The One Life War

Chapter 17 - Dessert?!

"Do you like it?" Joel asked as Lizzie shoved another bite of food into her mouth.

"What do you think?"

"I think you're already on thirds."

"I think so too."

Joel smiled at his girlfriend before taking another bite of dinner.

"This is the best food I've ever eaten."

"It's just spaghetti, Lizzie." Joel laughed.

"It's still the best." Lizzie said, sticking out her tongue at her boyfriend.

Lizzie used a piece of garlic bread to soak up the rest of the sauce at the bottom of her bowl.

"Can I have more?" She asked sweetly.

"You'd better not. You'll hurt your stomach."

"I will not!"

"Don't you want to get dessert?" Joel asked, trying to avoid an argument.

"There's dessert?"

"There is if we stop somewhere and get it on our walk with Meri," Joel said. "Which won't happen unless you stop eating."

"Let's go then!" Lizzie exclaimed, jumping up from the table and running to the kitchen to deposit her bowl in the sink.

"Alright. Hang on." Joel laughed, getting up to put his bowl in the sink. "Get your shoes on."

Lizzie nodded, and walked off to get her shoes while Joel helped Meri get ready for a walk.

The three left the house, and Joel made sure to lock it behind him. He started leading her towards the nearest McDonalds.

Joel felt a lump form in his throat as he saw Scott's house, just across the street from him. He felt bad that he wasn't doing more to help, but the others had reassured him that Lizzie was meant to be the priority right now.

Lizzie took him by surprise by grabbing on to his arm and hugging it to her, as if she was worried that he would suddenly run off without her.

"Are you trying to strangle my arm?" Joel laughed.

"No!" Lizzie scoffed, dropping his arm.

Joel smiled at her before reaching his arm out to her. "Come here." He told her. Lizzie tried to hold back a smile as she wrapped her arms around his torso. Joel squeezed her upper arm softly as the two continued to walk.

"Thank you." Lizzie told him.

"What for?" Joel asked.

"Being patient with me."

Her words took him off guard. He looked down at her to find that she was gazing up into his eyes. He stopped walking.

"I will always wait for you." He told her, wrapping both of his arms around her.

His phone started ringing, and Joel rolled his eyes at the irony. He let go of Lizzie with one of his arms and answered his phone.

"Yes?"

"Hey, It's Kyle. We're safe for the next eight-ish hours. Joey won't be doing anything."

"Seriously?"

"He went for it. Meghan just texted me."

"Alright. Thank you so much."

"Sure thing."

Joel hung up.

"Who was that?" Lizzie asked softly.

"Kyle."