Goodenia

🌸 Evolet 🌸

String lights are wrapped around trees and strung between poles to create an ambiance of light. There's a couple of food trucks situated around the park with soft music playing from them. Caelum is leaning against a large pine tree with a hand tucked into his grey jeans.

He glances up from his phone and smiles as our eyes meet. Caelum tucks his phone into his back pocket and walks to me.

"Hey, Evolet." He waves.

"Hey." I clasp my hands together and smile.

"I hope you're hungry because I'm starving."

"I'm excited to try something new."

"Are you in the mood for something spicy, noodles or rice?"

"Something spicy or a rice dish?"

"What's your thoughts on Indian food?"

"I'm always down to try something new."

"Do you want to find us somewhere to sit and I'll order the food?"

"Sure." I nod.

The picnic tables are taken, so I expand the search for a bench or a cozy spot on the outskirts of the park. There's a tree nobody is sitting near, so I plonk on the grass and lean against it.

Once Caelum has the food, I wave my arm to capture his attention. He sits across and lays the containers and paper bags out.

"There's biryani and a chickpea curry along with some samosas."

"Sounds good." I smile.

"Have you tried biryani before?"

"Nope."

"You're going to love it." He chuckles. "In my opinion, I think it needs charcoal chicken."

Caelum hands me a plastic fork and I sample the biryani rice. There's a good mix of spices which creates a good flavour.

"I could have this, either way, it's so good." I nod.

"Now try the curry."

We swap containers and I try a small spoonful. It's spicier than the other dish but aside from the slight burning sensation on my tongue, there's a nice flavour to it.

"These dishes are so good."

Caelum takes a samosa from the paper bag and proudly smiles.

"I don't have the best cooking skills, but I do know where to find good food."

"You need to teach me your ways." I laugh.

"How was your week?"

"Nothing bad happened, so that's good."

"I suppose that's a good start." He laughs.

"What else can I say?" I shrug. "How about you?"

"It was good."

"How was it really?"

Caelum frowns, then raises an eyebrow.

"I care about you, Caelum. I genuinely want to know about your week, good, bad, illegal," I whisper the end word. "We can't be in a relationship if you have to hide everything from me."

"Oh Evolet, you're always surprising me." He smiles.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry, it's a complicated situation."

"How was your week then?"

"Same old too."

"So we had boring weeks then?" I laugh.

"I think my week needs more of you in it."

My heart flutters and I hide my embarrassment by looking down at the food. He's right though, I wish my week had more of him in it.

We swap containers and eat samosas until we're finished with all the food. I pat my stomach and grin with satisfaction.

"Do you want dessert? There are crepes."

"I always have room for dessert." I giggle.

I gather the containers and shove them into a plastic bag. Caelum stands up and offers me his hand. I take a deep breath before allowing him to pull me to my feet. I toss the rubbish into the bin, then he takes my hand.

A young man steps in front of us and smiles. Their brown hair is shaggy and messy, ripped white t-shirt and faded blue jeans.

"Hey, Joseph."

His fingers subtly tighten around my hand.

"Hi, what's up?"

"Are you coming to the party tonight?"

I turn to Caelum and smile.

"Maybe later."

The man looks at me and chuckles.

"I'll see you both later then."

He wanders off and Caelum pulls me to the food truck.

"Come on, it'll be fun!"

"I'm not mixing business with you."

"Are you afraid I'll freak out again? I promise I won't."

"We're not going."

"Please Caelum." I tug on his hand to make him look at me.

"Why do you want to go?"

"Because I'm curious about what happens at these parties."

"What do you think happens at these parties?"

"I don't know." I groan.

Caelum shakes his head.

"Only one party."

"Okay." I smile.

"Let's grab dessert before we go."

"Sounds like a good plan."

Caelum orders crepes with strawberries and chocolate sauce. We linger near the food trucks and eat our dessert before wandering to the parking lot.

"I'm parked just down there, you can follow me to the party."

"How come the man called you Joseph?"

"I don't use my real name."

"Did you pick Joseph because of me?" I bite my lower lip.

"Yes." He nods with a smile. "Solis is Gus."

"I get to meet your brother?" I gasp.

"If he's there."

"Did he pick his nickname?"

"That's not how it works." He chuckles.

"Don't give me a bad nickname." I pout.

Caelum just smiles, then steps back and wanders to his car. I shoot him a playful glare before slipping behind the wheel. I follow Caelum through the suburbs until we arrive on a street packed with parked cars.

We find parking spots towards the end of the street and hop out. Caelum messages somebody, then shoves his phone into his pocket and smiles at me.

"Solis is excited to meet you."

"I hope he likes me," I nervously whisper.

"I don't care what he thinks."

Caelum takes my hand and weaves his fingers through mine. We wander down a walkway until we reach a small house with the front door slightly ajar. He pushes the door open and hooks his arm around my waist.

There's a lounge room attached to the entrance which has a group of people gathered around a small wooden coffee table. A man waves his arm and exhales a breath of smoke.

"Joseph," they call.

Caelum tugs me closer and brushes his nose against my ear.

"That's Solis, but I call him Gus."

Solis leaps off the couch and runs over, a bright cheeky smile on his face.

"Gus reminds me of Cinderella." I chuckle.

Solis rolls his eyes and shoots Caelum a glare.

"So you're the one he's all caught up on?"

"Yes?"

I glance at Caelum who's looking at me with a wide smile.

The man from the market stands beside Solis and smirks.

"You came and you brought a friend." His eyes linger on me.

Caelum's arm tightens around my waist as he presses me closer to his side.

"Lily, this is Danny and Gus, my friends."

"Hi." I awkwardly wave. "It's nice to meet you."

"Join us." Solis cocks his head towards the group behind him.

Caelum takes my hand and walks to the couch. He sits on the end cushion and pulls me onto his lap, then rests his hand on the outside of my thigh.

Solis takes a hit from a joint and offers it to Caelum. I peer over my shoulder and catch Caelum shooting him a glare.

"You don't have to refuse because of me," I whisper.

"I don't want it."

"Okay." I nod.

Danny leans on the back of the couch and takes the joint from Solis. He inhales a deep breath and blows the smoke in my direction. Caelum fans the air and Danny chuckles.

"Someone is interested in meeting you."

Caelum looks at me and exhales a breath.

"Later, Danny."

"Let's go somewhere else."

I jump up and follow Caelum through the mismatched house. We walk through a couple of rooms and manage to find our way outside. There's a few people outside smoking, but it's quieter than the thumping music inside.

We stare at each other and I laugh.

"I'm sorry, this was a terrible idea."

He takes my hand and pulls me closer.

"I don't care where we are, just as long as you're here with me." His comment has me gushing with happiness.

"I'm not afraid anymore, but next time, ease a girl into the news."

"I don't plan on doing this again."

"So we're doing this?"

Caelum's eyes sparkle with happiness.

"Will you be my girlfriend?"

"Yes." I chuckle.

He takes my hand and pulls me forward for a kiss. I hook my arm around his neck and rest my other hand on his chest. Our kiss is sweet until it deepens to something a little more passionate. I curl my fingers through his hair and gently tug.

I press my forehead against his and smile. Caelum leans back and looks over my shoulder.

"Danny is waving me over," he grumbles.

"I'm going to head home. We could meet tomorrow for lunch?"

"How about dinner? I'll cook something for you."

"Okay." I smile.

"Any allergies?"

"Nope."

"Come on, I'll walk you out."

"What about Danny?"

Caelum shrugs and I chuckle.

🍂 Caelum 🍂

Solis catches me in the doorway and smiles.

"She's-"

I give him a look and he rolls his eyes.

"So you're the possessive asshole type when you're in a relationship?"

"I've always been the possessive asshole, why are you acting surprised?"

Solis nods with a chuckle.

"It's weird seeing you with a girl you're not just sleeping with."

"Evolet is different, she's . . ." I don't know how to describe her, but she's like nobody I've met before. So pure and innocent, so striking and beautiful.

"Danny wants to introduce us to somebody and I have a bad feeling about it. He's been whispering to this person all night."

"If Danny thinks we should meet them, then we should."

Solis shakes his head and frowns.

"Don't judge a book by its cover." I sigh.

Solis raises his eyebrows and shakes his head. "A book can't kill you, though."

Danny enters the lounge room and comes over to us. He pushes his hands into the front of his denim jeans.

"Are you ready? I think this person can really help you build more connections."

Solis forces a happy smile and nods his head.

Danny looks around and frowns.

"Where's your pretty friend gone?"

"Home."

I'm happy Evolet decided she wanted to go home because I don't like her being around this stuff, especially these people.

"Oh, that's a shame."

Solis laughs and I shoot him a glare.

Danny takes us to another room with a group gathered around a large glass table. There's cards tossed in the middle and empty cans on it. Danny nods his head to a man who jumps up and races over with a cunning grin.

"You're the person everyone's talking about?" He raises an eyebrow.

"I don't know who everyone's talking about, but the name is Joseph." I offer a hand.

"My boss wants to meet you."

"Okay."

"Do you have a contact number?"

"If he wants to meet me, he can come and find me."

I turn around and walk off with Solis scurrying after me.

"What was the point in that?"

"I know who he works for. He can come to us, it's all a part of the game he's playing."

"Who is he?"

"Just somebody else who sells product like us."

"Okay."

"I'm going home, are you coming?"

"Sure." He nods.

Solis follows me to the car and we head home.

We've gone so long without meeting another boss, but perhaps it's a good time to start making those kinds of connections now that our business is taking off. It's important to know a lot of people in this industry. 

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Hope you enjoyed the chapter : ) x