He smirks and laces his fingers with mine while tugging us away from the stand. “Follow me.”
“I’d follow you to the end of the world if you asked. Scratch that. You wouldn’t even need to ask.”
“You’re such an idiot.”
I shrug and let him lead us into a 50s themed diner that brings back rather heavy memories. One of the waiters, a slender man with platinum blonde hair and colorful eyeshadow, greets Aoi joyfully.
Now who is he and why is he grinning at my Aoi like that?
We sit down at a red booth and when the waiter from earlier comes up to us, I sit up and give him a once over. It doesn’t take much time to notice how he’s ogling me rather than Aoi. Despite my obvious lack of interest in him, I’m glad he’s not drooling over my man.
“Haven’t seen you in a while,” the waiter says sassily. “Is he your new victim?”
Aoi smirks, glancing at me and back at the server. “You could say that.”
“What a shame. He’s exactly my type.” He winks at me, and I immediately avert my gaze.
Nothing worse than unwanted attention in front of your lifelong crush.
“Shane, this is Andrew. Andrew, this is Shane. We became friends after he teased me about having no life since I ate here so often.”
“Nice to meet you, handsome. If you ever get tired of his royal highness over here, give me a call.” He mimics a phone to his earand jokingly winks at me, but it’s pretty obvious he has no intention of stepping on Aoi’s toes. “I’ll have you know, I’m a real catch.”
“I’m flattered but my heart is permanently set on Aoi.”
A flustered smile spreads over Aoi’s face as Shane giddily shoves him and squeals. “Oh my God! Teach me your ways, Queen! You’ve got the cutie wrapped around your finger!”
“And you know I don’t share,” he replies with an almost unperceivable edge that shoots straight to my heart–and cock.
Shane pulls his tongue out at him. “Don’t worry, babe. I wouldn’t be able to take him from you if I tried. It wouldn’t be fair competition to go againstyou.”
“Now you’re just stroking my ego.”
Shane takes our orders and as he heads back to the kitchen, I grin at Aoi. “You don’t share, hmm?”
He rolls his eyes, but I notice the peachy tint on his cheeks. “Shut up. It’s either that or Shane would’ve tried to snatch you away from me. Pick your poison.”
“There is no choice to be made, Aoi.” I lean my chin on the back of my hand. “You already own my heart.”
“I don’t think I’ll ever understand you.”
“You definitely will once you let your genius brain figure out that I mean every word.”
“Was that sarcasm?”
“Not at all.”
He leans back against the booth and stares me down. “I’m curious about something. The morning after Mr. Wiliams’ party at the Grand Air Hotel, when you came up to me, was that really the first time we met?”
I straighten in my seat and swallow the lump in my throat.
Does he remember the night we spent together? I was rather intoxicated that evening. When he threw himself at me, I half thought I was dreaming or hallucinating, and I merely realized I wasn’t when his lips collided with mine. Everything after that was pure instinct and years of built-up longing.
I sometimes wonder whether he’s pretending not to know it was me.
“Actually-”
I’m cut short as Shane comes back with our food and leaves right after biding us a good meal. Aoi dips one of his fries in his barbecue sauce and nods at me once, nudging me to speak.
