Choosing how to love.

A soft sigh

HOLTON

To Holton's surprise, they had both ordered almost the exact same thing. They even had the steak cooked the same way, and he just stared at her in disbelief. If she would have chosen the green beans instead of the carrots, he might have fallen out of his chair.

And as he was studying her, she looked up and caught him staring. "What?" She asked as she gently put the last mushroom in her mouth. He could tell her a hundred things he was thinking, but it still would not be enough. For now, he just needed to keep them to himself. Just friends, he reminded himself yet again.

"We have so many things in common." He cleared his throat and sipped his wine as he looked around trying to avoid looking in her eyes. "I know, it's strange." She was watching him now, he felt it, and when he took the chance to look, their eyes met.

Damn. She took his breath away with that shy smile every single time. He could honestly look at her forever. Even though her eyes were still slightly puffing and red, she was beautiful, and in that moment, he wanted nothing more than to reach over and run his fingers down her soft cheek.

"Why are you staring at me?" She broke eye contact and laughed nervously. "I was not staring at you." He tried as he fidgeted with his napkin. "You were." She giggled. He bit the inside of his lip to keep from telling her.

"Tell me." She leaned in and he fought against it, but he couldn't stop himself. "I was admiring." "Admiring what?" "I am not at liberty to say." He blurted out as he tried to think of something that would not be lame, but it just made her laugh harder.

Thankfully, the waiter came to remove the appetizer dish and fill the wine, and it broke up the uncomfortable question. That was until he left, and she picked right back up.

"Ok, I might make you spill it later, but you are safe for now." "My lips are sealed." He made the motion and she giggled. He wished she would keep doing that, the sound made his chest tighten and his heart race.

Holton watched as she looked down and blushed. Did she feel these same things also? Or was it her noticing how he was staring at her? Either way, it did not matter, he just wanted her to keep smiling.

"Alright, I have talked all day and most of the night, your turn." Madilyn sat up straighter and looked right at him. "What would you like me to talk about?" He was already regretting that answer with the smile on her face. God, if she asked, he would tell her anything. Everything. He would tell her all his deep dark secrets. 

Giving his head a shake, he let go of all the crazy thoughts knowing he had to keep it together. So when she asked the next question, he was completely thrown at her choice of subjects.

"How's Becky?" Was she asking because she wanted to know, or to find out if Becky was still in the picture? What was wrong with him? She was not hitting on him. She had just had her heart broken. Damn it man, focus.

"She's good." He gave her the simple answer, because honestly, he had no idea. He had not talked to Becky in three weeks and never planned to again. No one even came close to being interesting, well, besides the girl in front of him.

"Are you still seeing her?" "No." "Why?" "Just wasn't working out. "Oh." She blushed as she looked at the passing fish again, and he was sure he was going to same something incredibly stupid if he didn't get off this subject. 

He opened his mouth, but she cut him off. "Well, are you seeing someone else?" She asked! And although she was not looking at him, he was trying to keep it cool. Oh, he wanted to be so badly. 

She was so causal and calm about it, but he was jumping up and down inside. "No. I really haven't been dating much lately." He shrugged and took a long drink of wine to calm himself. She watched him for a minute, and he was worried she saw right through him.