Roommates with Benefits [COMPLETED]

Chapter 17 - The date

Emma

I made the reservations for the first night Knightley was back. He was supposed to return in the early afternoon, but by six o'clock he still isn't home, and I'm pacing the apartment, wondering if I should get ready or not.

I check my phone again. No messages. He had texted around the time his flight was supposed to be arriving to let me know he'd be late, but I had heard nothing since. Biting my bottom lip, I decide to get ready, anyway.

I'm just finishing braiding my hair loosely over one shoulder when the front door opens.

"Knightley?" I say and hurry out of the bathroom.

He's standing in the apartment, his face pale under the tan and his eyes tired.

"Hey. I'm sorry I'm late. I just need half an hour to shower and change."

"You made it."

"Almost didn't. I guess there was an issue at the airport, too much snow or something. They almost diverted our flight."

"I'm glad you made it."

With a wink, he smiles at me, and my insides relax. "I wouldn't miss this for the world." He takes his bag and heads past me to his room. "Half an hour."

"Ok."

Half an hour later, I'm dressed in a long-sleeved dress that ends mid thigh. It's black with a dark gray pattern, darker than I usually wear. I grab the flowers I bought and wait by the kitchen island.

My heart beats fast and my palms are sweaty by the time Knightley comes out of his room. He's wearing a black shirt, open in the collar, and black pants. I hold out the flowers like a shield in front of me.

"You remembered," he says.

"These are for you." I hand over the flowers, a mixed bouquet in greens and blues.

"And you put them in a vase." He's smiling happily and I wonder if it's the first time anyone's given him flowers.

"Are you ready to go?"

"Sure, let me grab my car keys."

"Nope." I dangle my keys in front of him. "I'm driving."

He raises an eyebrow, but doesn't protest, just helps me with my coat.

"You look beautiful, by the way." His breath is warm on my bare neck and I step away to hide my shiver.

"And you look very handsome."

At the restaurant, the atmosphere is just as romantic as I feared it would be. Once we're seated and studying the menus, I try to think of anything to talk about.

"Do you know what you want?" Knightley asks and blinks. He seems tired.

"I'm feeling mushroom ravioli. You?"

"I'm thinking... that you must have missed me."

"What?" I glance up. He's smirking at me.

"You must have missed me. Just look at you."

I look down at my outfit. "What are you talking about?"

"You dressed up for me. And you look really nice."

"Maybe I dressed up for the restaurant?" I raise an eyebrow at him.

With a shrug, he turns back to the menu. "I choose to believe you did it for me."

I shake my head. Once we've ordered our food and there are no more menus to hide behind, I take a sip of water.

"How was the trip?"