Chapter 318: boyfriend XI

Chapter 318: Chapter 318: boyfriend XI

For a few seconds, neither of them said anything.

Vivienne was still hiding behind her hands.

Christopher wasn’t quite sure what to say either.

Then, mercifully, the waiter arrived with their food.

"Shrimp aglio olio."

Vivienne lowered her hands immediately.

"Thank you."

"And the roast chicken."

The plates were set down between them.

"Enjoy your meal."

"Thank you," Christopher said.

The waiter left.

Silence returned.

Vivienne stared at her plate.

She suddenly found the shrimp aglio olio extremely interesting.

She could feel the heat in her face.

Maybe he thinks I’m crazy.

What normal nineteen-year-old talked about being someone’s wife and the mother of their children when they hadn’t even been boyfriend and girlfriend for twenty-four hours?

Oh my God.

She picked up her fork.

Across from her, Christopher did the same.

For a moment, neither of them seemed to know where to begin.

Christopher took a bite of his food.

So did Vivienne.

They ate in silence.

It was awkward.

Not unpleasant.

Just... awkward.

Christopher glanced at her.

Her cheeks were still pink.

She was concentrating far too hard on her food.

He almost smiled.

She was genuinely embarrassed.

Still, he couldn’t help thinking about what she had said.

Okay.

That was fast.

They had been dating for less than a day.

He barely knew her.

And somehow, she had already reached marriage and children.

Christopher looked down at his plate.

Perhaps it wasn’t as strange as it sounded.

Vivienne had grown up knowing that marriage was expected of her. Her engagement had existed since she was young, long before she had much opportunity to decide what she actually wanted for herself.

Perhaps that had something to do with it.

Maybe, to her, being serious about someone had simply always meant thinking about marriage.

And objectively, he couldn’t deny that she fit the sort of woman his family would have had no reason to object to.

She was well-educated, well-mannered, and carried herself with grace. Their families were not worlds apart.

If, someday, he were to choose a woman to build a life with, there was nothing about Vivienne that would make that possibility difficult to imagine.

But that was all it was.

A possibility.

He barely knew her.

He didn’t know what she would be like in a month.

Or two.

He didn’t know what they would be like once the excitement of finally being together had settled.

For now, he simply knew that he liked her.

He liked talking to her.

He liked being around her.

He liked how easily she could surprise him.

And he liked the way she looked at him.

That was why he had agreed to date her.

Not because he had already decided she was the woman he would marry.

He hadn’t.

He simply wanted to know her better.

"About what I said..."

Vivienne’s voice brought him back.

He looked up.

She was looking down at her plate again.

"I didn’t mean that I expect us to get married tomorrow."

A small smile touched his lips.

"I know."

She finally looked at him.

"I just... I was trying to explain that I’m serious about you."

"I understand."

She nodded.

There was a brief silence.

Then Vivienne seemed to remember the conversation that had led them there in the first place.

"And... about my parents..."

Christopher waited.

Vivienne looked down at her plate.

"I think I should tell them about the engagement."

She hesitated.

"I mean, I should probably just tell them honestly now. That I’ve decided not to go through with it."

Christopher nodded.

"I think that would be best."

Vivienne looked up at him.

"Even if it’s just over the phone?"

"Yes."

He gave her a small smile.

"You don’t need to wait until the semester break to tell them that."

Vivienne nodded slowly.

"That’s true."

She was quiet for a moment.

Then she looked at him again.

"And... should I tell them about us?"

Christopher paused.

Vivienne immediately continued.

"I mean, I don’t know if I should. We’ve only just started dating, and I don’t want to make things more complicated for you."

Christopher looked at her.

"I don’t mind."

Vivienne blinked.

"You don’t?"

"No."

His answer was simple.

"If you want to tell them, you can."

Vivienne stared at him for a moment.

Then she thought about it.

She was still technically engaged to Anthony in the eyes of her family.

And if her parents somehow heard that she was already dating someone else before she had even told them the engagement was over...

Her eyes widened.

Oh.

That would be much worse.

"Oh my God."

She lowered her voice.

"I should tell them first."

Christopher smiled faintly.

"Yes."

Vivienne looked down.

"I’m sorry."

"For what?"

"I wasn’t thinking."

She fidgeted with her fork.

"I mean... I’m already your girlfriend and I’m supposed to be more thoughtful about these things."

Christopher’s expression softened.

"You’ve been my girlfriend for less than a day."

Vivienne looked up.

He smiled.

"I think you can give yourself a little time."

She stared at him.

Then she smiled despite herself.

"Okay."

Christopher picked up his fork again.

"So tell them when you’re ready."

Vivienne nodded.

"And if they want to meet me..."

She looked at him.

Christopher gave her a small, easy smile.

"I’ll meet them."

His smile remained faint, but warm.

"I’m taking this seriously too."

Her eyes softened.

"Oh."

Christopher looked at her for another moment.

"I wouldn’t have agreed to date you if I didn’t."

Vivienne smiled.

"Okay."

He smiled back.

"So I think we’re all right."

Her shoulders finally relaxed.

She looked down at her food again and took another bite.

Christopher did the same.

The awkwardness was still there.

But it felt lighter now.

They finished the rest of their meal without returning to the subject.

When Vivienne finally set down her fork, she leaned back slightly.

She was full.

And, unfortunately, she had also come to a rather obvious conclusion.

She needed to call her parents.

As soon as possible.

She had thought she could wait until semester break, but that no longer seemed like a good idea.

Not when she was now dating Christopher.

She glanced at him.

Maybe they should just go back to campus.

She had already embarrassed herself enough for one lunch.

"I think I should call my parents first," she said quietly.

Christopher looked at her.

"About the engagement?"

She nodded.

"Yes. I think I really should tell them before we... do anything else."

She hesitated.

"About us, I mean."

Christopher understood.

"All right."

Vivienne looked down at the table.

Somehow, she had a feeling the date was probably over now.

Which was a little disappointing.

She had been so excited about spending the afternoon with him.

The waiter came by to clear the plates.

Christopher thanked him, then glanced at her.

"Would you like dessert?"

Vivienne shook her head.

"No, I’m too full."

"All right."

He asked for the bill.

A few minutes later, he settled it and stood.

Vivienne picked up her bag.

She was still thinking about calling her parents when Christopher looked at her.

"So..."

She looked up.

"Where would you like to go now?"

She blinked.

"Now?"

"Yes."

She stared at him.

The date wasn’t over?

Christopher gave her a small smile..

"We have the afternoon."

For a moment, Vivienne could only look at him.

Then a smile slowly appeared on her face.

The afternoon.

With him.

Maybe she could call her parents later.

Right now, she still had a date to enjoy.

--

Tbc