Chapter 28: No Label, Just Us

Chapter 28: Chapter 28: No Label, Just Us

She was still looking at me with that same bright, happy look when she seemed to catch herself.

"I’ve still got some things to finish up," she said, glancing toward her desk, though she didn’t move from her spot beside me. "You don’t have to wait around for me if you’ve got somewhere to—"

"Let’s talk. About yesterday."

She went still, the same way she had when I first walked in, except this time there was nothing warm covering it.

I let out a slow breath. "I like you too. A lot." I held her gaze, not looking away from it this time. "I think I’m falling for you."

"Okay," she said quietly. Her eyes had gone vulnerable in a way I’d only seen glimpses of before, like she was already bracing for whatever she was thinking would come next.

"I don’t have to explain to you why we can’t exactly be a thing."

She nodded, slowly, her eyes fixed on mine even as something in her expression looked like it might genuinely break.

I watched her for a moment, the look on her face making me realize how that must have sounded.

I hadn’t exactly planned any of this walking in. I hadn’t had a single word ready when I knocked on her door, and now I was scrambling to figure out what I actually wanted to say before I made this sound worse than I meant it to.

"How about... we just keep doing whatever this is," I finally said. "No label. Just us. For now."

For a second, she didn’t say anything at all. Her hands had gone still in her lap, and she just looked at me, like she was waiting for the rest of the sentence, the part where it all fell apart.

It didn’t come.

"For a moment there," she finally said, her voice thinner than I’d ever heard it, "I thought you were going to say goodbye."

I shook my head.

Both her hands came up at once, wiping quickly at her eyes, like she was losing whatever ground she’d been holding onto. A small sniff followed, and she laughed once, shaky and embarrassed.

"I’m not usually this emotional," she said, still not looking at me. "I promise."

I didn’t answer.

I just watched her, understanding, fully and quietly, how close she’d been to actually crying, and how easily this could have gone the other way if I’d said even one different word.

"I’m not going anywhere," I finally said.

She glanced up at that, something soft crossing her face, and for a few seconds neither of us said anything else. The office was quiet except for the low hum of the air conditioning, and I found myself content to just sit there with her, no rush to fill the silence.

Eventually, she exhaled and stood, smoothing down her sleeve. "Give me a minute to get my things."

I blinked. "Thought you said you had things to finish up."

"Did I? Can’t remember." She was already crossing back to her desk, entirely unbothered, though there was still the faintest redness around her eyes.

I shook my head, laughing quietly to myself, watching her finish packing with noticeably more energy than she’d had a few minutes ago.

She slipped her bag over her shoulder, checked the desk one last time, then looked at me.

"Ready."

I stood. "You hungry?"

She gave me a knowing smile, the kind that said she was already turning my words into something I hadn’t said. "Are you asking me to dinner?"

"I’m asking if you’re hungry."

"Same thing."

She walked past me toward the door, looking entirely too pleased with herself.

I just smiled, watching her go. She seemed completely back to herself already, which was honestly a little impressive considering how close she’d been to crying a few minutes ago.

I followed her out, still smiling.

—

We crossed the parking lot toward my car, and I unlocked it as we approached. Nicole got into the passenger seat, setting her bag down before I joined her.

I started the engine and pulled out of the parking space.

"Where are we going?" she asked, settling back into her seat.

"The Grill House."

She turned to look at me. "The Grill House?"

"You said you’re hungry."

"I know, but I was expecting something a little more..."

"Expensive?"

She smiled, looking out through the windshield. "I was going to say romantic."

I glanced at her. "I’m trying to feed you, Nicole, not impress you."

She looked down at her hands, her lips pulling into an exaggerated pout. "Yes, sir."

I smiled before I could stop myself. There was just something about hearing those two words from her that got me every time. I’d never really understood why, and apparently I still didn’t.

I turned my attention back to the road, leaving it at that.

A few minutes later, I pulled into the parking lot of The Grill House. It was busy enough that most of the tables inside were occupied — mostly students and people getting off work — but there were still a few empty spots.

I parked, turned off the engine, and looked over at her.

"Come on."

She reached for her bag. "I haven’t eaten here before."

"Neither have I."

She looked at me, surprised. "Really?"

"I usually just get something near the shop."

She smiled. "So this is a first for both of us."

I could already tell she was giving the moment more meaning than it deserved.

I opened my door. "Don’t make it sound important."

She gave me a look that said, Sure, whatever you say, then reached for her bag.

We got out and headed inside, found a table near the back, away from most of the crowd, then took our seats across from each other.

A few minutes later, we were looking over the menu.

"I’ll have... the chicken burger with fries."

Nicole glanced at the menu, then at me. "I’ll have the same."

I glanced at her. She was looking right at me, smiling.

I handed the menus to the waiter. "Two chicken burgers with fries."

He nodded and walked away. I watched him go for a second before looking back at Nicole.

She was still looking directly at me, still smiling.

I raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"I’m just..." She paused, her smile growing slightly. "Happy."

I knew what she meant. I decided to have a little fun with it, anyway.

"Happy about what?"

She held my gaze for a moment, then gave me a smug, innocent look. "The food."

I almost laughed. "The food?"

"Mm-hm."

"That’s what you’re happy about?"

She nodded, completely serious. "I like chicken burgers."

I shook my head, smiling. "You’re ridiculous."

"That’s why you like me."

I stared at her for a moment, unable to come up with a response. She really did have an answer for everything, and unfortunately, this one happened to be true.

The smug look on her face lasted another second before she seemed to realize she’d overstepped. She shifted slightly in her seat, already starting to backpedal.

"I mean..."

"It’s true, actually." I cut her off before she could finish. "I do like you. A lot."

She went quiet for a second.

Then she smiled.

It wasn’t the playful smile she’d been wearing a moment ago, or the smug one she’d used to turn my teasing back on me. This one was completely unguarded, bright enough that I could see exactly how happy I’d made her.

Just then, the waiter returned with our food, setting the plates down in front of us before giving us a quick nod and walking away.

I looked at Nicole. She was still staring at me, looking happier than I’d seen her all day.

"Eat your food," I said, gesturing toward her plate with a small nod of my head.

She nodded, still smiling, and picked up her burger.

I glanced at her once more, the smile on my own face returning. I finally looked down at my plate and started eating.