Closest To Heaven That I'll Ever Be

19. Too Close

Just as I was praying for some liquid courage, the door knocked. "Come in," Draco called, not taking his eyes off me.

The young bartender from before opened the door and stepped in. "I have your menus sir," he smiled.

"Oh great, I think drinks are definitely in order," Draco said with a smile as the bartender passed me one of the two slim menus and Draco the other.

"Thanks, Liam." Draco gave the man a familiar nod. Liam smiled back before disappearing, leaving us alone again.

Draco picked up one of the menus and slid the other towards me. "This one serves itself," he explained. "Just tap whatever you want and it appears."

I looked down at it, immediately intrigued. The names of the drinks shimmered faintly across the page in elegant gold writing, each one moving slightly beneath my fingertips as though encouraging me to choose it.

"How do I pay?"

"You don't." I looked at him. Draco smiled as though the answer should have been obvious and gave my leg a light pat beneath the table. "Your drinks are on the house."

And suddenly I was absolutely roasting. Not warm. Not slightly flushed. Roasting.

"I have to pay," I protested, already reaching for my purse. "Just let me—"

Draco caught my hand before I could open it. "Nope."

"Draco."

"Not happening." His fingers remained loosely around mine as he grinned at me, all perfect white teeth and far too much amusement.

"What is the point of owning a place if I can't occasionally spoil my friends with free drinks?"

I stopped. "Friends?" One eyebrow lifted before I could help myself.

For perhaps the first time since we'd arrived, Draco looked genuinely caught off guard. A faint blush crept across his cheeks. "Yes." He released my hand and suddenly seemed extremely interested in the drinks menu. "We're friends now."

I smiled. "Are we?"

"Yes." He glanced towards me. "You gave me a chance, Addalie. I don't think you realise how grateful I am for that."

"It was nothing."

His expression changed immediately. "No." He shook his head. "Maybe to you." His thumb moved absently across the edge of the menu. "But not to me."

I didn't say anything.

Draco looked down for a moment before continuing more quietly. "You saying yes to the business was important. But when you told me you trusted me..."

His eyes lifted. "That meant more."

The humour had disappeared from his face completely now. "To me, that was everything."

Our eyes met. And only then did I become painfully aware of how close we were sitting.

Far too close.

My thigh was almost against his. His shoulder was turned towards mine. If either of us leaned in even slightly—

Friends did not sit this close.

At least, I didn't think they did.

"So," I said quickly, looking back down at the menu before my brain could become any less helpful, "what's actually good to drink?"

Draco leaned a little closer to look over the options with me.

My heart immediately decided this was an emergency.