Chapter 287: The Rowe IV
Christopher studied the menu for another moment.
"Would you like something to drink first?"
Vivienne glanced toward the drinks section.
There were several wines, cocktails, spirits, and a selection of non-alcoholic drinks.
She considered them for a moment.
"I think I’ll have the peach iced tea."
Christopher smiled.
"Good choice."
He caught the attention of a passing waiter.
"She’ll have the peach iced tea and I’ll have a lager."
When the waiter left, Vivienne looked at him.
"A beer?"
Christopher smiled.
"It’s The Rowe."
She laughed softly.
"I suppose that makes sense."
The waiter took their orders and left.
Christopher opened the menu again.
"Before we order..."
Vivienne looked up.
"Hmm?"
"Are you allergic to anything?"
She blinked.
"No."
"Anything you particularly don’t eat?"
She shook her head.
"Not really."
"Good."
His eyes returned to the menu.
"I just wanted to make sure."
Vivienne smiled.
"That was thoughtful."
Christopher looked at her for a moment, then smiled.
"Well, it depends on the company."
Her heart gave a small flutter.
Before she could decide what he meant by that, he glanced back down at the menu.
"I’d rather know before I order half the menu."
She laughed.
"You’re not actually going to order half the menu, are you?"
"I’m considering it."
"Christopher."
His smile widened.
"I don’t know what you like yet."
"That’s true."
"So we’ll get a few things and see."
Vivienne nodded.
"All right."
Christopher looked through the menu.
"How about calamari?"
Vivienne considered it.
"I like calamari."
"Good."
He continued scanning the menu.
"There’s shrimp aglio e olio."
"That sounds good."
"Then perhaps a ribeye."
Vivienne looked at him.
"Steak too?"
"Unless you don’t want it."
"No, I do."
Christopher smiled.
"And perhaps some grilled vegetables."
Vivienne nodded.
"That sounds good."
He looked at her.
"Anything else?"
She shook her head.
"I think that’s enough."
He gave her a faintly amused look.
"You said you couldn’t decide."
"I couldn’t."
"And now?"
Vivienne smiled.
"Now I’m letting you decide."
Christopher laughed softly.
"Fair enough."
He called the waiter over and placed the order and added a few more side dishes.
--
Christopher
Christopher found himself quietly amused by Vivienne.
He had dated before.
Not often, and never casually for long.
His first relationship had been during high school and hadn’t lasted particularly long. His second had begun during his first year at university and lasted about a year.
His second girlfriend, in particular, had been a year older and considerably more confident than Vivienne. She had never been shy about saying what she wanted, and Christopher had rarely needed to guess what she was thinking.
He was accustomed to attention, too.
Girls approached him often enough that he had long since stopped being surprised by it.
Vivienne, however, was different.
She had clearly wanted to come here with him.
She had chosen the restaurant.
She had dressed carefully.
She had spent half the evening worrying about what he might like, whether they should order separately, and whether sharing would be appropriate.
Yet whenever she actually did something that revealed her interest, she became shy afterward.
Christopher found that endearing.
She wasn’t pretending not to be interested.
If anything, she was making it rather obvious.
She knew what she wanted.
She simply became painfully self-conscious the moment she acted on it.
There was something sincere about that.
And Christopher liked it.
--
Their drinks arrived first.
Vivienne took a sip of her iced tea.
Her expression brightened slightly.
"That’s good."
Christopher lifted his beer.
"I’m glad."
She glanced at his glass.
"Is that your usual?"
"Usually."
"I thought you might order wine."
"I could have."
He took a sip.
"But beer seemed more appropriate here."
Vivienne smiled.
"I agree."
The food arrived a little later.
One dish after another was placed on the table until there was barely enough room between them.
Vivienne looked at the spread.
"Oh."
Christopher glanced at her.
"What is it?"
"I didn’t realize the portions were this large."
She looked from the calamari to the pasta, then toward the steak and vegetables.
"How are we supposed to finish all of this?"
Christopher smiled.
"We’ll manage."
Vivienne gave a small laugh.
"I don’t think I can eat that much."
"You don’t have to."
His tone was gentle.
"We’ll just take our time."
Vivienne nodded.
"Okay."
Christopher reached for the serving spoon and placed some calamari onto her plate, followed by a small portion of pasta.
"Try this."
Vivienne looked down.
"The pasta?"
"Yes."
She took a bite.
Christopher watched her expression.
"Well?"
Her eyes brightened.
"It’s good."
He smiled.
"I’m glad."
He added another small portion to her plate.
Vivienne looked at him.
"You really want me to eat."
"You’re always telling me to eat my meals."
She smiled shyly.
"So you remembered?"
"Of course."
Her smile lingered.
She took another bite before looking down at her plate.
"I’m watching my weight."
Christopher paused.
Then looked at her.
"You don’t need to worry about that."
Vivienne blinked.
"What?"
"You look perfectly fine."
Her cheeks warmed.
Christopher continued, his voice matter-of-fact.
"A little more wouldn’t hurt."
Vivienne looked at him.
He smiled.
"You’d still look beautiful."
Her face grew warmer.
"Oh."
She immediately lowered her gaze to her plate.
Christopher noticed the reaction and smiled faintly.
"You really are easy to embarrass."
Vivienne looked up at him.
"I’m not."
He raised an eyebrow.
She hesitated.
"...Maybe a little."
Christopher laughed softly.
Vivienne couldn’t help smiling.
--
As the meal progressed, Vivienne became more relaxed.
The nervousness that had followed her from the dormitory had gradually faded.
She listened while Christopher occasionally told her something about his classes or student council work, and she asked questions when she was genuinely curious.
She laughed when something amused her.
Sometimes their eyes met across the table.
Sometimes one of them simply smiled.
It was easy.
Perhaps too easy.
Vivienne reached for another piece of calamari.
Christopher was saying something when she noticed it.
A small smear of sauce at the corner of his mouth.
She stared for a second.
Oh.
She looked away.
Then back.
It was still there.
A tiny opportunity.
Vivienne hesitated.
"Christopher?"
He looked at her.
"Hmm?"
She didn’t answer.
Instead, she reached for a napkin.
Christopher watched her curiously as she leaned slightly toward him.
Vivienne carefully lifted the napkin and dabbed at the corner of his lips.
The movement was simple.
Almost instinctive.
But then her hand remained there.
Just for a second longer.
Christopher went still.
Vivienne suddenly realized how close she was.
She looked up.
Their eyes met.
Her heart immediately began pounding.
The warmth of his skin beneath the napkin suddenly felt far too noticeable.
Christopher’s gaze dropped briefly to her lips.
Then returned to her eyes.
Vivienne’s breath caught.
Is he going to kiss me?
She didn’t move.
Neither did he.
Christopher was looking at her differently now.
He understood what she was doing.
Of course he did.
He wasn’t oblivious.
And yet he seemed just as uncertain about what came next.
Vivienne’s fingers remained near his mouth.
Then Christopher reached up and gently caught her wrist.
Her breath stopped.
The contact was unexpectedly intimate.
His fingers rested against her bare skin.
Soft.
Warm.
He felt the softness of her wrist beneath his hand and, for a moment, simply looked at her.
Vivienne’s cheeks flushed a pretty pink.
She looked down at his hand around her wrist.
Then back at him.
Neither spoke.
Christopher cleared his throat quietly.
"Thank you for that."
Vivienne blinked.
"Oh."
She finally withdrew her hand.
"I—"
She stopped.
There was nothing to say.
She simply returned to her seat and picked up her fork.
Christopher released a small breath and looked back down at his plate.
Both of them suddenly seemed very interested in their food.
Vivienne took another bite.
Her heart was still racing.
She could still feel the warmth of his fingers around her wrist.
She tried to concentrate on her dinner.
It didn’t work particularly well.
A few moments later, she glanced at him again.
He was eating calmly now.
Or at least pretending to.
Vivienne’s gaze moved to one of the side dishes.
She picked up a small piece of roasted potato with her fork.
"This one is good."
Christopher looked at her.
"Is it?"
She nodded.
"Try it."
She lifted the fork slightly toward him.
Christopher paused.
His eyes moved from the food to her face.
For a second, he simply looked at her.
She was smiling.
A little shyly.
But she was clearly inviting him.
Christopher hesitated.
Should he?
Then he leaned forward.
Vivienne’s heart fluttered.
She held the fork steady.
He was just about to take the bite when—
A hand closed around Vivienne’s wrist.
She froze.
The fork remained suspended between them.
Slowly, she turned her head.
--
Tbc