Paranoia || Naruto Uzumaki ||

Paranoia || Naruto Uzumaki || Chapter 23

Hello! I know there's been several chapters not focusing on our main man, but I promise his reappearance is coming. Thanks for trusting the process! Please note there is a spicy scene in this chapter. The scene is marked by *** so you know what parts to skip if you don't want to read. 

Enjoy~ 

Friday came and Melanie found herself feeling butterflies for the first time in a long time. She changed her outfit several times and couldn't decide how to do her hair. Eventually she settled on a cashmere knitted dress and knee high boots and did her hair half up.

She got to the park a few minutes after 6pm not wanting to seem too eager. It didn't take her long to find Steve standing in front of the park fountain. In the dying light, the water looked orange. Melanie dug around the bottom of her purse and flipped a coin in, closing her eyes as she made a wish.

"What did you wish for?" Steve asked, offering her his arm.

Melanie locked eyes with him as she linked her arm around his. "An unforgettable night."

This upclose Melanie could see that she made a good choice. Steve's blond hair was combed back allowing her to see his strong forehead and slightly bushy eyebrows. His eyes were a mossy green and framed by delicate lashes. His lips were full and quick to draw up into a smile.

"Hungry?" Steve asked, stopping in front of a cart vendor near the park fountain. There were tables scattered about with various couples already eating and enjoying each other's company.

"Starving," Melanie answered. In more ways than one she thought.

She let Steve order for them both while she found a seat. She picked one close to the fountain loving the way the water changed colors as the sun set. The sound of the water was soothing and she hadn't realized she had zoned out until something appeared in her vision.

Steve had set a steaming bowl of something in front of her and for a split second she got excited thinking it was ramen. She deflated a little when she realized it was tomato soup coupled with grilled cheese.

"I know it's simple, but trust me you'll be wanting seconds." Steve promised.

Melanie took a sip of the soup, immediately going for another. "It's good."

They sat in a comfortable silence for a few minutes. Melanie was trying to work up the courage to say what she needed to say. Steve beat her to it. "I figured after we eat, we could walk around the park for a bit then go to my place and work off dinner."

Melanie spit out the sip of soup she had just taken, getting red dots on her dress. "Excuse me?"

"Your friend filled me in after you left on Tuesday. No need to be shy and beat around the bush."

Melanie's eye twitched, it had to have been Sierra. The blonde might be desperate, but she didn't have to make Melanie appear so. Although, Sierra did the hard part for her and must have done a good job as Steve seemed eager. "And you're okay with...whatever this is?"

Steve nodded. "You don't work at a cafe in an upscale town like this for the tips."

Melanie stewed on that thought for a few minutes, watching as Steve carefully ate his soup. If Naruto was here, he would have drank the soup straight from the bowl and complained he was still hungry for ramen.

"You don't care that I'm," she hesitated, not wanting to say the word, "married?"

"Makes it all the more exciting."

"You don't care that it won't go any further than 'working' off dinner?"

He gave her a cheeky grin. "Dessert is my favorite."