Chapter 302: the unexpected III

Chapter 302: Chapter 302: the unexpected III

By the time they left the locker room, the sun had nearly disappeared beyond the university grounds.

They decided to have dinner before heading back.

Damian suggested Gild and Glaze.

Vivienne paused when she heard the name.

She knew it.

Christopher had recommended it to her before.

You’d probably like Gild and Glaze. Their desserts are good.

A small, thoughtful smile touched her lips.

He had been right.

The moment she stepped inside, she could see why.

Gild and Glaze was beautiful.

The restaurant was elegant without feeling stiff, with polished tables, soft cream-colored furnishings, and warm lighting that was bright enough to see everything clearly without losing its romantic atmosphere. Gentle music played through the room, blending with the quiet murmur of conversations.

It was exactly the sort of place she liked.

For a brief moment, she wondered if Christopher had ever imagined bringing her here himself.

The thought made her smile.

Then she remembered.

She was supposed to call him tonight.

That thought lingered for a moment longer.

She still wanted to.

But that could wait until later.

Right now, she was here with Damian.

She followed him farther inside.

Damian spoke briefly with the waiter.

"Could we have one of the curved booths toward the back?"

The waiter nodded and led them toward a quieter corner.

Their table was tucked slightly away from the main dining area.

A large round table stood in front of a curved, semicircular banquette upholstered in soft fabric, with enough room for several plates, glasses, and desserts without feeling crowded.

Damian looked at it.

Then at Vivienne.

A satisfied smile appeared on his face.

"Perfect."

Vivienne gave him a look.

"You just wanted somewhere you could sit beside me."

"Yes."

He said it so easily that she couldn’t help laughing.

"You’re not even going to deny it?"

"Why would I?"

He gestured toward the banquette.

"Sit here."

Vivienne rolled her eyes but slid into the curved seat.

Damian sat beside her.

Close.

Their shoulders touched almost immediately.

He looked entirely pleased with himself.

Of course he did.

Vivienne glanced at him.

Oh, this guy.

For the next few minutes, Christopher disappeared from her thoughts entirely.

Damian was right there beside her, warm and affectionate and entirely too pleased with himself.

And it was difficult not to enjoy his company.

A waiter brought them menus.

Vivienne glanced through hers, choosing something light before turning to the dessert section.

Her eyes brightened.

Damian noticed.

He didn’t even need to ask.

She pointed out what she wanted, and he simply smiled before ordering his own meal.

Once the waiter left, Damian reached over and fixed the napkin on her lap where it had slipped slightly.

Vivienne glanced down.

Then at him.

She smiled.

A few minutes later, their food arrived.

Dinner passed easily.

They talked, laughed, and stole bites from each other’s plates.

At one point, Damian held out his fork.

Vivienne leaned over and took the bite without hesitation.

She smiled as she chewed.

"Good?"

She nodded.

"Very."

"Thought so."

His hand slipped around the back of the banquette behind her, drawing her a little closer.

Vivienne let herself settle against him.

It was comfortable.

Familiar.

When her desserts finally arrived, her entire expression brightened.

Damian laughed softly.

"There she is."

Vivienne ignored him and picked up her spoon.

She took the first bite.

Then another.

Damian watched her with an amused smile.

A small smear of cream appeared near the corner of her mouth.

He leaned closer.

Before she could react, he brushed his lips lightly against the corner of her mouth, catching the cream.

He drew back with a satisfied little smile.

"Tastes good."

Vivienne stared at him for a second.

Then laughed.

"You’re ridiculous."

"I know."

He kissed her cheek.

Then her temple.

Vivienne tried to suppress her smile and failed.

Damian’s fingers slipped through her hair, pushing it gently behind her shoulder before his arm settled around her again.

She leaned into him without thinking.

He looked pleased.

Of course he did.

He always looked pleased when she let him have his way.

Vivienne took another bite of dessert.

Damian stole a small taste from her spoon.

She immediately pulled it away.

"That was mine."

"I know."

"You have your own."

"I wanted yours."

She stared at him for a second.

Then laughed.

"You’re such a child."

He grinned and tucked her closer against his side.

For a while, she simply let herself enjoy it.

His arm around her.

His fingers idly playing with the ends of her hair.

The occasional kiss against her temple.

The little touches that came so naturally between them that neither of them seemed to think about it anymore.

Vivienne smiled down at her dessert.

She liked being spoiled.

She liked being cared for.

And she liked Damian.

Then she paused.

Wait.

Since last night, he had been acting differently.

She hadn’t really thought about it before.

But sitting here with his arm around her, his fingers playing with her hair, suddenly it seemed obvious.

He was acting like—

Vivienne glanced at him.

Like her boyfriend.

The realization made her blink.

Oh.

She looked at him again.

Damian was still absently playing with a strand of her hair, completely comfortable with having her tucked against his side.

Vivienne’s lips curved into a small smile.

Maybe he really did want more.

And if he did...

Why not?

She liked him.

She enjoyed being with him.

He made her feel wanted, cared for, and spoiled.

Maybe she should give this guy a chance.

Maybe she should actually ask him what he wanted.

The thought felt surprisingly easy.

Maybe she should just ask.

After all, she didn’t know what Christopher was going to say tonight.

That was the problem.

She had spent so much time thinking about him, wondering whether he would actually want to date her, that she hadn’t really considered what she would do if he didn’t.

And Damian...

Well.

Damian wasn’t exactly a bad option.

Actually, he was a very good one.

He liked her.

He was here.

He spoiled her.

And she liked him too.

Maybe it was worth knowing what he wanted.

Vivienne glanced at him.

"Damian?"

"Hm?"

She hesitated.

Then decided to just say it.

"Damian... I don’t want you to think I’m flattering myself too much, but..."

He looked at her, amused.

"But?"

"Are you hoping for something more from me?"

His expression changed slightly.

"More?"

"More than our friends-with-benefits arrangement."

Damian went quiet.

He looked at her carefully.

There was no obvious excitement in her expression.

But there wasn’t rejection either.

And somehow, that made the answer harder.

He couldn’t tell what she wanted him to say.

So instead, he asked,

"What do you think?"

Vivienne blinked.

"I don’t know."

She looked down at her dessert, then back at him.

"Since last night, you’ve been acting quite strange."

"Strange?"

"Yes."

She gave him a small, embarrassed smile.

"You’ve been..."

She hesitated.

"Acting like a boyfriend."

A faint blush appeared on her cheeks.

Damian noticed.

And despite himself, something inside him loosened.

He leaned back slightly, trying very hard not to look as pleased as he suddenly felt.

"Well..."

He paused.

Then decided there was no point pretending.

"To be honest, Vivienne, I wouldn’t be doing all of this for just any girl."

She looked at him.

He gave a small shrug, as though it were obvious.

"So, yes. I do want something more."

Vivienne’s eyes widened slightly.

"Oh."

Damian smiled.

There was confidence in his expression.

At least, he hoped it looked like confidence.

Inside, his heart was beating far too fast.

He had never had to say something like this to a girl before.

Usually, women made their interest obvious.

He never had to wonder whether telling someone he wanted more might make her leave.

Then again, he had never wanted anyone like this.

He had never even been with another girl before Vivienne.

And he wasn’t about to scare her away now.

"So..." Vivienne began.

Damian waited.

She looked down again.

"I’ll think about what you said."

He nodded.

"Okay."

She looked at him.

"Really?"

"Of course."

He reached over and gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"You don’t have to decide right now."

Vivienne smiled faintly.

Damian’s expression remained easy.

"I’m also okay with what we have now."

The words came smoothly.

Inside, he immediately thought—

No, I’m not.

But he couldn’t let her see that.

If he made her feel like she had to choose right now, she might panic.

Or worse—

she might reject him.

Vivienne seemed relieved.

"Oh."

She was quiet for a moment.

Then nodded.

"Okay."

Damian smiled.

"When you’re ready."

Vivienne looked at him.

"Okay."

And just like that, the conversation ended.

Not with an answer.

Not with a decision.

Just a possibility neither of them could pretend hadn’t been placed on the table.

--

Tbc