Days Go By | lavashipping

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"No way, that's adorable. How are all the rocks still standing?"

"Believe me, I've been asking myself that ever since."

Kai pushed the phone across the table back to Lou, who picked it up and scrolled through the gallery. Cole picked at his food while Kai took a sip of the ridiculously overpriced wine Lou insisted on ordering because he saw right through Kai's protests.

"Guess old habits die hard, you should see the way he stacks the dishes." With a glance thrown Cole's way he leaned in as if he was sharing a secret, despite his voice remaining the same. "Sometimes I'm scared to breathe."

Lou chuckled again. The umpteenth time that night. Kai was right, their charm was working like, well, a charm. He couldn't tell who was more smitten with whom.

Just the food wouldn't go down Cole's throat.

He wanted to blame the cooking classes.

Lou stood up, putting the phone into his breast pocket. "Now if you excuse me, I have a rendez-vous with a certain Mrs. Bathroom."

Kai turned to him the moment Lou got out of earshot. Their warm hand would've felt nice if he already didn't feel like he swallowed a fireball. Maybe they had a point with the restaurant catching on fire.

"Hey, everything all right, Pebbles?"

The chuckle it got out of Cole was too weak even for his own liking. "You're calling me that now?"

"I mean it is adorable. And mindblowing. How could you do that before learning properly how to feed yourself? Wu gave up on me with rock stacking. Wu." Then Kai shuffled his chair closer and their legs touched and Cole scolded himself for looking so troubled. "But hey, if you're uncomfortable, I'll stop asking for more pictures. And complaining about your habits. But it does worry me when you pile the plates like that."

Shaking his head, Cole replied, "No, it's fine, I'm glad you're getting along. Just like you said."

"Well, forgive me for not believing you, but either something's bothering you or you ate something bad."

"I—" Cole pushed another potato in the circle he managed to create while trying to relax and enjoy what should've been very appetizing food. "It just... feels like there's a ticking bomb at this table, you know? I dunno what I'm still overthinking, you're getting along and that's great. Really. I'm glad."

Wrapping around his shoulders, Kai rubbed Cole's arm.

"What? Is he usually not like this? Or are you worried about tabloids again?"

Cole shook his head again. "It's not that. I mean—I don't have a point of reference for the former. This is a very new thing for both of us, this 'officiality'. Maybe it's that. Just first-time nerves."

"Well, I think you're both doing well, but if you'd prefer, we could skip dessert and go home early? And then never do this again or keep it more private?"

"No, really, it's fine." Cole's hand just brushed over the back of Kai's when Lou returned and he almost jumped out of his seat. "You know what? I need to be excused too." Kai would follow him with his eyes until he'd disappear if Lou didn't speak up.

"I didn't embarrass him too much, did I?" He settled down, looking the way Cole dashed.

"Pretty sure his guts are about to blow up and a toilet won't be very helpful."

Lou's moustache twitched with amusement, although his eyes shared Kai's sentiment. "Interesting words to hear at this place. Perhaps this wasn't my best choice... I, uh, wanted to make a good impression."