A/N: As usual, I would recommend putting the video on loop.

Somehow, she had managed to sleep. (F/n) owed it to exhaustion from everything the previous day. From expecting Kaleb to come over to having dinner with Anita and him to finding out that the mannequin was alive and named Leonard or Lee for short. Even though she had fallen asleep, she expected all of those happenings were also the cause of the headache she woke up with. Not to mention her sore back and bottom.

It had been rough getting up in the morning. Besides the various aches, her mind rapidly went from peacefully getting up to oh sh*t none of that had been a nightmare. Obviously, that didn't help the slight pain in her head, which was why she brewed herself a large mug of coffee, about two cups worth. She didn't even bother with the creamer that morning. To top off her rude wake-up call, she remembered who happened to be in the kitchen with her and that Anita wasn't home yet.

Her head had turned slowly towards the mannequin only to find him leaning against the counter and watching her. Almost, she had spit out her coffee, but she managed to keep it in and walk out of the kitchen speedily. It was too early to deal with him. In fact, every morning would be, yet that was her new reality. She definitely liked it better when she thought the mannequin as just a mannequin.

Thankfully, Anita had come home shortly after, and she didn't have to worry about Lee trying anything. Anita's arrival, though, had its own set of problems for the day. She was happy to have her friend back, but she had to act like the mannequin wasn't alive and hadn't told her that Anita was going to betray her. At least, there was her annoyance at Kaleb to keep her mind somewhat occupied from the obvious fact that Anita and Scarlett were cooking around a living mannequin.

Needless to say, service was a struggle, and she was thankful that she didn't have to make too many trips into the kitchen during it. Luckily, none of the customers picked up on her wondering and worried mind. Or, they were too polite to say anything, so she was going to check the reviews tomorrow and see if anything new was added or anything about her behavior was discussed. Most likely, she was over thinking things, but it was hard not to when a mannequin had proven to be alive the night before.

Unlike the customers, Anita noticed her friend's distracted look hidden behind polite smiles and words. Something was off. She didn't know if it was because of Kaleb, something else or a combination of the two. So after service and the rest of the staff had left, Anita sat down at their usual table. (F/n) had a glass of white wine, and she had her warm whiskey. It was quiet at first between them, but Anita eventually spoke up. "What's up?" Anita watched as (f/n) looked like she had broken out of a daze. "And, don't tell me that you don't know what I'm talking about. You've been acting weird all day."

"Tired." (F/n) took a sip of her wine. Lee was in the kitchen, and she suspected that he might be able to hear them.

"Did you have a nightmare again?"

If only. Unfortunately, her nightmares were now her reality. "No, but I just couldn't sleep too well. And, I woke up with a headache."

"Did you drink after Kaleb and I left?" Anita raised a brow and smirked. "Have an exciting party without me?" If Anita considered a mannequin leaving a note and making threats to keep quiet an exciting party, then yes. Otherwise, the truth was far from that.

"That would've been better. But, no. Just a bad night's rest." (F/n) shrugged. "Hopefully, tonight will be better." She glanced over to her friend. "You going to Kaleb's again?" Anita nodded, and (f/n) sighed. Figured. "Right."

"Come on, (f/n)," Anita sighed out in somewhat of a whiny tone. "He hasn't been that bad or bad at all for that matter. He's been very nice, especially with all the looks and questions you've been sending his way."

"You know that I'm just looking out for you." (F/n) took a sip of her wine and was glad that they were off the topic of why she didn't get a good night's rest.

"Yes, but you should know by now that things will be fine."

Would they? (F/n) paused in her thoughts. She will betray you. No, she couldn't let that get the best of her, and she wished that she could ask Anita, but Lee might overhear her, and she didn't know what he would do if he did. Given last night, she imagined that it wouldn't be anything pleasant. He even had his hand around her neck, and she didn't like thinking about him actually applying pressure. Breaking out of her thoughts, she saw Anita giving her an expectant look. "Ah, sorry." A sigh left (f/n). "I probably should head to bed early."

"You sure that you're alright?" Anita asked, raising a brow.

"Yeah." (F/n) took another sip of wine, and as she set down the glass, she added, "But, how am I supposed to think that things are fine after meeting him only two times? Meanwhile, I have a bucket full of all the cr*p he did to you in the past."

"Well, you don't like meeting him at all. How are you supposed to see that he's changed if you don't want to meet him more often?" Anita argued back, and (f/n) grumbled. She supposed that Anita had a point there, but she also didn't like the idea of inviting Kaleb back into their café. "See." Anita smirked in victory. "You know that I'm right." Before (f/n) could get in another word, Anita remarked, "I'll set up another dinner for us."

"Uh huh. Don't put words in my mouth," (f/n) grumbled back.

"But, I'm right." (F/n) rolled her eyes as Anita kept up her smirk. "And, I think that I know how to make it more pleasant for you." Already, (f/n) knew where Anita was going with this.

"No." (F/n)'s answer was firm, and she didn't look amused in the slightest. "We already had this discussion." Anita went to speak, and she cut her friend off. "No, no and no. I'm not dating someone because you want me to."

"It's not dating. It's one dinner." Anita gave her friend puppy-dog eyes. "Please. It's just one time. If you don't like him, you don't have to see him again. Come on." For a moment, (f/n) wondered if a tail would pop up on Anita and start wagging. "Pretty please."

"No." (F/n) crossed her arms and held an expression showing that she wouldn't budge on the topic.

"I have a picture." Anita sat back and started scrolling through her phone.

"If I leave now and go to bed, you're going to wake me back up to show me, aren't you?" (f/n) questioned, not amused. Anita nodded and winked. (F/n) sighed and sank into her chair. "Right. Fantastic."

A grin fell onto Anita's lips. "Ah! Got it!" Moving her phone across the table, she showed (f/n) his picture. "What do you think?"

Focusing on the picture with a disinterested look, (f/n) thought that he didn't look bad. He had a nice smile that probably would catch someone off guard if he wanted that effect. His brunette locks were styled in the front to be somewhat wavy and curly, and the rest of his hair was cut short. The man had a square jaw, straight nose and full lips. Admittedly, his light blue eyes were piercing but also playful. Overall, he was attractive. With a wider grin, Anita asked, "So, you like him?" She leaned across the table. "I know that contemplative look, (f/n). You think he's cute, don't you?"

Huffing, (f/n) crossed her arms. "Yeah, so? That doesn't mean that I want to meet him, especially since you haven't told me how you found out about him." (F/n) narrowed her eyes. "You've already even asked him, haven't you?"

"Him is called Tristan." Anita took her phone and leaned back in triumph. "I'll let Kaleb know that we'll have another person tagging along with us on our next dinner."

Before she could even text a letter, (f/n) interjected, "Hey, I didn't agree to that!" She tried to reach across the table, and Anita held up the phone. "Anita, seriously!" Anita smirked and shook her head.

"Nope." She scooted her chair back and began to text.

"You still haven't even told me how you met him! Come on!" (F/n) stood up, but by the time she reached Anita, she already had sent the text to Kaleb.

"Too late." Anita winked up to (f/n). "It's happening." (F/n) paused before her shoulders sagged, and she groaned. "Oh, it's not going to be terrible. You already think he's cute."

Another groan left (f/n), and she rubbed the bridge of her nose. "Just tell me how you met him." (F/n) reluctantly returned to her seat and was tempted to steal Anita's phone to text Kaleb to cancel that last text, but she didn't exactly want to text Kaleb even if he thought it was Anita texting him.

"You don't want that to be surprise?" Anita asked with a grin, and (f/n) sent a glare her friend's way, which caused Anita to smile and laugh. "Okay, I'll tell you."