12. Chapter 12 #2
“Maybe let’s allow him to speak for himself, when he’s asked a question no one else needs to put input into,” I don’t miss the glare he shoots her. “Cassie, do you want to borrow the book?” He lowers his voice making our conversation feel more private.
Letting out a long exhale and gripping at his hand, I nod, finding my voice. “Yeah I’d love it. I need something to read other than animal anatomy or farming procedures.”
He laughs, squeezing my hand. “The copies yours then. I can bring it to the gym or…” I can see hope brimming in his eyes and I jump on it.
“Can I take you on a date?” I don’t realise the entire table has gone quiet, but neither has Miles. We’re in our own little bubble, which seems to happen each time we’re together in public. I couldn’t care less about our friends, my ex or the restaurant full of people.
“I’d love that. Let me plan it though, I want to surprise you.”
All I can think to do is lean into him and give him a brief, but firm kiss that he returns.
He runs his nose down my cheek before we break away, but not going far.
I always fall into him and with the few inches of height he has on me, it’s nice to feel taken care of in a physical sense.
It’s strange, but completely natural at the same time.
“Fuck me, it’s happening.” Emery slaps at Harris’s arm, “It’s really happening. I knew it! I called it.”
“Pipe down Em.” He chuckles, but he also shoots Grace a quick glance. She’s staring at Miles, eyes shooting to where our shoulders touch, to his face where I’d landed the chaste kiss.
“It’s new.” Is all I mumble, and Miles pats my bicep.
“We’re taking things slow.”
Plastering on what I know is a fake smile, Grace leans into the table. “How did you guys meet?”
Sighing, I feel like I should say something, but the waitress saves me with the tray of drinks and encourages us all to actually look at the food menu. Miles and I decide to share some loaded fries with our burgers, and he ribs me about the amount of other sides I order for myself.
“I swear you just ordered enough food to feed a family of three for a full week.”
I side eye him, laughing when he pushes my shoulder. “I’m a big boy, gotta bulk to turn it all into this.” I playfully run my hand down my body and I swear Grace chokes on her drink. I don’t miss the second glare Miles shoots her, but luckily Teddy joins in on the ribbing.
“I bet you guys go feral when someone tries to take your food.”
Harris rolls his eyes, but Emery places his drink down with a deadly serious expression. “It’s a friendship sin. One does not simply take his friend's food, it’s the ultimate betrayal.”
Miles elbows me. “Will I get punished if I eat too many fries?”
I was going to edge you as your punishment…
I jolt in my chair as the memory heats my blood, remembering ghostface and he looks at me concerned. Fucking Christ did it just get twenty degrees hotter in here?
Patting his hand, I need to get some fresh air and calm myself down. Thankfully we came in my car because I have the perfect excuse to do both. “I have a surprise for you. I’ll be right back, I just need to grab something from my car.”
He looks at me excited but also puzzled, an expression that both my friends are shooting my way too as I rise from my chair.
Luckily Miles’s other friends are talking between themselves, because I don’t think I could handle any more visual attention.
Grace is still studying me like a hawk and it’s making me feel like I’m doing something… wrong.
Dashing to the car, I gulp in cold air, letting it chill my skin, whilst I go round to my boot and take out the hamper sized bag.
Miles wasn’t wrong when he asked me if gifts got me off, caring for the people in my life really does make me happy, but I learnt it from my parents.
Jogging back into the restaurant, I carry the gift bag to the table and sit it down in front of Miles as I retake my seat.
His friends are looking at something on their phone and Teddy is talking to Em about art, so it’s only Grace and Harris’s added attention that keeps the blush on my cheeks present.
“I told Dad about your book and he sent me some things he thought you would like, from Culross. He was really excited actually, took Mum out for the weekend and they collected all this for you.”
For a moment I think that I’ve fucked up, by the devastated shock on his face.
Harris even sits forward which makes my nerves spike, wanting to undo this entire thing and take the bag off the table.
My hands flutter out to take it back, but Miles grabs my palm and squeezes so hard.
He turns to me and his jewelled eyes are wet, his smile twitching up at the corners and his voice comes out so rough.
“Cassie, this is like the nicest thing in the world. They didn’t have to do that.
” He peers into the bag, letting go of my hand to pull out a little tour book and a little bottle of what looks like sand.
I laugh, pointing to the bottle. “Thats from the coast in Fife, he wanted you to feel the sand if you wrote a scene in your book with water.”
Harris laughs too, “Your dad is honestly such a yes man. He’s on board with anything.”
Miles sniffles and laughs thankfully, easing my nerves.
He puts them back into the bag and looks over the packets of snacks, more books and printed out photos my Dad took.
Those seem to hit him the most and he holds onto my hand tighter.
“Please tell him thank you, this is just amazing. It's stupidly amazing and he didn’t need to do it.”
I squeeze his hand back, taking a sip of my beer to wet my dry throat. “Honestly he was happy to do it. The moment I mentioned the town, he was planning the project in his head. He even got the contact number for the local parish if you want to ask them for any insider details.”
His laugh bubbles out of him and it reaches right into my chest, squeezing the organ keeping me alive. “He sounds like a legend.”
“He really is, I love him so much.”
Happy I haven’t done the wrong thing and upset him, we both settle back into our chairs as our food arrives and the table falls into a comfortable buzz as we eat.
Grace is still watching us and I still keep catching Miles glaring, but I selfishly don’t want to add this drama onto my confusing plate, so I shove as much burger into my mouth as I can.
Ordering another round of drinks, it feels incredibly right to kiss the top of his head as I get up and head to the toilet.
More right than anything should at this stage and it cements the need to end this stupid thing with Yourghostboy.