Scattering Lilac Ashes

Chapter One Hundred and Forty-Four

The pleasant chime of the bell by the door evoked a sense of panic in Lila. Now that they'd made their presence known, would Marlene have noticed?

The café was busy, though there was still plenty of seating inside. Lila was hardly able to take another look when the waitress they'd been served by plenty of times before hurried up to them with a beam.

"Welcome back," she greeted them, brandishing two menus at them. "It's been a while."

"It has been," Asher nodded, taking both menus with his free hand. The waitress' eyes flickered down to where their hands were still joined and her smile widened.

"Inside or outside today?" she asked genially.

Lila hadn't decided what would be best. She exchanged a look with Asher before gesturing at him to pick.

"Is the spot outside that we usually sit in free?" he queried.

The waitress craned her neck as she looked through the window. "Seems like it. There're heaters outside as well if you need them."

"Thanks," Asher smiled. The waitress inclined her head before leading them outside. Lila's eyes drifted towards the barista station and saw, with a small jump of her heart, that Marlene, her back turned to them and hair once more in a braid, was busy at the barista station. It looked like the coffee she was working on had her full focus and Lila quickened her pace.

"As usual, you can order through the QR code," the waitress said as she poured them both glasses of water. "The kitchen's lunch menu is open, otherwise the all-day breakfast is also available."

"Thanks," Asher and Lila said simultaneously. They shared a glance before the waitress grinned and headed back inside.

"She seems invested in us," Asher commented as he opened his menu.

"She does. It's kinda funny, though, since the last time we were here, we weren't dating," Lila said delicately. He looked up at her, his expression mystifying.

"... We... weren't. But we pretended we were," he said quietly. "I wish it hadn't been pretending, back then."

Lila paused. Asher had gone along with the idea that they were dating at the time, but he had still been dating Holly. From her recollection, their last visit was just before he'd found out about Holly's cheating, too.

She reached over and intertwined his fingers in hers. "I understand what you mean, but that was then." She paused again before rubbing her thumb against his knuckles. His eyes were glued to hers and the level of attention he was paying to her made her feel slightly flustered. "Now, we're free to do anything we want as a couple."

He swallowed audibly before tearing his eyes away from hers. "Almost... anything."

She squeezed his hand. "Hey, you haven't even kissed me today."

His eyes flickered to hers before he took his hand back, the corners of his mouth twitching as though he was suppressing a smile. "I thought about it, back at home. But I also thought the faster we get here the better since if I had kissed you, I don't think I would've wanted to leave."

She pressed her lips together, trying not to show that the thought was conjuring a mental image that she wished to put into reality.

"You'll just have to make up for lost time when we do go back to yours," she settled on saying, training her eyes on the menu before her. "Otherwise, I'd start to think you don't want to kiss me."

"Of course I do," Asher said quickly, taking her hand into his again. "You know that."

She gave him a playful smile, which appeared to ease his desperate expression. "You'll have to prove it."