▫️ Twenty-three

Grey's pov

I'm not gonna lie.

I had been looking forward to this day all week. My heart hadn't stayed calm neither had every other part of my body as I racked my brains on what exactly to do.

I might have sounded casual when asking her out but I had spent most of the entire week thinking. Thinking of what she would like, what would get close to being worth of her.

I wanted tonight to be perfect, just like she was. I was slightly nervous, this being a first, but despite it being just a simple dinner, I wanted it to be memorable, to her, to us.

I scanned my appearance one last time through the rear view mirror as I pushed my hair back and adjusted the black turtleneck I was wearing. I wanted to look good, I wanted to look good for her.

I left my car and went up the steps that led to her apartment. A warm feeling went through my chest as I stared at her door. I loved this feeling that I got everytime I saw her, texted her, thought of her and of seeing her again.

I rang the doorbell then stood back to straighten myself for the last time. I took in a deep breath putting my hands in my pant-pockets then removed them once again.

The door then opened after about thirty seconds, I wasn't counting. I watched as her smile widened when she saw me, her hair wrapped up messily. She wasn't done getting ready, perhaps I was early.

"Hi Grey," I gulped at how my name left her lips. It was so soft and sweet that I zoned out for a second and didn't realize she had moved closer to hug me. She let her arm hang on air before she began to slowly retract.

In one stride I closed the distance between us as my hand went round her waist and the other at the back of her head. She relaxed into my arms as her face rested on my chest.

My eyes closed a fraction as contentment surged through me. I loved having her in my arms, I loved being this close to her. She mumbled something under her breath as her arms finally wrapped around my waist.

I missed her.

I had been so busy with work all week that I didn't get a chance to meet her again after Dalton's birthday party. We still texted and called each other over the phone but it wasn't comparable to this.

"You look beautiful, sweetheart." I stared at her face once we had pulled away though I didn't remove my arm from her waist. She blinked up at me and then playfully slapped my chest while avoiding my eyes.

I smiled as she led me in and made sure that I was comfortable on a chair by the living room. She then brought me a glass of water, which I was grateful for.

"You're the handsome one," she looked my way whilst biting her lower lip as she left to finish getting ready. I stared after her back till she disappeared into another room.

I chugged down the glass of water in a single gulp then stretched my legs before me. My eyes went to the books before me but before I could check out one, my gaze was distracted by something on the wall.

I slowly walked over to the pictures on the wall. They were pictures of her family and some of her friends. She was younger there, probably three years ago. Her smile was radiant even then as her parents appeared to be tickling her in the photo.

I smiled too as I went through all her other photos. She seemed to have the people around her in a spell, which I had also fallen into. She easily made everyone happy, my sweetheart was indeed beautiful.

The door she had earlier gone into suddenly creaked and I jumped back to my seat. I pretended to fumble with my phone that was in my jacket but looked up when I heard her slowly approach.

My breath hitched.

She was --breathtaking. Her smile seemed to mesmerize further because I suddenly stood up and just stared. Everytime she looked at me with that smile, I didn't know whether I was really breathing.

"I'm ready now, we can leave." She turned for a second to take her purse but my eyes didn't seem to leave her. I slightly shook my head as I swallowed harshly but my gaze lingered back to her.

"Are you okay?" She placed the back of her hand on my forehead in alarm, worriedly looking all over me. I nodded while slowly taking her hand down before she noticed the growing blush on my ears.

I wasn't myself anymore, not when she stood this close to me.

She relaxed once I appeared to calm down and then we walked out together, hand in hand. I didn't release her hand till she was comfortably seated on the passenger seat of my car.

Ginelle gave me one last smile as I closed the door after her. I went round my Jeep while running my hand down my face. The night was too young and I needed to focus since I'd be driving tonight.

I took my driver's seat and buckled up but turned to Ginelle when I felt her eyes on me. I assured her that I checking if the boot was closed properly when she asked if everything was okay.

I drove out quietly after one last glance at her. She seemed to relax because a few minutes later she began to tell me about a funny video she had seen online. She took out her phone to show me when I didn't laugh as I was intended to.

Truth be that I had been listening to the softness of her voice and her soft laugh that had her large eyes disappearing and shining like two crescent moons. I smiled severally and with that she had the conversation going.

"Everything is okay at work?" Ginelle asked me after a while and I hummed deeply. I knew she was always anxious about my safety and I had tried to find ways to put her at ease.

"Don't get hurt okay?" She angled her body towards me with raised eyebrows and I tried to avoid looking at her in spite of her asking something serious because she was distracting me.

"Mmm," I hummed again with my free hand resting on my right thigh. My reply didn't seem to satisfy her because she interjected saying, "Promise me."

I opened then closed my mouth thinking of the suitable words to say. I gripped the wheel tighter as I hesitantly extended my small finger towards her.

She seemed to quickly catch on as she smiled widely while extending her finger. We crossed our fingers together then pressed our thumbs as I said, "I promise, tulip."

After minutes of her humming to a song I didn't know that played in the radio, I finally parked to our destination tonight. She looked around in awe after I helped her out of the car.

Her brown eyes shone brighter than any city ever could as she twirled around. Her lips lifted and I followed her face trying to commit every emotion she put on to memory.

"This is so pretty," she gushed as we walked into the restaurant. She stumbled a bit though she held onto my arm for support. I walked even closer when she didn't let go.

I had already made a reservation and as the waiter approached us, I noticed there were many eyes coming our way, more importantly to the beauty beside me. She didn't have any idea as she admired the building.

I dropped my arm then moved impossibly closer, pulling her softly by her waist. She looked at me, her forehead just below my chin and her perfume clouding my senses as I held my breath.

She didn't pull away, I rejoiced in my head.

"This place looks posh," I walked her to our table and after looking around one more time, the many eyes on her had lessened though there were a few who still did and I glared hard at them, especially the men.

"You deserve even more than this," I pulled a chair out for her and she blushed before giving me one of those smiles that made me weak on my knees.

I then took my seat, opposite her, which I didn't like at first because I felt too far away from her though after I sat back, I appreciated it even better. It gave me a perfect view of her.

The waiter came to take our order and I requested spaghetti with meat sauce and some ramen noodles for both of us. I tried to make my face neutral when she held my arm that had been resting at the top of the table.

"How did you know, I was craving that all week." She asked as if disbelieving and I relaxed for a moment because one, she liked it and two, she wasn't offended that I hadn't given her a chance to order.

"Just a guess," I tried to play it cool like someone who hadn't asked about what she liked from her friends. Louis, with the help of Leila had shared some of these details with me.

I had just known him last week though we had clicked in a way. I was also relaxed with him because I knew he had a girlfriend. After mentioning that I had plans with Ginelle this weekend so couldn't meet up for a game he wanted, he had offered to help.

"I think I'll like it," she smiled then released my arm and I just stared. I knew it was kinda rude but it's not like I could help it. Her eyebrows fluttered when she looked at me again and I held the edge of the table in a grip.

"Is something the matter?" She asked when I didn't pull my eyes away. The sides of her lips adorably rose and her eyes looked back at me in melted pools of honey.

She made it so hard for me not to stare.

"Perfect," I wanted to add, everything is perfect, you are perfect but the words seemed to get stuck at the back of my throat. Our order came just then and I was grateful because I was feeling so many things at once.

I watched as she moved in her seat in a small dance as she looked down at the serving on her plate. She took the chopsticks and twirled the noodles then took her first bite.

Her whole face beamed after she had swallowed and I relaxed knowing the meal was to her standard. She peeked at me and motioned me to try mine because I hadn't yet touched my plate.

I hesitantly took the chopsticks and repeated what I had just seen her do. It might have looked easy but I struggled with twirling the noodles around the chopsticks.

I tried again for the fourth time till I heard Ginelle giggle. I looked up and the frustration on my face cleared when she held my hand just above my wrist-watch.

"This way," she adjusted my fingers and I tried again, this time successfully. She cheered quietly when I made it and I returned the smile. I tried not to think of the fact that it was now apparent that I had never done this before.

Or eaten this.

We had the rest of the meal with little embarrassment from my side. Ginelle had frowned when I had paid and I told her that I was the one that asked her out so the bills had to be on me.

She had stared at the table for a while and I started to worry that I had upset her. She was quiet till we got back to my car then she blurted out, "I'll ask you out then, so that I can pay."

I froze, every part of my body did. My heart stopped for a second before it began to beat erratically. I gulped as one out of breath when she didn't stop at that.

"Soon," with a smile, she got back in the car and even as I turned around in attempt to calm down, the cold air didn't help. I attempted to breath in and out to calm my raging heart but the organ was now uncontrollable.

Any slightest breeze was going to knock me down tonight.

I gathered myself together then got in so as to drive her home. I tried not to stare at how she glowed under the street light but I surely did.

"Thank you for tonight," she turned towards me and then unbuckled her seatbelt. We had eventually gotten to her place even after I had tried to drag the drive back.

I wasn't ready to let her go, I don't think I would ever be so just as she unlocked the door to get off, I tugged her wrist. She turned around immediately and I swallowed nervously.

"Stay, for a bit." I looked anywhere but her with one of my hands still on the wheel and the other awkwardly resting on the console.

"I wanted to give you something," I spoke into the silence when she had shut the door. Her eyes immediately flickered to me at my words.

Her curiosity perked up and I unbuckled my seatbelt before stretching out to get hold of the bouquet on the back seat. I slowly offered it to her waiting for her reaction.

"Mine?" Her eyes widened at first as she took the flowers then looked back at me. In a stiff nod, she took the flowers closer to her nose and inhaled with her eyes closed.

A small smile played on her lips then it broadened. She hugged the flowers to her chest then opened her eyes. She looked back at them all the while smiling.

Red tulips.

I hoped she would get the message I was trying to communicate because my mouth had failed me everytime I attempted to. I meant what the flowers symbolized.

Ginelle lifted her face, the smile she had on earlier still there. She placed the flowers sideways on her lap before she leaned over and my breath caught up for the nth time tonight.

She stopped a few inches away and looked into my eyes. I stared back but then my eyes fluttered shut when she softly pressed her lips to the corner of my mouth.

I relaxed, everything around me melting and I firmly held the wheel for support. My eyes instantly opened when she pulled away. She squeaked out a messy goodnight before hastily getting off of the car.

I leaned over to watch her climb up the steps as I pressed my fingers to the spot she had just kissed. A smile started to form and I felt myself get even giddier.

She had given her answer.

✪ ✪ ✪

Well, our man indirectly confessed but can someone fine Grey for staring this much, because eey!!!