I sat comfortably in the cafe, having decided to wait until Sonja arrived to order. I checked the time again. Although I wasn't sure exactly where Sonja lived, if she left from near Another Cup she should be arriving at any moment according to when I received the text message letting me know she was leaving. My phone buzzed on the smooth wood of the table top and the notification lighting up the screen alerted me that there was a new message in the pack chat.

Chanyeol Beagle: Kai-yah~ send us a picture with your mate!

Baekhyun Beagle: Better yet, bring her back home for us to see in person~ heh heh

This little...

LayXing: I wonder if Baekhyun would dare talk like this to Kai's face

I'd like to see him try.

Minseok hyung: Don't order something stupid 

Sehun-ah: Or go all wolfy on her

Jongdae Beagle: Send a selfie for proof that she showed up kkkk

If only they could see my glare through my phone.

You: Thanks for your confidence guys

Spitefully, I turned off the notifications for the chatroom. Sometimes I didn't know how I put up with my pack mates.

My leg started bouncing up and down on it's own accord. She definitely should've been here by now if she left when she said she did. I had already checked for traffic and there hadn't been any reported accidents or traffic to slow her down. I wasn't sure if I should actually be worried or if I was just irrationally anxious because I couldn't sense her. Maybe I should just call her and check? But I didn't want to distract her if she was still driving.

Suddenly a call came through from Sonja, saving me from my dilemma, and I picked up immediately.

"Hey!" I greeted.

"Hey," I breathed a sigh of relief just at hearing her voice. "Sorry it's taking me so long."

"Not at all! I'm at the cafe now, are you having trouble finding it?"

"Ah, well, no, not exactly. I couldn't really find a parking spot so I'm at a parking garage now. I just wanted to let you know that I'd be there soon and that I didn't bail or anything."

"A parking garage? Which one? Send me the address. I'll come meet you.

"No, no! Really, it's fine! I can walk there myself. You don't need to walk out here in the rain."

"Sonja, just send me the address, please. It's daylight out but it's still a city and I would be a terrible date if I let you walk downtown by yourself to meet me, and in the rain at that."

"I--"

"Sonja~," I whined. "Just let me do this, okay?"

"Okay, okay. I'll send it to you.

"Thank you. I'll see you soon!"

She sent me her location, which was a parking garage a few blocks away. I was already walking briskly there, umbrella in hand, as I sent her a quick text back.

You: It's chilly and rainy so just wait in your car and I'll send you a text when I'm at the garage so you can come down then.

I almost expected her to argue and say something along the lines of "unnecessary" but was pleasantly surprised with her simple reply.

Sonja: Ok. Take your time!

Even I wanted to take my time I couldn't help my feet from setting a quick pace from my excitement to see her. The walk went by quickly and I texted her letting her know I had arrived as the four story garage came into view. I focused in, using all of my senses to attempt to distinguish her scent, heartbeat, or footsteps from all of the things the city was invading my senses with; other people, animals, rain ricocheting off of various surfaces, cars navigating the streets-- there it was. As usual, her scent hit me first, that unique blend that sent my heart racing, then as she drew closer I found her footfalls, breath, and heart beat as well. She was making her way down the last set of stairs now, I could barely control the urge to run to the bottom of the stairwell to greet her. I heard the sound of her footfalls change slightly when her feet hit a new surface, indicating she had stepped off of the last stair and onto the cement ground, just on the other side of the wall where I stood. Her footsteps paused. I cocked my eyebrow with curiosity. Her heart rate picked up slightly, rather than slowly down as expected after descending the stairs, and I heard her take a long, slow inhale and exhale. Just a moment or two passed and she quickly rounded the corner, finally entering my sight. Her gaze was down as she tried to grasp her hood, only to have her fingers meet the hood-less collar of her coat. I couldn't help but chuckle under my breath slightly.

"Need one of these?" I extended my arm, allowing my umbrella to cover her.

"Oh!" She started a bit, her hand resting above her heart and her gorgeous brown orbs widening. This time I couldn't keep my laugh contained and I let out a full laugh and a smile naturally stretched over my lips. She was so damn cute.

"Sorry, didn't mean to startle you."

"It's ok. Sorry for making you walk all the way here just to get me."

"Why are you apologizing? From what I remember I was the one who insisted on picking you up." I chuckled.

"Oh, yeah. I guess you're right." She bit her lip and I quickly drew my eyes away from her lips and towards the sidewalk in front of us.

We naturally started making our towards the cafe. I walked on the side closest to the street, holding the umbrella over our heads. Her bag was slung over her right shoulder, coming in between us, and she kept a small distance preventing either of us from brushing against the other. I didn't want to seem to forward or make her uncomfortable by invading her space so I left the space between us and moved the umbrella slightly towards her, covering her while exposing my shoulder slightly. We didn't make much conversation during the short walk to the cafe but I didn't mind. I was completely content to bask in her presence, allowing her scent to fill my nose, somehow exhilarating me. As we neared the door I stepped out from under the umbrella, making sure to keep Sonja shielded from the rain, to open the door and guide her inside. There was no one in line so we headed straight to the counter.

"Do you know what you want?" I questioned. I already knew that I would order a cortado. It felt kind of lame to keep ordering the same thing but I couldn't help but remember Minseok telling me not to order something stupid. I only ordered a cortado in the first place because I had remembered him ordering it once or twice before and figured it was a safe bet.

"Mhmm." She let out a soft affirmative noise and nodded quickly. I motioned for her to order first. I noticed her taking her wallet out as she approached the counter. "Hi, ah, could I have a small latte with oat milk please?"

"Sure, will that be all?" The woman behind the counter replied after tapping at the screen in front of her.

"Ye--"

"A cortado as well please. That'll be all." I turned my attention towards Sonja. "Unless, do you want anything to eat, Sonja?" I hadn't intended to let her pay for her drink but figured that this was probably the best way to pay for her without her rejecting it.

"Oh, no, I'm fine, thank you." I contemplated just ordering something for her anyway but she had ordered a drink without dairy milk which reminded me that she might have dietary restrictions that I wasn't aware of. I returned my gaze briefly back to the employee to finish the order.

"That will be all then."

"For here or to go?" I smiled, remembering the first