Subject: Dinner at Pasta Fresca
No, I didn’t!!! There’s no such thing as too many!!!!
Wouldn’t kill you to use one once in a while.
From: Gabriel Nelson
To: Lily Richards
Date: Saturday, December 18, 2:03 p.m.
Subject: Re: Dinner at Pasta Fresca
It might.
From: Lily Richards
To: Gabriel Nelson
Date: Saturday, December 18, 2:05 p.m.
Subject: Dinner at Pasta Fresca
!!!!!!!!!!
20
LILY
I tooka final look in the mirror, turning my head to the side to see what my half up, half down hairstyle looked like and if I needed to fix anything. What my hair looked like from the back usually wasn’t any of my business, but we were going to my favorite restaurant, so I wanted to look good. That was the only reason.
I smoothed my hair, happy with the outcome. I slipped on my pair of dark boots that paired nicely with my soft brown sweater and flared medium-wash jeans. I finished the outfit with my coat, opting to skip my scarf, hat, and gloves today, since the walk to the restaurant was short.
Pasta Fresca had delicious, mouth-watering pasta, pizza, and other Italian delights. I typically ordered takeout from there, and it’d been months since I’d gone for a sit-down dinner. Even longer since I’d been there for a date—not thatthiswas a date.
I slipped my phone into my small black shoulder bag and pulled open the door. Right as Gabe raised his fist to knock.
“Oh, hi!” I blinked, not expecting him. “I thought we were going to meet at the restaurant?”
Gabe’s gaze slowly took me in, and under his careful watch, it took me twice as long to button my coat with my fumbling fingers.
“Did you really think I would let you walk to dinner alone?” His voice was low, sending vibrations throughout my body. “I agreed earlier only because I knew arguing about it would get us nowhere, but I always planned on picking you up from your apartment.”
That was…considerate of him. Although him picking me up from my apartment made this feelslightlymore like a date, even if we both knew it wasn’t.
“Maybe you just couldn’t wait to see me tonight,” I teased.
Gabe tipped his head back, looking at the ceiling, likely begging for patience. I used the moment to takehimin. He had on a black knit winter hat, dark jeans, and a dark-gray coat. If I had to guess, he likely had one of his signature dress shirts underneath.
He exhaled and met my gaze. “Exactly, I just couldn’t wait to see you.”
The way his words came out caught me off guard, because while his tone was teasing, it also sounded…genuine? But there was no way.
I stepped out of my apartment and locked the door, clearing my throat. “Are you okay with walking there? It’s not too far. Only a few blocks.”
“Fine by me.”
We walked down the stairs of my apartment building, and once we reached the bottom, Gabe pushed the door open and stepped out, holding it open for me.
