Page 4

Chapter four

Flyn

I ’m standing outside a restaurant, my foot tapping a nervous rhythm on the pavement. Hopefully, I don’t look too crazy.

The cozy Italian place looks warm and inviting, lit up by soft golden lights, a perfect little spot for dinner. Too perfect, maybe. A bit too intimate.

What was I thinking, choosing this place?

The candlelit tables, the intimate booths.

Hell, even the way the wine list feels more like a seduction than a menu.

It’s all just so… romantic. But I didn’t think about any of that when I picked it.

I just wanted somewhere nice for us to talk.

Somewhere where we’d actually be able to hear each other speak.

I didn’t want to make it awkward, but I also don’t want to come off too eager. Is this too eager?

I glance at my phone, but Jade hasn’t messaged yet. He’s always been punctual, though. Still, it’s hard not to worry. What if he gets here and thinks I’ve set this up as a date? What if he gets the wrong idea, or worse, thinks I’m trying too hard?

I’m overthinking this, I know.

A few people pass by, and I glance up at the streetlights.

I straighten my shirt, run a hand through my hair, and then shove my hands into my pockets.

If I don’t stop fidgeting, I’ll just make myself more anxious.

I can’t even remember the last time I felt this nervous.

It’s like a schoolboy crush all over again.

And then I see him .

Jade walks towards me, as effortlessly cool as I remember.

His short blonde hair looks perfect, like it always does, styled with that just-got-out-of-bed vibe that somehow works for him.

He’s wearing his usual pair of oversized sunglasses, probably to avoid the attention he always attracts.

He’s a better man than me. If I was as stunning as him, I’d lap that shit up.

I’d flaunt it and use it in evil ways to get everything I’ve ever wanted.

But Jade hides his looks. And he doesn’t let it go to his head. He is beautiful and not at all a jerk about it. He is the very opposite. Shy, sweet, humble. He really is incredible.

His bright green eyes peek over the glasses as he gets closer, and that nervous flutter I’ve been trying to suppress rushes back again. I smile anyway, doing my best to act like it’s no big deal, even though inside, my heart’s beating a little faster.

“Hey,” I say, my voice maybe a little higher than usual.

“Hey,” Jade replies, a soft smile tugging at his lips as he stops in front of me. “Sorry I’m late. Traffic was a nightmare.”

I shake my head. “You’re right on time. You know me, I’m just early to everything.”

Jade gives me a smirk that makes my stomach flip. “I figured.”

We stand there for a beat, the cool evening air brushing against our skin, and I suddenly realize that I have no idea what to say next. “So,” I start, then pause, unsure of what I was going to say. “You look good.”

It’s a stupid thing to say, but it’s the truth. He looks really good. Even in a simple black hoodie and jeans, he’s effortlessly handsome. Damn, I really need to get a grip. Fawning over him is the last thing he needs. I know he doesn’t enjoy it.

“Thanks,” he says, sliding his sunglasses off and folding them in his hands. He looks me up and down. “You clean up pretty well yourself.”

“Not bad for a guy who spends most of his time looking like a slob, huh?” I grin, trying to keep it casual. I’m so relieved I haven’t pissed him off by commenting on his looks.

Jade chuckles. “You look great, Flyn. Let’s go inside before they think we’re standing here to advertise the place.”

I laugh, relieved at the ease between us.

He doesn’t seem uncomfortable, which makes me feel a bit better.

We walk into the restaurant, the warm, rustic smell of Italian food welcoming us in.

It feels like it’s been forever since I’ve had a proper dinner with someone.

A dinner like this. Casual, but not so casual that it feels like I’m not putting any effort into it.

The hostess seats us at a little table near the window, and I pull out the chair for Jade, trying to look smooth. I think I fail, but he doesn’t seem to notice.

“So,” I say once we’re both seated, the menus in front of us, “How have you been?”

Jade looks up from the menu, his green eyes meeting mine. For a second, it feels like everything else in the room fades away. There’s just him, and I’m aware of how close we are, how easy it feels to talk to him after so long.

“Since yesterday?” he teases.

I grin at him. Yeah, we did talk for quite a while in the coffee shop. “Yeah, but seriously, how is life treating you?”

“Good,” he says with a smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes. Then he seems to rouse himself. “Sometimes, I miss the call center.”

“I get that,” I reply. “Call center life was never dull, was it?”

He shakes his head, letting out a soft laugh. “Nope. It was chaos, but... good chaos.” He seems like he’s about to say more, but then the waiter comes to take our order, and I’m momentarily distracted by the shift in focus.

When the waiter leaves, Jade clears his throat. “So... dinner,” he starts, looking down at the table. “I wasn’t really sure what you had in mind. I mean... yesterday we talked about hanging out as friends. But.” He stops and gestures at our surroundings. “This isn’t a date, is it? ”

I laugh, trying to mask how much that actually stings. “Of course not,” I say quickly, too quickly. “I just… honestly, I just wanted to spend time with you. I wasn’t expecting anything more.”

Jade’s lips curl into a small, knowing smile, and for a moment, I wonder if he’s playing some game, if he knows exactly what I’m trying to hide. But then he shrugs. “Okay, good. I just wanted to make sure.”

There’s something about the way he says it that makes me feel a little lighter.

Something in his tone and body language that is speaking volumes more than the words he is saying.

Between us, we’ve managed to clear the air and define exactly what this evening is.

It’s not the full weight of a date, but it’s still enough to make my heart race a bit faster. And I’m okay with that.

The waiter brings over a basket of warm bread and a small dish of olive oil.

We both reach for it at the same time, and our fingers brush.

It’s a brief touch, just a fleeting second, but I can’t ignore the spark it sends through me.

I pull my hand back, trying to keep my expression neutral, but I can feel my heart hammering even faster now.

“Sorry,” Jade says, his voice low, and I can’t tell if he’s talking about the bread or if it’s something else. He looks down at the basket, then back at me, his green eyes glimmering. “I’ve been doing that a lot lately.”

I raise an eyebrow, my curiosity piqued. “Doing what?”

“Brushing against people,” he says, a small, almost apologetic smile playing on his lips. “I’ve been... I don’t know. Maybe a little more touchy than usual.”

I’m not sure how to respond to that. Part of me wants to ask if he’s saying he is touch starved and wants help with that, but I don’t want to come off too forward. So I just laugh it off instead.

“I don’t mind. I mean, it’s just bread, right?”

Jade’s eyes linger on mine for a moment longer than necessary, and I can’t help but wonder if he really is trying to tell me something without saying it. That nervous flutter in my chest is back, and I can’t seem to shake it.

The conversation lulls for a moment, and I take the opportunity to push the anxiety out of my mind. This isn’t supposed to be complicated. It’s just dinner. Just hanging out with an old friend. That’s what we agreed on. Casual, with the door of possibility left open.

“So,” I begin, swirling my wineglass, “How have you really been? I mean, we chatted a lot of shit yesterday, but we haven’t exactly caught up since... well, since you left the call center.”

Oh Jesus. Why can’t I talk like a normal person? That was a terrible way of wording it. But I have no idea how to convey that I’m worried about him and I really want to know why he disappeared. Because I want to help, if there is any way that I can.

Jade hesitates, his fingers tapping lightly on the edge of his glass.

It’s subtle, but I can tell he’s choosing his words carefully.

“Yeah, I... I’ve been through some stuff.

Nothing bad, just... you know, life, I guess.

” He shrugs, but I can see the guarded look in his eyes.

There’s so much more he’s not saying, I can tell.

“What about you? You seem like you’re doing pretty well. ”

He is clearly deflecting, and that’s fine. He’s hardly going to give up all his secrets, just like that. I am the annoying co-worker who used to flirt with him. He doesn’t know me well enough to trust me. Not yet.

I lean back in my chair and give him a vague answer. “I’m good. Busy, but good.” He doesn’t need to hear about my boring life.

We sit in silence for a few beats, the conversation drifting into a comfortable quiet, but the tension is still there, hovering between us. It feels like we’re both skirting around something we don’t know how to say.

“I’ve thought about you a lot,” I blurt out, before I can stop myself.

Jade’s eyes flicker up to meet mine, his expression softening just a little. He doesn’t say anything, but his silence speaks volumes. I immediately regret being so forward, but the words are already out there, hanging in the air like an unspoken truth.

“I mean... after you left,” I continue, trying to salvage the moment. “I just... I didn’t know what happened. Why you disappeared. I guess I’ve been wondering about that ever since.”

Shit. So much for me respecting his privacy and his obvious wish to not talk about his vanishing act. When I asked him at the coffee shop, he babbled nonsense about a family emergency. I should respect that version of the truth until he chooses to tell me something else.

Right now, there’s a flicker of something in his eyes. Guilt? Regret? But then he blinks, and it’s gone, replaced by a more neutral expression.

“It’s not what you think,” he says quietly. “I didn’t want to disappear, Flyn. It wasn’t like that. It just... things got complicated, and I needed some space. I didn’t know how to explain it to you, or anyone.”

I nod slowly, processing his words. “I get that,” I say, even though I don’t completely understand. “It’s just... it was weird. I thought I did something wrong. You know?”

Jade shakes his head, his fingers brushing the rim of his wineglass again, lost in thought. “No. Nothing you did. It’s all on me.”

The way he says that makes me ache for him, even though I’m not sure what’s really going on beneath the surface. There’s something about him that’s so guarded, so careful with his emotions. I want to dig deeper, ask him why he’s holding back, but I don’t. I don’t want to make him uncomfortable.

Instead, I focus on his smile. It’s soft now, more genuine than the false grins he used to flash around the call center. I can’t help but feel a little lighter as he meets my eyes again.

“So,” I say, leaning forward a bit, “How’s your life now? What’s the plan for the future? ”

Jade’s face softens, and he seems to relax a little at the question. “I’m still figuring that out. I’m not exactly where I want to be, but I’m getting there. It’s all about taking it day by day, right?”

“Yeah, I get that,” I say, and I mean it. I’ve been in that same place, stuck in the ‘what’s next?’ phase, constantly second-guessing myself. But somehow, sitting here with him, I feel like I’m not as alone in that feeling as I usually am.

The food arrives, breaking the silence between us.

The waiter sets the plates down in front of us with a flourish, and for a moment, we both focus on the food, a welcome distraction.

But I’m acutely aware of how close we are, how every glance feels like it means something more than just casual interest.

“I forgot how good this place is,” I say, breaking the tension. “You ever been here before?”

Jade takes a bite of his pasta, his eyes narrowing slightly as he chews. “Yeah, a couple of times. My friend Ned used to bring me here. It’s his favorite spot.”

“Must be a good friend, then.”

Jade chuckles. “Yeah. He’s alright. He’s... we aren’t getting on that well at the moment.”

I pause, realizing I’ve stumbled onto a subject he clearly doesn’t want to dwell on. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to…”

“No, it’s okay,” Jade cuts in, his voice soft but firm. “I just... don’t really like talking about this stuff. It’s complicated. But hey, let’s focus on the food. We’ve got plenty of time to talk about other stuff.”

I nod, relieved he’s steering the conversation away from anything too heavy. The atmosphere lifts, and I just enjoy the simple act of eating, and it feels... nice. Comfortable. There’s no pressure. No tension. Just two people, enjoying each other’s company.

But the more I think about it, the more I realize that this dinner? This quiet, simple night out with Jade? It feels like it could be something more. And I can’t help but wonder if Jade feels it too.