✔️Playing Heroes [a BoyxBoy novel]

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven

"Hey," Cara's voice sounded in my thoughts. "Quit messing with your bowtie. You look fine and you're just drawing attention to yourself."

I had been acquainted with Cara before we had left HQ. And I must say, she was fucking badass. She was more intimidating than Kadmos, who was an immortal being from a different freaking planet. With her intense steel grey eyes that seemed to pierce into my very being, she just radiated authority. She was in waiting with the rest of the back up in the forest that lined the back of the cozy, but elegant looking, Italian restaurant.

"Sorry," I thought back, wiping my sweaty palms down the front of my slacks. My shiny black Oxfords glinted in the moonlight as I made my way towards the front door, trying to even my breathing. "This is my first date. Ever, so I don't know what I'm supposed to do-"

"Nick, breathe," Cara coaxed, her smooth voice instantly calming me. "You're going to be fine, alright? Just forget that he's the bad guy here and just pretend that you are a normal teenager going on a normal date, alright? You think you can do that?"

"Yeah, of course."

"Great. Now, open the door and just go in. That's all."

I nodded, which was stupid considering that she obviously couldn't see me. The restaurant looked like a small stone cottage from the outside, with vines growing upon the stone walls. There must've been a fire lit from the inside because smoke was rising from a brick chimney. I must admit, the small place had character. I knew that even though it was small, things were going to be expensive as fuck. The door was closed, but through the polished glass, I could make out people in expensive suits and cocktail dresses.

"Oi! Hands off the fucking bowtie and open the door!"

I huffed out a breath and pushed open the door. It was now or never.

I was right, the inside of the restaurant was classy and it was obvious that I did not belong there. It didn't even have anything to do with the deep burgundy carpet or the velvet walls. Not even the huge chandelier that gave the entrance a nice warm glow. No, it was the mere feel of the place that just spoke of wealth and privilege. The two things that I most definitely did not have. The elegant way everyone carried themselves made me feel like a clumsy fool.

"I honestly thought you were going to cancel on me," warm breath fanned my neck. "You look absolutely amazing."

"It's go time everyone," Cara said through my mind. "Eyes on the target. Nick, it's all you now."

"No pressure," I thought back sarcastically.

Ashton looked annoyingly handsome in a deep navy suit and his hair slicked back. He smelled like every man should, like earth and spice. I ground my teeth.

"Nick?"

Blinking, I shook my head free from the image of me strangling him, and let my nervousness show. "I am kinda nervous, not gonna lie. I don't exactly... fit in here."

He grabbed me by the elbow gently and I allowed myself to be lead towards our table by a quiet and stiff waiter. It was taking everything I had to not up and run as far from that place with my tail between my legs.

As he led me towards a candlelit table, a familiar face caught my attention. Aiden was sitting at a table quite close to ours- uncomfortably close. As in right next to ours. He didn't tell me that he was going to actually be inside the restaurant and I automatically assumed he would be out in the woods like everyone else.