Chapter 40-A fun date
Jonathan's POV...
After grumbling over and over again, Audrey finally changed her outfit.
"This way, we will totally blend in. No one will suspect us and we won't draw much attention," I said.
I adjusted my hat and pulled out my hand for Audrey. She reluctantly took it, sulking.
Don't worry. You're going to enjoy this,"
"If someone had told me that my very first official date will be a strolling date, I wouldn't have believed it," she lamented.
I paused and turned and slowly stroked her cheek. "Don't worry. Leave it to me. It's up to me to make this first date remarkable. But if at the end of the day, you still didn't like it, then I owe you an official date at the Maldives,"
I peered into her face and she nodded. I smiled. "Let's go"
We left the house and walked down the street. It wasn't dark yet, so we could see and navigate our way around.
We stopped by a small coffee shop and I turned around to look at Audrey. I remembered her reaction when I mentioned a local coffee shop.
"Let's just grab two cups of coffee," I said.
"I don't mind where we go. It's a date and also a surprise, so I won't complain wherever you take me," she said.
I nodded and we stepped into the coffee shop, and for a brief second, I instinctively lowered my head, expecting whispers. Phones. Stares.
I felt Audrey stiffen beside me as well, her hand tightening in mine as she instinctively tilted her hat lower. She was bracing for the flashes, the whispers, and the "Oh my God, is that Audrey Willows?"
But as the door closed, nothing happened.
A group of college students in the corner were buried in their laptops; an elderly couple was sharing a croissant; the barista was humming to the radio while steaming milk. To them, we were just a couple in casual clothes looking for a caffeine fix.
Nothing.
No gasps. No double takes.
Perfect.
We ordered two cups of cappuccino and found a small table near the window. Audrey adjusted her cap slightly and leaned forward, her voice barely above a whisper.
"It seems this is working. No one is actually noticing us." Her eyes scanned the room again, almost in disbelief. Then she smiled softly. "Strange enough... I like the peace and silence it brings."
I leaned closer, our shoulders brushing. "I told you," I murmured.
For once, there were no flashing cameras. No business calls. No expectations. Just us.
Our coffee arrived, and we sat quietly for a moment, sipping. I watched her instead of taking my coffee. She looked different like this, relaxed, unaware of being observed.
Then something at the far end of the café caught my attention.
A small arcade-style game machine stood in the corner, bright lights flashing. A digital shooting game.
A sign above it read:
WIN THREE ROUNDS - GET A FREE TEDDY BEAR
Rows of teddy bears were lined up behind the counter, brown, pink, white, oversized and ridiculously fluffy.
I grinned.
"Come on," I said, standing up and catching her hand.
"Where are we going?" she asked as I gently led her toward the machine.
When we stopped in front of it, she folded her arms immediately. "I'm not a child,"
I turned to her, mock serious.
"Remember, I'm the one in charge of making this date remarkable. Just relax. Feel the fun in it. Forget who you're supposed to be for five minutes"
She narrowed her eyes at me for a second... then sighed.
"Fine"
I gestured dramatically toward the teddy bears.
"Pick one."
Her gaze scanned them slowly. The brown one. The pink one. Then her eyes stopped.
"The white one," she said quietly, pointing at the biggest white teddy bear on the top shelf.
I smirked. "I'm on it," I declared, cracking my knuckles. "I'm on a mission to get that bear for you."
I paid for the game and grabbed the controller.
Round one.
The countdown started. I focused, aiming carefully.
Missed. The screen flashed GAME OVER in mocking red letters.
"Don't worry, don't worry," I muttered, feeling Audrey's amused gaze. "Just warming up. Let's go again."
Round Two.
This time I was sharper. Faster. I focused on the game in front of me and I was sure I hit the targets. But the screen flashed, TRY AGAIN.
Audrey came closer, her face just inches away from mine. "I think there's a cheat in this game," she said, "I think the owner of the shop is a con artist, because you clearly hit this last round, yet it said you failed. They're just extorting money from people,"
I stared at the machine. "I think so too,"
The guy managing the game raised a brow at us. "One more try?" he asked.
"Oh, definitely," I muttered.
Round three.
Now it was personal. I leaned in slightly, fully focused. Audrey stood beside me, her shoulder brushing mine. I could feel her anticipation.
The timer started. Target after target lit up.
I didn't blink for fear of losing another round. I played like my life depended on it.
Last shot. The screen froze for a second. Then...
WINNER!
Audrey gasped. "You won!" She exclaimed as she jumped up and down, clapping excitedly, then threw her arms around me without thinking. I laughed, wrapping one arm around her waist.
The guy behind the counter shook his head and reached for the prize.
"What color for the lady?" he asked her.
She didn't hesitate.
"The big white one," she answered, smiling.
He handed it to her, and the teddy was almost half her size. She hugged it tightly, smiling in a way I hadn't seen before.
Seeing her smile made me smile. This side of her, I had never seen before.
"Thank you," she muttered.
My heart felt warm and I smiled more. We walked out of the coffee shop a few minutes later, her holding the teddy bear and me holding her hand.
The sky had darkened while we were inside. Streetlights flickered on one by one.The city felt different at night.
We just kept on walking, letting the peace elude us. The cool night breeze was chilly.
"Let me hold it for you," I gestured to the teddy bear she was carrying.
"Thank you," she handed the teddy bear over to me.
We passed by an ice-cream vending machine and Audrey stopped walking and looked at me.
"I want some ice-cream,"
I nodded and we approached the ice-cream vending machine, its bright screen glowing under the streetlight. It hummed softly, the glass panel displaying neat rows of flavors behind it.
I shifted the teddy bear under one arm and stepped in front of the screen.
"What flavor?" I asked, glancing back at her.
She tilted her head, studying the options like it was a life-altering decision. "I'm not really an ice-cream person," she admitted. "Just... vanilla. Safe choice."
"Two vanilla it is," I said.
I tapped the screen, selected the flavor, and paid. The machine whirred to life. Inside, a mechanical arm moved with precision, dispensing the soft serve into a cone. It rotated smoothly, forming a perfect spiral before dropping it into the slot below.
I grabbed the first one, then repeated the process for the second.
I handed her the cone carefully. "Don't drop it. I fought a whole arcade battle today. I can't fight melted ice-cream too,"
She rolled her eyes but smiled.
There was a small metal bench positioned beside the vending machine, probably for people who wanted to sit and enjoy their treat.
We walked over and sat down. I placed the teddy bear between us.
For a moment, we just sat there, licking vanilla ice cream under the soft glow of the streetlamp.
I turned to her. "So... how do you feel about this date so far?"
She raised a brow. "Is this where I give a formal review?"
"Maybe," I shrugged. "Do you still want a classic media-obsessed date? Flashing cameras, five-star restaurants, everyone watching us breathe?"
She pretended to think about it, tapping her chin dramatically.
"I'll give you my final response by the end of today," she said.
I studied her expression carefully. The slight smile tugging at her lips. The softness in her eyes.
"Fair enough," I nodded. "From your face alone, I can tell it's not bad"
She bumped her shoulder lightly against mine. "Don't get too confident,"
The air had grown warmer, and I suddenly felt suffocated by the hat I'd been wearing since evening.
"I can't do this anymore," I muttered, pulling it off. "I feel like my head's in a sauna"
She laughed and removed hers too, shaking her hair free. Big mistake.
We both froze for a second. Anyone walking by now could easily recognize us.
But before either of us could react, footsteps approached. A woman and a little boy.
Audrey's eyes widened. "Oh no. Someone's coming."
"Relax..."
"No, no, no," she whispered urgently. "Hide"
Before I could protest, she grabbed my arm and pulled me behind the vending machine.
Her back pressed against the metal panel, and I instinctively wrapped my arms around her to steady us. Her head rested against my chest. Her ice-cream cone was dangerously close to my shirt.
"Careful," I whispered. "If that melts on me..."
"Shh!" she hissed.
We held our breath. The little boy's voice rang out.
"Mommy, Mommy! I want ice cream!"
The woman laughed softly and began operating the machine. We could hear the mechanical whirr again.
Then...
"Mom! Look! It's Audrey Willows and Jonathan!"
My heart stopped and Audrey stiffened in my arms.
How did he see us? I slowly turned my head, careful not to move too much.
"I love her dress!" the boy continued excitedly. "This is the dress she wore to Paris for the annual Models Celebration!"
Silence.
I realized then that he wasn't looking at us. He was looking at his mother's phone. I let out a long, shaky sigh of relief.
"Oh," I breathed quietly.
The mother chuckled. "Yes, her dress was beautiful"
"Look at this picture of her and Jonathan together! They look so in love!"
There was a pause. Then the mother's tone changed slightly. "Don't believe everything you see on social media. You don't really know what goes on behind the pictures. Always use your own judgment,"
The boy groaned. "Whatever, Mommy. As long as Jonathan hasn't cheated on her yet,"
Audrey went completely still in my arms.
The mother sighed. "Come on. Let's go before your father gets home"
Their footsteps faded but we still stayed hidden for a few seconds more.
Slowly, Audrey pulled away from my chest. She stepped forward, and in the process, her ice-cream slipped from her hand and fell to the ground.
It splattered near her shoes.
I blinked. "Audrey..."
She folded her arms across her chest and turned away.
"What's the problem?" I asked carefully, watching her.
"Nothing," came her quick reply.
"Come on," I urged. "I know it's not nothing"
She didn't say anything, she just started walking.
I reached for her wrist and gently pulled her back. She stumbled slightly toward me, our faces inches apart.
"What is it?" I asked again.
She looked up at me, her eyes glancing at my lips. "Well," she said quietly, "you've already cheated on me,"
My brows shot up. "What? When did I do that?"
"With your ex-girlfriend," she added.
My eyes widened.
Okay. Okay. First of all, the date went so well. I mean Johnathan really knows how to make Audrey feel special and secondly, what's Audrey up to now?
Well, only one way to find out, keep reading. And don't forget to vote and drop your thoughts.
QUESTION FOR THIS CHAPTER: WHAT DO YOU THINK IS A GOOD SHIP NAME FOR AUDREY AND JONATHAN?
I'll be really sad if I don't get some recommendations.
Don't forget to hit that cute little star ????