentmindedly sucking as I do, confusion swirling in my mind. The waitress came and filled our water glasses, and I moved from assaulting my bottom lip to the straw in the glass.

Then-c***k.

I looked down. The straw was crushed flat between my teeth.

“You got a grudge against that straw?” Lucien’s voice cut across the table.

“Huh? N-no!” I snapped back to myself, surging to my face again. “I was just wondering, how come you ordered… all the dishes I would have wanted to order?”

“Oh? I imagine it was just a coincidence.” Lucien didn’t even lift his gaze.

“That’s way too coincidental,” I muttered under my breath. Before I finished the thought, Lucien suddenly leaned closer.

“Ah! You-” My heart shot up to my throat. I thought he was about to-my eyes squeezed shut in panic, my breath caught tight in my chest in anticipation.

But nothing happened. Instead, something brushed lightly against my collar.

“Still just as clumsy as ever, I see. You spilled your drink.” Lucien pulled back, holding a napkin dotted with a watermark.

I glanced down.

A few splotches of liquid marked my brand-new white blouse. Mortification swept over me. Of course, I, the clumsy fool, ruined a perfect moment.

I sighed in self-defeat and struggled to think of what to say next.

Luckily, the steaming dishes soon filled the table, and the rush of fragrance made my mouth water at the sight.

Lucien took the lead and filled my plate with ease, as though us dining together like this was as common as breathing. I didn’t take much notice of his lack of food at first.

The heat of the freshly cooked food burned my tongue all the way through my body, blasting away every trace of awkwardness.

I attacked the plates like a starving tiger, cheeks puffed, fork flying.

Lucien didn’t even lift his fork. He just sat across from me, watching. As if seeing me eat with such gusto was the best dish of all.