{Chapter Seven} 

“Where are you going?” Mom demands when I head to the door after getting ready for the date. I glance at her over my shoulder and shrug.

“I'm going out with Lydia.” I reply smoothly and she sighs, seeming ready to say something until Dad stops her.

“Oh, Hun, let him go have fun. In fact, here's a few dollars for you kids to spend. Have fun.” He adds, handing me way more than a few dollars before smiling and shooing me off. I nearly sigh in relief when I get in my car, thankful that my dad intervened before she asked too many questions.

Before I drive off, I send a quick text to Lydia, telling her to say I'm there if my mom calls for some reason. She replies with a questioning "okay" and with that I drive to the location Ian said to meet him.

The place Ian said to meet him is a restaurant. It's more like a diner however, with the exception of the food being more of pasta, soups, and bread bowls rather than burgers.

I park my car on the side and after I assure the alarm is on I walk into the restaurant. I walk past a guy who is obviously in a gang, making me walk past quicker and wish my car wasn't worth nearly half a million dollars. I push those thoughts away though because I know I saw a nicer car in the parking lot, and walk to the back where the familiar eerie gray eyes catch my own hazel eyes.

Ian smiles brightly when I get to the table and stands, looking like he wants to hug me but instead holds his hand out. “Hey, you made it.”

I arch a brow, shaking his hand a bit awkwardly. “Did you expect me to stand you up?”

“Maybe,” he replies and I sit down, ignoring his words. We both look around, the awkward air trying to set in because we obviously don't know what to talk about.

“Can I get you a drink?” The waitress seems to come out of no where and I nearly jump in surprise. I glance at her and then look back at the table.

“Just a water, please.” I reply and she nods before her bright blue eyes look to Ian. He glances up in surprise, looking at her as he seems to realize only now that she's talking to him.

“Oh just water for me too, thank you.” He replies quickly and she nods with a smile before leaving. He glances at the table before opening a menu and I nearly chuckle at his obvious awkwardness.

“Have you been here before?” I ask, looking at my own menu. His head snaps up in surprise.

“Wait, me? I mean, oh yeah, of course you're talking to me. Oh uh, yeah my parents and I used to come here all the time. It's pretty good, I don't like the shrimp though but I'll go ahead and shut up now…” He rambles and I chuckle, thoroughly amused with his rambling.

“Used to? Why did your family stop coming?” I wonder aloud, tilting my head to the side in confusion. He shrugs, looking at his menu once more.

“Oh, my mom died, so my dad doesn't want to come here anymore since it reminds him of her. I mean, he got remarried but he still misses my mom, you know. So he doesn't like being here.” He explains rapidly and guilt fills me immediately.

“Oh God, Ian, I'm so sorry, I had no idea.” I apologize immediately, feeling horrible for asking him that.

“It's okay, she passed away a little more than ten years ago. I mean, I miss her but it doesn't bother me as much as it used to. I mean, when it first happened I was a wreck, I was only eight of course but still. My dad was great though, he helped me get over it. But you know, I still miss her.” He explains rapidly and my brows furrow in concern. I reach over and place my hand on top of his in comfort.

“I'm sorry.” I state honestly. I know it won't do anything, but hopefully it helps some. He grins, seeming to let his mood change in a blink.

“It's okay, Levy, really. Anyway, what are you getting? I'm getting the chicken soup, it sounds great right now. It's really good. I also like the chicken salad, they have good chicken. I love their chicken.” He continues and I smile a bit, happy that I didn't kill the mood completely.

“Okay, I'll keep that in mind.” I reply with a new round of chuckles while I scan my menu once more. I decide on a chef salad and we both order once the waitress comes back with our drinks.

“So, what were you writing at the coffee shop?” He questions and I realize that despite the fact that I told him I was writing a paper, I didn't actually tell him what it was about. So I explain the entire project to him, leaving out my weird crush for Jer, and what the paper is about. He seems to hang on my every word and continues to listen intently, not seeming to zone out or stop listening at any point.

“That's pretty interesting. The most interesting project I did was on snakes, they're pretty interesting but no that interesting. I liked doing it, but it wasn't all that big, just write a small summary about them and make a PowerPoint, which was the hardest part because I didn't know how to work the computer. Imagine my embarrassment when my dad had to help me work technology. It took him nearly three hours to teach me how to use my phone. And I'm way off topic, and rambling, again.” He explains quickly before blushing lightly and I chuckle, amused by him. His rambling isn't just amusing though, it's actually kind of adorable.

I can't help but watch him for a few moments, no longer than a minute, but it still makes me realize that I definitely like him more than a friend. And perhaps he's the right choice, the one I need to be with. The safe option.

“This is nice.” I state, smiling as I make my final decision; I reach over and lace our fingers together, both hoping and knowing I made the right decision. He seems to relax, a strange sort of adoration entering his beautiful gray eyes.

“I'm glad you're enjoying yourself.” He replies as the food arrives. I take my hand back to eat but I can still feel the warmth of his hand in mine. It felt nice, normal.

We continue to eat and talk casually after that, the conversation flowing nicely. Ian does have his moments of rambling from nervousness but I find it quite adorable and entertaining.

“I'll pay,” I state once we're finished with our meals and have gotten the check. He gives me a look that says he wants to object, he really wants to, but I already have the money my dad gave me out and I put half of it in the small black tab. He looks only slightly irritated but I ignore him and follow him outside.

“This was nice,” I repeat once more when we're outside in the cold winter weather.

“Actually, could we walk?” He questions and I glance at him before shrugging.

“Sure.” I follow him down the road, past shops displaying a wide range of merchandise including jewelry, clothes, and even lingerie in an adult store.

I shiver at one point though, realizing only now that I didn't grab my jacket, and I'm wearing a short sleeved shirt. I mentally roll my eyes at my stupidity, I should have remembered that it was this cold outside. Before I can finish my thoughts, however, a warm, heavy object is placed over my shoulders and I realize it's a jacket. Ian's jacket.

“Ian, you don't have to give me your jacket. I'm perfectly fine without one, it's not that cold. Besides, now you'll be cold.” I add in a scolding tone but he shrugs.

“It's okay, I can handle a little cold, I can't handle seeing you cold though. Accept the gift graciously, Levy.” He replies with a lopsided grin and I sigh, not bothering to argue. I glance around the area with a small smile, remembering when my dad would take me to this side of town for ice cream and toys.

Then as I got older the toys became books, however we still got ice cream. It's those memories though that make me miss my childhood. It was so fun, relaxing. And now I'm nearly an adult, a man who has to make smart choices, I can't be that kid who would beg his dad for extra sprinkles on his ice cream, or another book even though I already have hundreds. I have to be responsible, I have to make wise decisions.

And when I glance back at Ian who seems also lost in his own world, I realize I'm making a good, wise choice. I sigh and wrap the jacket tighter around me momentarily, my senses being assaulted with the smoky scent that is Ian.

“Ian,” I call, stopping and waiting for him to stop. He stops and turns in confusion, standing in front of me, nearly the same height as me, with his head tilted to the side in confusion.

“What's wrong?” he asks immediately, looking incredibly worried that something may be wrong. I shake my head and smile, glancing around the deserted street. I reach my hand up to brush against his jaw before I lean forward and kiss him lightly on the lips.

His lips are a bit chapped, but that doesn't seem to bother me as I continue to kiss him, licking his bottom lip lightly before I pull back. I attempt to catch my breath despite the fact that the kiss was so short so I shouldn't be out of breath. He seems surprised, incredibly surprised, but there's a smile gracing his pink lips.

“What does this mean?” he questions, one of his arms still wrapped around my waist while his other is cupping my chin, stroking my cheek.

“It means the date went really well, and I want to see where this goes.” I reply, tracing my finger over his chin to his bottom lip. I catch it with my finger, pulling it down lightly before I lean forward, giving into the temptation to kiss him once more.

“Could this go to more than friends?” he shoots and I chuckle, dropping my hand.

“Ian, we were more than friends the moment we met.” I state with another round of small chuckles.

“Good,” he whispers and I smile. While I look into his light gray eyes, I can't help but realize I haven't felt this happy, this comfortable with any of my previous girlfriends. It never felt this way, and I love the way I feel. Sure, I still can't get Jer completely out of my head, but Ian will make me forget him; he has to.