Still coming to dinner tonight? He smiled and typed back with greasy fingers. Wouldn't miss it. What are we having? Thai takeout from that place in Ballard, you like?
I thought you were cooking. I am. I'm reheating very aggressively. It counts. Can't argue with that logic.
Pick up Sophie at 6:00. Be there by 7:00. Perfect. She can help me set the table. I've been practicing my hostess skills.
Ethan finished the belt replacement, closed up the van, and locked the shop at 5:30. The drive to Sarah's house took 20 minutes through Friday traffic, and he found Sophie waiting on the porch with an overnight bag. Finally, she ran to the truck. I've been ready for an hour. The text said, "6.
It's only 5:50. That's basically 6. " She climbed into the passenger seat, buckling herself in. Are we really having dinner at Viven's penthouse? The one with the big windows. Yeah, and you need to be on your best behavior.
I'm always on my best behavior. You reorganized her kitchen last time without asking. It needed organizing. She had canned goods mixed with pasta. That's chaos.
Sarah appeared in the doorway, grinning. Have fun, you two. And Ethan, don't screw this up. Thanks for the vote of confidence. I mean it.
She's good for you. You've been smiling for 3 weeks straight. It's unsettling but also kind of great. They drove to Vivian's building. Sophie chattering about a school project on planets and asking questions about whether rich people had different gravity in their apartments.
Ethan let her talk, enjoying the normaly of his daughter's rambling theories about penthouse physics. The doorman recognized them now, which was both convenient and slightly surreal. Evening, Mr. Cole. Miss Sophie, Miss Hart is expecting you.
Thanks, Raymond. They rode the elevator up, Sophie bouncing on her toes with barely contained excitement. When the doors opened directly into Viven's apartment, they found her in the kitchen surrounded by takeout containers and looking adorably flustered. I may have ordered too much food, she announced. I wasn't sure what Sophie liked, so I got one of everything.
Everything? Ethan surveyed the counter. There had to be 15 containers. The menu was extensive. I panicked.
Sophie pushed past him and immediately started opening containers. Ooh, pad thai and spring rolls. And what's this one? Masaman curry. It's mild, I think.
The guy at the restaurant promised it wasn't too spicy for kids. I love spicy. Sophie grabbed a spring roll and bit into it. This is amazing. Can we eat here every week?
Sophie, manners, Ethan warned. What? I said please in my head. Vivien laughed and started setting out plates. She's fine.
And yes, Sophie, you can eat here whenever you want. I like having people around. The apartment feels less like a museum. They ate at the dining table Vivien had probably never used before. Sophie entertaining them with stories about her teacher's obsession with proper comma usage and her best friend's theory that pigeons were actually government surveillance drones.