Kai Langford - August 2120
I think this is the place. I park the car and stare out the window.
The building looks like an old converted barn, all worn wood and crooked charm. A set of narrow stairs leads up to a door, and there are a few pots of flowers outside but no signage. No name. No indication of what this place even is.
I must look confused, because Ethan leans over to follow my gaze.
"Oh wow, are we going to Fantails?" he says, bright and cheerful.
So this is the place. A restaurant with no advertisement… that's confusing.
"Erm… that's the idea. I'm guessing this is it?" I ask.
He laughs lightly. "Yeah, it is. It's popular with the locals. I haven't been in so long."
As he says that, a group of friends wander up the steps, laughing as they go inside.
My throat tightens. I'd hoped no one else would be here, not this early. What if it's busy inside? What if it's packed?
Maybe this was a bad idea. I could take him somewhere else. He wouldn't mind… right?
I look over at him. He's already taking off his seatbelt, glowing with happiness.
No. I can't do that to him. He looks like he really wants to be here. And Tessa did say he would love it.
I grip the steering wheel and breathe in quietly.
I can do this. It's only a restaurant.
Just then, something warm brushes my hand. I look down and Ethan is leaning towards me, eyes soft.
"We don't have to go," he says gently, smiling. "Why don't we pick somewhere quieter?" His hand comes up to stroke my face.
The tension melts out of my shoulders. Without meaning to, I lean into his touch.
I'll be fine. As long as Ethan is with me.
"No, it's okay. I'm okay," I tell him, trying to return his smile. "Come on, we have a booking."
I open my door and get out. Ethan gets out on his side before I can open it for him.
He walks around to me and slips his fingers through mine, tugging me closer. His bright green eyes look up at me, and my head automatically lowers toward him, it's a habit now.
But we're outside, so I pause. He uses that moment to close the distance and give me a quick, gentle kiss. I feel him smiling against my lips.
"You're so cute, you know that?" Ethan teases, and my cheeks heat instantly.
He pulls my hand and guides me up the steps.
Inside, the restaurant is surprisingly warm and rustic. Dark wooden tables, old beams along the ceiling, little hidden corners and nooks. It feels cosy. Safe.
A young woman with brown hair approaches, smiling."Ethan! We haven't seen you in town for a while, we thought you moved."
"Hi Lucy," Ethan says, smiling back. "Sorry, I've just been so busy with… university." The lie is smooth, harmless.
"Sure, sure." She laughs, then brightens. "Anyway, Tessa called and said it's your birthday today! Happy birthday!" She holds out her hand.
"Thank you!" Ethan beams as he takes her hands and give a small squeeze.
I stand behind him, hands by my side, unsure what to do.
"This is Kai," Ethan says, turning toward me.
I stiffen at the attention, but step forward and offer my hand to shake.
"Nice to meet you."
She looks up, and then double takes, stumbling slightly on her words."Oh, wow. Where have you been hiding this one?" she teases Ethan as he shakes my hand.
Ethan subtly steps in front of me, protective without making a scene.
"He's new around here, so I'm showing him around," he says smoothly.
Lucy grins before she turns around. "Follow me, I'll show you to your table."
We trail after her until she stops at a small doorway, well, where a door used to be.
"Tessa said to set something private aside for you, so you two get the nook." She hands us menus and leaves.
I have to duck under the frame again. Definitely an old barn.
The room is tiny, likely an old storage space. Just a booth, two chairs, and a small table.
Ethan slides into the booth and pats the seat beside him. I join him, glancing out the window. A field stretches out beyond us, dotted with sheep. Beyond that, a forest.
Somehow… it feels calming.
Ethan nudges my shoulder lightly as he opens the menu.
"Oh wow, they do the blackberry lemonade," he says, sounding delighted. "I used to get it every time when I was young. I used to love it."
I glance at the drinks list even though I already know I'll get whatever he gets. "Then I'll get it too."
He smiles, bumping his knee against mine beneath the table."You always copy me."
"I don't copy," I mutter under my breath. "I just… trust your judgement."
Truth is, I don't know what I actually like. I gain so accustom to the facilities food that I really don't mind trying anything. Especially if Ethan recommends it.
Ethan laughs, the soft kind, the kind he only ever uses with me."You're adorable."
I let out a quiet huff and sink a little lower in my seat. I don't know how he makes being teased feel good, like a warm blanket instead of an attack.
The waiter returns, takes our order, and when she leaves, Ethan shifts a little closer, close enough that our thighs press together. He doesn't comment on it, but he doesn't move either. Neither do I.
He looks around the room, eyes glowing."I used to come here with Tessa and the others. They always picked this booth if it was free." A little smile tugs at him. "Feels weird being here again. I haven't come in over a year"
I watch him for a moment. "Good weird?"
He meets my eyes. "Yeah. Because you're here."
Heat crawls up my neck. I look away, pretending to study the salt shaker."You say things like that on purpose."
"I do." He rests his chin on his hand, elbow on the table. "Because seeing you blush is one of my top ten favourite activities."
I shake my head, though a reluctant smile pulls at my mouth."You're impossible."
He leans forward, playful. "Yeah, but I'm your impossible."
I try not to grin but I fail.
When the food arrives, a platter of warm bread, dips, and something Ethan excitedly called "crunchy squid things" Ethan drags the plate toward me immediately.
"Try this," he says, holding up a piece with his fork.
"I can get my own," I protest.
"Yeah, but I picked the best one," he insists, guiding it toward my mouth.
I stare at him. "You're… feeding me? Here?"
"Yes." He wiggles the fork. "Say ah."
I sigh but lean forward, biting the food from the fork.
It's actually good.
Ethan lights up. "You like it!"
I nod, swallowing. "It's… good."
He laughs again, bright and proud, like he personally cooked it."Oh my god, Kai. 'Good' is your version of a five-star review."
I try something else on the platter and accidentally smear sauce on my fingers. Before I can grab a napkin, Ethan catches my hand, lifts it, and licks the sauce off with an exaggerated flourish.
I freeze.
He wiggles his eyebrows. "I'm just helping to save napkins... with a hint of flirting."
I don't know how he's so confident doing things like that. I don't know how he makes me feel like it's okay when he does.
We spend the rest of the meal like that, him talking animatedly about old memories, me listening more than I speak, but giving dry comments that make him giggle; him reaching for my hand under the table, me letting him, him leaning on my shoulder when he laughs too hard, me pretending I don't notice how much I like it.
This feels surprisingly easy. It's warm. It's… new, but it doesn't scare me like I thought it would.
After we finish eating and the plates are cleared, Ethan leans back in the booth, stretching happily.
"This was such a good idea," he says, nudging me gently. "Thanks for bringing me here."
I glance at him. His cheeks are a little pink from laughing, eyes bright, expression soft in a way that's only for me.
"It's your birthday," I say quietly. "I wanted it to be good."
He smiles, slow, sincere, and so full of affection it hits me square in the chest.
"It's perfect, Kai."
I look back out at the field, feeling something warm and tight curl beneath my ribs.
As long as he's happy… then I'm okay.
When we finally get up to leave, Ethan stretches, looking thoroughly content as we walk toward the counter. I fall into step just behind him, but when we reach the till, I step forward first.
"I'll pay," I say before Ethan even opens his mouth.
He blinks at me. "What? No, Kai, do you even have money?"
I hand cash to the cashier before he can argue. Ethan's mouth falls open.
"Kai," he whispers, tugging on my sleeve like I've just done something outrageous. "Where did you even get money to pay for this?"
I shrug, trying to look casual. "Tessa paid me."
"For what?" he asks, completely thrown.
"Helping her rearrange her bedroom," I say simply.
Ethan stops talking. His eyebrows climb, and he stares at me like I've just told him I built a house with my bare hands.
"Tessa… paid you?" he repeats.
"Yes."
"For moving furniture?"
"Yes."
He pauses, squints at me suspiciously, then looks away with his lips twitching.
"That little snake," he mutters under his breath. "She tricked you."
I frown. "Into what?"
"Into doing heavy lifting she didn't want to do!"
I tilt my head. "Isn't that the point of helping someone?"
Ethan opens his mouth, closes it, then bursts out laughing."Oh my god, Kai, I can't with you."
The cashier hands back the change. "Have a good afternoon!"
We step outside into the cool air, and Ethan immediately threads his fingers through mine, swinging our hands gently as we head down the steps.
"You didn't have to pay," he murmurs, leaning his shoulder against mine.
"I wanted to."
"Yeah, but it was your first time out in town, and I was the one who asked to take you to town, and-"
"Ethan." I tug him closer. "Let me do something for you today."
That shuts him up. His cheeks go pink, and he squeezes my hand.
"…Okay," he says softly.
We walk in comfortable silence for a few minutes, heading toward the little riverside path beside the barn. The sky is pale blue, thin clouds drifting lazily. The grass along the path is tall and sways in the breeze.
When we reach the river, Ethan stops and inhales deeply.
"I forgot how pretty it is out here."
The water glistens, sunlight flickering across the surface. Birds dart along the trees, and the air smells faintly of pine and cool stone.
Ethan steps closer to the edge and tugs me with him. "Come here."
I join him, watching the river move gently. He leans his head against my shoulder.
"This is nice," he says quietly. "Just us."
I nod, letting my arm wrap around his waist."It's peaceful."
"Yeah." He tilts his head up to look at me. "And you're not tense anymore."
"I told you I'd be fine," I say, but my voice softens around the truth. "As long as you're with me."
Something flickers in Ethan's eyes, something warm and intense. He reaches up and touches the side of my face gently.
"You keep saying things like that and I'm going to melt into the grass," he teases.
I huff a laugh through my nose. "Don't do that. That would complicate things."
He grins, leaning in. "Complicate… how?"
Before I can answer, he steals a quick kiss, light, sweet, quick enough to make me want more. Then he pulls back with a smug little smile.
"Come on," he says, taking my hand again. "Let's walk a bit."
We follow the riverbank, our fingers intertwined, the sun warm on our backs. Ethan hums some tune under his breath, and I find myself relaxing into the rhythm of the water, the sound of his footsteps beside mine, the simple closeness of him.