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Liam's Pov
We pulled up in front of "La Sorella", a sleek Italian rooftop restaurant perched atop one of the taller buildings downtown. The exterior blended reflective glass and polished steel, soft golden lighting accentuating the entrance, giving off that warm, upscale Italian vibe.
Valet attendants in crisp black uniforms approached immediately, and I handed over the keys, watching as the Benz was guided to a reserved spot.
Bernadette was already there, standing near the entrance. She was wearing a fitted midi dress in a deep emerald green that hugged her figure gracefully, flaring slightly just below the hips.
The dress had subtle ruching along the sides, giving it an elegant texture, and a modest V-neckline that complemented her poised demeanor without being flashy. Her hair was pulled back into a neat bun.
She looked up as we approached, her smile lighting up her face. "Liam! Penny! So good to see you both!" she called, stepping forward.
She extended her hand to me first, which I shook politely, and then turned to Penny with a warm hug.
"Bernadette, you look fantastic," I said, genuinely impressed.
"Oh, thank you," she laughed, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "You look very dapper yourself, Liam. That jacket—sharp!"
We engaged in a few moments of small talk—me asking about her day and her asking about mine.
Penny, however, was visibly rolling her eyes, muttering something under her breath about how long Bernadette could talk. I caught the look, but just let her deal with it.
"Penny, you okay?" I asked quietly.
"I'm fine," she muttered, cutting in. "Just making sure she doesn't monopolize all the time."
Soon, Leonard, Sheldon, Howard, and Raj arrived. Leonard handed his keys to the Valet.
Penny turned to Bernadette with a bright smile. "Bernadette, these are my friends—well, some of them. This is Leonard, Sheldon, Howard, and Raj."
Bernadette extended her hand gracefully toward each of them in turn. "It's lovely to meet all of you," she said politely, her voice calm and confident.
Leonard gave a polite nod and handshake, his usual reserved charm on display.
Sheldon didn't shake hands saying something about touching strangers hands and germs, Penny just shook her head ad Bernadette understood and didn't mind.
Howard, true to form, immediately started flashing his signature flirtatious grin, leaning slightly forward. "Wow… I don't think I've ever seen someone look that good and still be so… intelligent. Incredible."
Bernadette raised an eyebrow but didn't bat an eyelash at Howard's antics. Penny, standing slightly closer to Bernadette, gave a protective smile and a slight nudge. "Howard, play nice," she said lightly, cutting through his teasing with authority.
Howard's grin didn't falter, but he realized the game was over for now.
Raj remained quiet, as usual, a polite nod being his only acknowledgment, though his wide eyes betrayed slight amusement.
I stepped forward. "Table for seven under the name Liam Harper." The hostess gave a polite nod and led us inside.
The interior was refined with a subtle Italian charm—warm terracotta tiles, hanging olive-green planters, and rustic wood accents. The elevator ride up was smooth, the subtle hum beneath our feet giving a hint of anticipation.
When the doors opened on the rooftop, the view hit me instantly. The city sprawled beneath us with movement.
Our table was tucked under a white tent-like structure, offering both elegance and a sense of privacy.
Fine linen covered the tables, crystal glasses reflected the fading sunlight, and the subtle aroma of freshly baked bread and herbs floated through the air.
We all settled in, the breeze carrying the faint scent of tomato basil and citrus from the nearby planters.
The stage was set for an afternoon of conversation, laughter, and, hopefully, amazing Italian cuisine.
Once everyone was seated, I looked around the table and asked, "Alright, drinks first. What's everyone in the mood for?"
Lenard went first, scanning the cocktail section. "I'll go with sparkling water… yeah, hydration first, caffeine later," he said, smirking a little.
Bernadette, poised and calm as always, replied, "Same here. Sparkling water, please."
Penny leaned toward me with a mischievous smile. "I'll have a lemonade. Something light, refreshing… like me."
I chuckled. "No alcohol for me either. I'm driving, so ginger ale it is."
Raj, predictably, didn't speak up.
Instead, he quietly pointed at the menu, careful not to make a sound in front of the girls.
I nodded and added it to the order.
Sheldon adjusted his posture and said in that exact, precise tone, "I'll have a Coke."
Howard, of course, went straight for the most elaborate-sounding cocktail. "I'll take… something tropical, fruity, preferably with a tiny umbrella in it." Penny gave him a pointed look, silently daring him.
Once the drinks were on their way, the menus arrived.
I noticed that everyone except Penny had clearly done their homework—online. They knew exactly what they wanted before opening the menu.
I smirked. "Looks like everyone's prepared… except for us, Penny."
She rolled her eyes. "We don't need online reviews to know good food."
I gave the waiter my order first. "I'll have the chef's special" Penny echoed, "I'll have the same. When in Rome—or… Italy."
Lenard leaned over, squinting at the menu. "The truffle pasta looks tempting, but the reviews said the risotto is phenomenal."
Sheldon immediately interjected, "Risotto is fine, as long as it's cooked exactly at 97 degrees Celsius and stirred for precisely thirty-seven seconds. Otherwise, it's culinary chaos."
Howard snorted, "You sound like my mom during Thanksgiving, Sheldon."
Raj pointed silently at the seafood linguine. I nodded and added that in.
Once the orders were set, the table settled into light conversation.
I caught Penny smirking at Leonard, who was trying very hard to keep his analytical nerd persona intact while watching Howard flirt hopelessly with Bernadette.
"So, Howard," Penny teased, "found anything worth your fancy yet?"
Howard blinked rapidly. "Uh… um… I… noticed the wine list is… extensive?"
I chuckled. "Don't worry. Your efforts are… entertaining at least."
Sheldon, of course, had to chime in: "Entertainment is not the goal of a meal. Nutritional intake is paramount."
Raj just gave a subtle shrug and went back to silently admiring the view of the rooftop.
When the food arrived, it was beautiful—art on a plate.
The chef's special looked decadent, Penny's dish mirrored mine, and everyone else's plates were equally Instagram-worthy.
Leonard cautiously cut into his risotto, nodded approvingly, and muttered, "Yep, it's as good as the reviews said."
Penny took her first bite and sighed. "Mmm… see? Told you, no online guide needed."
Howard, unable to resist, leaned in toward Bernadette. "So… Do you always order seafood, or is this a special occasion?"
Bernadette didn't miss a beat. "Howard, I'm enjoying my meal. Let's not ruin it."
Sheldon tilted his head. "Logical response. Howard's persistence is illogical but amusing."
Raj finally chimed in silently with a thumbs-up toward his own plate, which got a small laugh from Penny.
Between bites, we laughed, teased, and enjoyed the view of the city.
Penny kept up a running commentary about who was eating too slowly or too enthusiastically.
Leonard tried to keep things classy, Sheldon interjected random facts about Italian cuisine, and Howard continued his awkward flirts with zero effect.
Even in this fancy, slightly intimidating rooftop Italian restaurant, everyone found their own rhythm.
I sipped my ginger ale, leaning back and enjoying it. Eve's soft voice chimed in on my HUD:
[Observation confirmed: group dynamics remain stable despite Howard's efforts to disrupt equilibrium. Penny's protective tendencies are optimal for group morale.]
I smirked to myself. 'Thanks, Eve. I'll file that under 'useless but entertaining trivia.''
The meal continued with light jokes, the occasional flustered response from Howard and Sheldon's relentless corrections, but everyone seemed to genuinely enjoy themselves.
By the time the plates were cleared, laughter had echoed across the rooftop, and even Raj had quietly joined in at a few points with hand gestures.
Eve [Assessment: social cohesion is high. Everyone satisfied, and no emotional casualties reported. A perfect human experiment—er, lunch.]
I chuckled softly, leaning back in my chair. "Perfect human experiment, huh? I like that one, Eve."
Lunch was officially a success. Everyone had their fill, some had learned more about each other than expected, and I had a front-row seat to observe the chaos without ever needing to intervene.
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