My Beautiful Boy ✔️

34

Alayna was visiting me at work. A grin makes its way onto my face when I see her push open the door, looking around. Her eyes meet mine and her lips twitch up into a smile. I throw the cloth in my hand onto the counter before approaching her, hugging her. My arms go around her waist and I'm lifting her into my arms.

Alayna kisses me multiple times before I place her carefully back on the floor. "Are you hungry?" I asked her, and she quickly nodded her head.

"I am." She grins up at me. "What's on the menu?" She asked, and I squinted my eyes.

"Well, today, there's the Chef's Special." I shrug my shoulders and Alayna tilts her head. "I believe the Chicken Patiala is the most ordered, so I'm assuming it's the nicest." I look down at her, raising my eyebrows. "Does that sound like something you'd like?"

"It does, actually." Alayna pouts her lips. "You're on your break, right?" She asked, and I nodded my head. "Why don't you eat with me?" She bites her bottom lip lightly, and I find that I can't say no to her. I think I'll live the rest of my life agreeing to whatever Alayna says.

"Okay. I'll order a portion for you. Go find a seat." I tell her, and she nods her head before leaving. Because Gracie was at the counter, I approached her slowly. "Hey, Gracie." I send her a small, awkward smile. "Can I order a large Chicken Patiala?" I asked her, and she glanced behind me to where Alayna was walking away.

Her eyes flicker onto me and there's a small frown on her face before she clears her throat. "Yeah, that's fine. How'd you wanna pay for it?" She asks quietly, focusing her attention on the screen in front of her. Her hand raises and she moves a strand of her hair behind her ear.

"Take it out of my wages." I tell her, and she nods her head. "How long will it take to be ready?" I ask her, and she tells me it'll only take half an hour. "Oh, we're on..." I looked behind me to where Alayna was sitting. "... table fourteen." I tell her, and she nods her head.

"Great." She sends me a tight smile and I nod my head before walking away. I'm making my way over to Alayna and she looks up, smiling at me. Her phone is beside her on the table and her purse is underneath it.

"You did it?" She asks, and I nod my head before sitting opposite her on the table that she had picked. "So..." She entwines her fingers and rests her chin on it, grinning at me. "Is this a date?" She asks, and I chuckle.

"Do you want it to be?" I asked her, tilting my head at her. Alayna quickly nods her head, biting her bottom lip lightly. "Then, yeah, it is a date." I grin, stroking my finger over Alayna's hand, which lay on the table.

My little finger hooks through hers, and it's so effortlessly easy to be around her and I don't feel the need to have my guard up and hide myself from her, and I love spending time with her. No matter how long this might last, no matter if we're not together forever, I'll cherish these moments with all my heart.

She's the first person I've ever shown my heart to, and I damn hope I never have to open up to anyone again. I want her. All of her. Her flaws, her mistakes, her imperfections. I want her, and only her. I could lose everything in my life. I could lose anything because of Stawarski. But, not her. God, not her.

"Where've you always wanted to go?" Alayna asks me. "Anywhere in the world, where's your dream destination?" She asked me, and I smiled across at the cute, wondering expression on her face.

"You know, I've always wanted to go to The Maldives." I admit, scrunching my nose. "It's such a beautiful country." I state, and Alayna grins at me. She continues to ask me random questions that I answer with no hesitation before our food is placed in front of us by Gracie.

"Thank you so much." Alayna grins at her, and Gracie's eyes flicker to me and then mine and Alayna's entwined fingers before she looks away, sending a small smile to Alayna. I clear my throat as Gracie walks away, grabbing a piece of the naan bread that was given with the chicken. "Tuck in." I smile.

***

"I think it's time I go home." Alayna mumbles against my lips as I kiss her in the backroom of the restaurant, where only the staff can go. She wraps her arms around my neck and arches her back into me. "It's getting late." She mutters.

I sigh, dragging my hands down her back before pulling away from her. "I'll take you home." I tell her, but she shakes her head.

"No, your break is almost finished." She glances at the clock on the back wall. "I'll be fine walking." She grins at me, gripping my face in her hands. "I'll text you as soon as I get home." She quickly plants a sloppy kiss onto my lips before we walk out of the room, hand in hand.

I give her one last kiss before she picks up her purse from the counter and waves goodbye before leaving. I smile as the door closes behind her, and my thoughts are interrupted when I hear a voice behind me.

"I thought you weren't ready for a relationship." I hear from behind me, and I sigh, closing my eyes as I turn around to face Gracie. The restaurant is almost empty and some waiters were still around to clean up, including myself. Gracie is wiping a cloth across a table, a bottle of spray in her spare hand.

I tilt my head. "Hey, Gracie." I sigh, and she stands straighter, leaning slightly on the table she was just cleaning. "I thought I wasn't ready, either." I shrug my shoulders, not wanting to discuss my relationship with Alayna with Gracie.

"What changed your mind?" She asks quietly, glancing at the ground before her eyes flicker back up to mine. I clear my throat, pulling my apron over my head and hanging it up.

"She did." I answered, shrugging my shoulders. "Look, I know you-" I sigh. "I know you like me more than a friend, but I don't reciprocate your feelings. I know it may be hard to hear, but my heart is with someone else." I tell her, frowning. Gracie gulps, slowly nodding her head as she licks her bottom lip.

"That's... totally okay." She states. "I mean, she's gorgeous. Anyone would have trouble not falling in love with her." She says, and my heart flutters at the mention of love. "But, I can't carry on being your friend when I have these feelings. It's too much."

"I understand." I nod my head.

"And, I get that it'll be hard, considering we work together, but I think that if we just avoid each other, this whole thing will blow over." She quickly adds, and I nod my head again. "Okay, I'm gonna get back to work now." She adds before turning around, and I quickly grab the spare cloth and walk over to the furthest side of the restaurant, getting to work on cleaning the tables.

Half an hour later, I get a message on my phone. A smile makes its way onto my face when Alayna texts me, I'm home, with a red heart. My cheeks heat up. I stuff my phone back into my pocket and continue working.