A Love Like Ours

More than lunch

---

Chapter 10: More Than Lunch

The restaurant had a cool, low-key vibe that immediately put Mia at ease. Soft hip-hop played over the speakers, and the place had that warm, cozy feel that made it clear they weren’t about to be hit with overpriced, fancy food. Thank God. She wasn’t in the mood to be pretending to know what five different forks were for.

Liam held the door open for her as they walked in, still holding her hand, and she let out a small sigh of relief. She caught a few people glancing at them, but no one seemed to care. Or maybe they were just keeping their curiosity to themselves. Either way, she was good.

They slid into a booth by the window, the sunlight streaming in through the blinds, casting shadows on the table. Liam picked up the menu, flipping it over a couple of times before glancing up at her with a smirk.

"Okay, I need you to steer me right. What’s the move here? I can’t embarrass myself on the first lunch date."

Mia snorted, trying to keep her cool. "First of all, don’t ever call it a ‘lunch date’ again," she teased, leaning back in the booth with her arms crossed. "But if you’re asking, I’ve heard the wings here are fire. You gotta get the fries too. That’s non-negotiable."

Liam laughed, nodding seriously. "Got it. Wings and fries. I trust you with my life right now."

She raised an eyebrow. "You better. I don’t hang out with people who eat dry fries."

The waitress came over, her notepad ready. Mia placed her order, quick and confident, while Liam stumbled a little over his, clearly overthinking. Mia shook her head, amused.

"Relax," she said after the waitress left. "It's just wings and fries, not an exam."

Liam leaned back, running a hand through his hair. "Okay, I’m trying, but there’s this cool girl across from me, and I’m kinda nervous."

Mia rolled her eyes but felt the heat rising in her cheeks. "Boy, stop."

He grinned, sitting up a little straighter. "Nah, for real. I don’t usually do this—like, dates and all that. Especially with someone who keeps me guessing."

She raised an eyebrow. "Guessing? What’s that supposed to mean?"

"You’re not like anyone else I know," he admitted, his voice softer now. "You don’t just go with the flow—you make your own way, and that’s... I don’t know, it’s cool."

Mia blinked, taken off guard. She wasn’t used to people saying stuff like that. Not that she didn’t hear compliments—people always had something to say about her looks or her style. But this? This felt different. Like he was seeing her, not just the surface.

She shrugged, trying to play it cool. "Well, I’m not really the go-with-the-flow type. But you already knew that."

Liam nodded, his smile softening. "Yeah, I like that about you."

There was a beat of silence between them, but it wasn’t awkward. Mia fiddled with her napkin, her mind racing, wondering how she’d gotten here. Sitting across from this boy, who actually saw her. Is this what it’s supposed to feel like?