Is this destiny?

Felix was on a roll. He was asking Steve all kinds of questions, but Steve managed to answer them all in a satisfactory way.

"What is your religion?" Felix knows that this is a deal breaker for many couples.

"My parents are Christians, but I'm not a religious person."

'This answer is a pass... let's see how he handles next one.' Felix thought. "Do you love Bridgette?"

Steve glanced at Bridgette. "We just started dating recently... I'm not sure if I can call it love, but I definitely like her."

Under the table, Bridgette's hand moved and held Steve's hand which was clenched into a fist on his thigh. Steve relaxed his hand and held Bridgette's. Two of them exchanged loving gazes. The attraction was obvious.

Felix didn't notice hands under the table but did see the loving gazes. 'You dare look at her like that in front of me? Let me see how you handle this one!' Felix was ready to expose Steve and show his sister how Steve is not such a good man as she thinks he is. "What do you like about her?"

Steve was not sure how to answer this. 'What does he like about Bridgette? There are so many things.' Subconsciously he glanced at Bridgette's plump chest.

Felix didn't miss Steve's glance, and his face darkened. 'Got you!' Felix looked at his sister. "I see that this is all about sex."

Bridgette thought that she is going to faint. 'What is wrong with my brother? We didn't go beyond kissing, all right? Why is he talking about sex so freely?' She felt that Steve was holding her hand tightly, as if he was afraid that she will remove her hand. She gave Steve a reassuring squeeze under the table. Bridgette knows that her brother tends to overreact.

Felix continued talking to Bridgette, "I'm not in a position to tell you what to do. You are grown up. But I want to remind you to use contraception. Do you want me to accompany you to a doctor?"

Bridgette vigorously shook her head. There was a question on replay in her mind: 'What is wrong with my brother?'

Felix was not done, "You can get in touch with JoAnna. Don't allow yourself to get into a position where you need to get married because you are pregnant."

Felix faced Steve, "If you get her pregnant, you need to take the responsibility... or deal with me!"

At this point both Steve and Bridgette had bewildered expressions.

Sophia held her forehead in her hand and sighed. 'Well, maybe with this he got it out of his system.'

Bridgette came to her senses first, "Is that all?"

"For now." Felix lightly nodded. He felt a relief after saying what is on his mind.

Sophia felt that this is a good opportunity for them to leave. She can't handle any more of this. She wants her Felix back, and not this unreasonable interrogator.

"I think we should go now.", Sophia ushered Felix.

"It was nice to see you two. I can only hope you take all this as a brotherly concern." Sophia added as she pulled Felix out.

Both Bridgette and Steve looked after Sophia and Felix. When they were out of sight, Bridgette and Steve sighed and looked at each other.

"Well, it's done. I think it went rather well.", Bridgette shyly said.

Steve smiled. "I know he is like that only because he cares about you." Steve pulled her hand above table and kissed it. "Don't worry about me. I'm not bothered, because I have no intention to hurt you."

Bridgette revealed a wide smile. The more time she spends with Steve the more she knows him and the more she likes him. She can't imagine any other man who would sit and take that barrage of questions that Felix fired at him. And he answered all questions patiently. Because of her.

"Who knows, maybe your brother accepts me in the future, and we even become friends?" Steve was optimistic.

At that point waiter came to their table, "Is there anything else you would like to order?"

Steve looked at Bridgette and they both agreed that they are done.

Waiter smiled and put the bill in front of Steve.

Steve frowned while looking at the bill, "Maybe I was too hasty in saying that I can be friends with your brother." 'If Felix invited us for dinner, shouldn't he pay?' Steve felt his throat constricting, and his blood pressure going up. 'What is with all these appetizers and drinks? When did this happen?!!' Poor Steve, he was stuck with a bill of six people waiting for them for more than an hour while gobbling appetizers and beverages, as well as their entrees.

It is an upscale restaurant, so the bill was not negligible. Like adding salt to a wound is the fact that Sarah, Aiden, JoAnna and Jeff barely touched their food. And Steve also was not able to eat. So much food was wasted, and he needs to pay for it.

Bridgette peeked at the bill and was embarrassed. She knows that Felix agreed to pay for this, but he already left. What can she do other than to offer to pay herself?

Steve rejected her offer.

"How about we do it half-half?", She suggested.

Steve rejected again, "No need. I can do at least this much."

He put his card on the bill and handed it to the waiter. Steve felt like crying while thinking that almost half of his monthly salary is going away with that bill. Steve promised to himself not to be tricked like this again, no more meals with Felix or anyone else who was seated at that table earlier.

Steve wondered if Felix did this on purpose. 'Did he leave like that with an intention to get me stuck with the bill?'

Steve could describe this evening as agonizing. He spent almost two hours in a restaurant with a group of intimidating people, being interrogated by Bridgette's brother, and he ended up with a sky-high bill.. The only good things are that the dinner was over, and his relationship with Bridgette is back on track.