Chapter Ten
Jonathan
I stared at myself in the long mirror propped up against the wall next to my wardrobe, trying to decide if the outfit I’d chosen was suitable for a first date. I wanted to look good, feel good, and show off my style and tastes, but I also didn’t want to get heatstroke.
The past few days had warmed up considerably, as if the weather knew it was half-term and wanted everyone to be able to make the most of it.
And while I wasn’t one for very hot weather, I knew it wouldn’t last—the forecast was already saying rain for Sunday night—and I was hopeful the sunshine would mean plenty of business for Alfie and Co.
I could suffer a few days of hot weather for him.
Since we were going out in the evening, the breeze off the bay had cooled the temperature to a bearable level, but I still didn’t want to wear too many layers or heavy fabrics and pass out from the heat in the middle of dinner.
I would be absolutely mortified if that happened, and I’d never let myself forget it.
I’d probably be too embarrassed to ever see Alfie again, which I didn’t want to happen because I really enjoyed his company.
Turning slowly on the spot, I examined my appearance again.
I’d gone for a pair of lightweight, black linen trousers, a romantic, ruffled white shirt made of cotton, which would also help keep me cool.
It had a little bit of dark red, floral embroidery around the collar too, which my sister had added for me, because she had a knack for these things and had made a hobby out of adding hand-embroidered embellishments to any bit of clothing she could get her hands on.
I’d also added a wrap-style, leather harness in an oxblood colour, which nicely complemented the embroidery and had two wrap-around ribbon ties rather than buckles, meaning it was light compared to several of my other harnesses.
It was my one, heavier, indulgence for the evening because I remembered how much Alfie had liked the way I’d looked the first time we’d met, and I’d been wearing a harness then.
And I really wanted him to like what I was wearing tonight.
I’d also made sure to do my make-up carefully, with a soft, smoked eye, the tiniest bit of black glitter on my lids, and my favourite deep red lipstick, which I always wore when I wanted to feel confident.
And as I’d applied it, I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about what it would look like on Alfie’s skin, left there by insistent kisses.
Finally satisfied with my ensemble, I went downstairs to find my shoes and wallet.
Alfie had offered to walk up the hill to collect me and escort me to the restaurant, but I’d told him it wouldn’t be necessary because I didn’t want to put him out.
I knew where I was going, and it had seemed silly for him to come all the way up to my house only to double-back on himself to get to the restaurant.
I slid my shoes on, a comfortable pair of black boots with silver buckles, and took a deep breath before reaching for the front door.
I hadn’t told anyone in my life about my date because I didn’t want them making a big deal out of it, but now I almost wished I’d said something, so I had someone to message and talk to about the nerves racing around my chest like they were trying to beat the world record for the hundred meters.
“It’s only dinner,” I said to myself as I stepped out of my front door and into the sultry evening air.
“And it’s with Alfie, who you know. Really, the situation isn’t so different from something you’ve done before.
” Only it was and there was nothing I could say to myself that was going to make it any different.
This was a date.
A romantic date.
One that I desperately wanted to go well.
So well that Alfie might even be open to kissing me. That would be wonderful.
I just couldn’t get my hopes up, because if it went badly, or even if there was no kissing, I’d be devastated.
I tried to think about other things as I walked into town towards Vito’s, a small Italian restaurant in the middle of town where we’d agreed to go for dinner.
I’d been there before quite a few times and always enjoyed the food, although it could get a little loud and overwhelming at the weekend when it was busy, simply due to the size of the space.
But no matter what I tried to turn my thoughts to, they all came stubbornly back to Alfie and how I wanted tonight to go.
Eventually I gave up trying to think of anything else, and instead let myself create a list of questions or talking points, just in case we ran out of things to say. Which seemed impossible considering how much we messaged, but it was always good to be prepared.
When I rounded the corner to Vito’s, I stopped dead in my tracks, my eyes not fully processing what was in front of me.
Alfie was stood just outside on the cobbles in a pair of cream trousers and a pale pink shirt, his honey-blond hair clearly styled…
and a bouquet of deep red roses in his arms, wrapped in paper and tied with black ribbon.
He looked so gorgeous it stole my breath, but the roses…
I’d never had anyone bring me flowers before.
Should I have brought him something too?
I froze as panic flooded my system, my brain suddenly unsure of how to proceed. But I didn’t have time to do anything because Alfie had spotted me and was smiling at me in a way that made my heart skip erratically.
“Hey,” he said as he walked up to me, his smile somehow brighter and warmer than the sunshine had been. “Wow, you look amazing. Er, these are for you.”
He held out the flowers and I knew my face was flushing as I slowly plucked them from his arms. “They’re beautiful, thank you. I’m so sorry, I didn’t get you anything. I should have known and I—”
“It’s okay,” he said, brushing his hand against mine. “You didn’t have to get me anything, I promise. I saw these on my way home this afternoon and they made me think of you, and I thought they might make you smile.”
“Oh.” I was sure the blush on my cheeks was practically scarlet as I looked down at the flowers, reaching out my fingers to run one lightly across the velvet petals. They really were beautiful, and the colour was so deep and rich, very like my lipstick.
It had made Alfie think of me… I’d never had someone say that either. At least, not in such a soft, romantic way. “Thank you. They’re perfect.”
“You’re welcome.” He looked at me for a second, his hand resting against mine. Then he leant forward and brushed his lips against my cheek. “You look gorgeous, Jonathan. That lipstick looks incredible on you.”
“Thank you, you look gorgeous too.”
He smiled but waved his hand, as if he was trying to brush off my compliment. “Not nearly as good as you,” he said before nodding at the door to the restaurant. “Shall we go inside?”
“Yes, please.” I clutched my flowers as Alfie opened the door and stepped into Vito’s, holding the door open for me to follow.
It was warm inside, but not uncomfortably so, and the air was full of delicious smells and the sounds of chatter from both the diners and the kitchen.
Although it was only a Wednesday, it was busier than I’d have expected due to the influx of half-term tourists, but it wasn’t so loud I wouldn’t be able to hear myself think.
The restaurant was longer than it was wide, with the kitchen behind some high counters on the right-hand side as you entered.
There were a few tables at the front, near the window, a couple of small ones opposite the kitchen, and then at the back, the restaurant opened out into a larger dining space where most of the guests were seated.
“Hi,” Alfie said to the cheery member of the waiting staff who greeted us. “I’ve got a table for two booked at half-seven—Alfie Miller.”
“Perfect,” she said as she collected two menus from the podium near the door and gestured to one of the empty tables near the window. “You’re over here.”
“Thanks,” Alfie said as we followed her and took our seats, listening as she quickly listed off the specials.
The table was one of three near the front window, but only one other was occupied, and despite being near the kitchen, it was much quieter here than the back of the restaurant.
“I asked for a quieter table if possible,” he said, as the waitress left us to decide.
“Otherwise, I was worried we wouldn’t be able to hear each other. ”
“I appreciate it,” I said as I glanced at the menu, even though I already knew what I wanted to eat.
I’d put the roses carefully on the window ledge near my feet, and I kept looking down to check they were still there.
“Sometimes, when restaurants are very noisy, I find it quite overwhelming. The hotels after the Sword & Flame tournaments are the worst. It was why I was glad to see you, because at least I could sit with someone I knew. Well, someone I’d met. ”
“I’m glad you came to sit with me,” Alfie said with a smile. “It brightened up my whole evening.”
“Really?”
“Of course. And I’m glad I got to find you again.”
“Me too.” I smiled and tried to resist the temptation to rub my chest where my heart was now doing backflips. “Did you, er, tell anyone about tonight?”
“Darcy figured it out,” Alfie said. “But Milo was too busy thinking of new ways to antagonise Rupert after he washed the chalk lines off the cobbles.” He sighed and pursed his lips. “I keep telling him to stop, but he won’t listen.”
“I’m sorry. I hope it doesn’t escalate too far.”
“Me too.” He let out another deep breath, and grinned. “But I’m not going to think about that. I’m here to spend time with you, not worry about what Milo is plotting.”
“That can be Darcy’s problem,” I said, delighting when he chuckled.
“Did you tell anyone?”
“No, I deliberately didn’t because I knew otherwise Theo would be, well, Theo.
I know it comes from a place of love, but I didn’t need him poking around my wardrobe or asking personal questions.
I wouldn’t have put it past him to try and follow us either, although I like to think Laurie would have put a stop to that.
He indulges Theo a lot, but he has his limits. ”
“It’s nice they care about you,” Alfie said. “But I totally get limiting personal interference. Darcy’s questions were pushy enough but him and Milo together? They definitely wouldn’t be against getting a table here or finding a hedge to hide behind with binoculars.”
I laughed. “Perhaps they’d have found Theo in the same hedge. We better hope they don’t become friends, because it sounds like none of them need any more encouragement. I dread to think what advice Theo would give Milo.”
“Agreed. They’re bad enough on their own.”
The waitress re-appeared to ask if we’d like to order drinks, and I ordered a lemonade while Alfie ordered an elderflower mocktail.
“Do you know what you want for food?” Alfie asked, looking down at the menu. “Any recommendations? I’m not sure how you feel about sharing some starters.”
“It depends on what you like.”
“Oh, they have calamari.” I tried not to pull a face, but Alfie smiled. “Okay, no calamari then.”
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I’m not a fan. It’s the texture. I don’t like fish either, and I know squid and octopi aren’t fish but—”
“Don’t apologise,” Alfie said, reaching out his hand across the table to take mine, squeezing it gently. “You don’t have to justify yourself. If you don’t like calamari that’s fine.”
“I know, I just… I want you to have a good time.”
“And I am. I’m here with you.” He smiled softly. “Do you like arancini? The bruschetta sounds good too.”
“Those sound perfect,” I said, returning his smile. “And then I’m going to get the cannelloni. It’s one of my favourite things! I don’t make it very often at home, because it feels like a lot of effort for one person, but I have it whenever I’m here.”
“That sounds so good,” Alfie said, his eyes scanning down the page. “I think I’m going to get a pizza?”
“You should. Vito makes amazing pizza!”
“Okay then, pizza it is. I think the one with the goat’s cheese, chilli, and hot honey. That sounds fucking divine!”
“It really does,” I said, wondering if I should get that too.
I scrunched up my nose as I looked at the menu and tried to decide.
The pizza did sound amazing, and it was always delicious, but I loved the idea of the cannelloni too and I’d been looking forward to it ever since we’d decided on Vito’s.
I wasn’t able to eat both so it would have to be one or the other.
“Do you… would you be open to sharing?” Alfie asked. “We could have a bit of each? Only if you want to! I’m not going to deprive you of your cannelloni if you don’t want to share, but you just looked kind of torn so I thought…”
It was such a sweet gesture and I’d never had that option before. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah, of course. I wouldn’t offer otherwise.”
“Okay then, yeah,” I said, offering him my brightest smile. “That sounds perfect. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” he said, squeezing my hand again.
And I knew, without a doubt, that by the end of the night I was going to have kissed him.