One Hundred and Eleven

Elen walked into the seafood restaurant with a visual sweep of his gaze, searching for Beatrice. His heart didn't race with excitement anymore, and he wasn't so keen on this lunch. He was even surprised when Beatrice suggested it out of the blue and knew she was making an effort to make things work.

She looked very beautiful, and the sun caught her hair. Elen approached her, and when she saw him coming, she got to her feet and surprisingly planted a kiss on his cheek.

Elen complimented her outfit, and a blush appeared along her cheekbones. They settled for lobster, mussels, and shrimps accompanied by a side of garlic butter. Elen watched her eat like a delightful little girl. She reached for a morsel, and her fingers brushed against Elen's as they both reached for the same shell.

His heart fluttered, and he couldn't deny that he was attracted to her, and her presence flooded him with warmth. But he needed to be honest with himself. Beatrice would never truly accept him; she couldn't ev