comfort {complete}

44

Lois shoves the door to Ocello's—her favorite restaurant—open and ushers me inside. I roll my eyes at her unnecessary urgency and make my way to the back of the restaurant, where Noah is waiting. My heart leaps just a little when I see him, and I flash a broad smile as Lois scans the menu.

"What can I get y'all to drink?" our waitress asks, a warm smile adorning her features. She has a thick Southern accent that's completely out-of-place at an Italian restaurant, but it's oddly comforting.

"I'll have water," Lois says absently, her eyes still on the menu.

"Diet Coke," Noah says.

"Um, can I have Dr. Pepper, please?" I ask, lifting my eyes from my menu to the waitress.

"Of course. Those'll be right out."

Noah's hand finds mine under the table, and then we're both biting our lips and restraining smiles. His fingers trace the veins on the inside of my wrist, and I try really hard not to shiver. I lean marginally into his arm, eliminating the distance between us until the length of our sides are pressed against each other. He traces the lines on my palm, and we're only holding hands, but it feels much more intimate than kissing did.

"You okay?" he asks me, as usual, when Lois stands to go to the bathroom. "You seemed freaked out when we picked you up."

"I'm fine," I dismiss.

He makes a disbelieving noise and squeezes my hand. "I know that it's polite to say you're fine when someone asks you if you're okay, but I mean it, Stephanie: are you?"

"Yes," I say, rolling my eyes. "I'm fine. Not great or anything, but, um, I like this." I lift our joined hands, ignoring my hot cheeks.

"Me, too."

a/n: i graded history tests yesterday bc my teacher thinks i'm smart, so now i feel smart.