Save Her Lose Us (Evangeline and Soren) novel Chapter 288

As she approached, Finn held out his hand for the bag she was carrying, and she passed it to him without a second thought.

"Whatever you want for dinner, it's my treat," she said, her voice bright.

Finn smiled, not refusing. "Excellent. How about a barbecue?"

He had left the country at a young age and spent most of his life abroad. Since his return, Arabella's complaints about the smoky smell had kept him away from such places, and he'd never been particularly interested himself. But he'd heard that the close quarters of a street-side grill were a great way to build intimacy on a date.

More importantly, it was affordable. He knew Evangeline was on a tight budget. A high-end sushi restaurant would be a strain on her finances, and choosing somewhere too cheap might make her feel like he was patronizing her. A local barbecue joint was the perfect middle ground.

Just as he'd predicted, her eyes lit up. She gave him a thumbs-up. "Good choice. Nothing beats barbecue. It's even better late at night with a few beers."

She immediately caught herself, remembering their last incident with alcohol. "But drinks are optional, of course. They have other stuff." Probably full of artificial sweeteners, she thought, but Finn had likely never tried it. A little couldn't hurt.

Evangeline chose a place she used to frequent, one that was relatively clean. In the past, whenever Poppy and Soren wore her down, she would bottle up her frustrations, telling herself to just endure it. But the emotional toll had built up over time. At her lowest point, she had considered ending it all. Waking up in a hospital bed had been a harsh wake-up call. After that, she started trying new things as an outlet for her pain, which is how she discovered this little grill.

The owner recognized her. As he sprinkled cumin on a skewer, he glanced at Finn and called out, "Hey, beautiful! Brought your husband tonight?"

Before Evangeline could respond, Finn grinned. "Not only is your food delicious, but you've got a good eye, too. No wonder this place is so popular."

The owner beamed at the compliment. "You're the first man she's ever brought here, my friend. I knew you had to be her husband. She usually only comes when she's feeling down. This is the first time I've seen her so happy. You two make a great couple—handsome and beautiful."

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