Chapter 258: the hope he couldn’t let go V

Chapter 258: Chapter 258: the hope he couldn’t let go V

The driver stopped outside the small country restaurant they had visited two weeks earlier.

Damian recognized it immediately.

For a moment, an old memory surfaced.

The same restaurant.

The same warm, quiet atmosphere.

The same table where he had once deliberately chosen to sit beside Vivienne.

He remembered how eager he had been then.

How natural it had felt to be close to her.

How easily he had allowed himself to hope.

Not again.

He could understand that Vivienne might have been careless at the pool party.

He could even accept that perhaps she hadn’t fully understood how much her actions had hurt him.

But that didn’t change the fact that she had done all those things because she wanted Anthony’s attention.

That was what he couldn’t forget.

So he shouldn’t let himself hope simply because she was affectionate with him now.

He could be her friend.

He could work with her.

He could even tease her like he used to.

But that was all.

He would keep himself under control.

The plan was simple.

Reasonable.

Then Vivienne stepped out of the vehicle.

Damian looked away before she could catch him staring.

They walked inside together.

The hostess greeted them with a smile.

"Welcome back."

Vivienne smiled politely.

"Thank you."

The hostess led them toward the windows.

Damian followed.

Then he stopped.

The same table.

The cushioned bench ran along one side, with two chairs opposite it.

Vivienne recognized it too.

She looked at the table.

Then at Damian.

A knowing smile appeared on her lips.

Damian noticed.

He immediately reminded himself not to read anything into it.

Vivienne walked toward the table and sat on the bench.

Then she moved slightly to the side.

She looked up at him.

"Come. Sit here."

She patted the empty space beside her.

Damian stared at her.

He had been about to take one of the chairs opposite them.

That would have been easier.

Safer.

But Vivienne was already making room for him.

"Here," she added.

He hesitated.

Then sat beside her.

The warmth of her shoulder was immediately noticeable.

Vivienne seemed perfectly comfortable.

Damian looked straight ahead.

So much for that.

A waiter approached and handed them the menus.

"Good morning. May I take your order?"

Vivienne opened hers.

Then looked toward Damian.

"What do you want?"

"I’m not sure yet."

"You always know what you want."

"Not always."

She glanced at him.

"You always eat healthy."

"I try to."

"I know."

She looked back at the menu.

"You like grilled meat, vegetables, things that aren’t drowning in sauce..."

Damian looked at her.

"You remember?"

Vivienne shrugged.

"Of course."

Something warm moved through his chest.

She remembered.

It was such a small thing.

But after two weeks of convincing himself that she hadn’t cared enough to think about him at all, the fact that she remembered what he liked felt strangely significant.

She’s attentive to me too.

The thought came quietly.

And he immediately tried not to make too much of it.

Vivienne continued scanning the menu.

"I’ll have this."

She pointed at one of the dishes.

"And you?"

Damian looked over.

"I’ll have the grilled chicken."

"Of course."

She smiled.

"What?"

"Nothing."

Their orders were placed.

The waiter nodded.

"And anything else?"

Vivienne’s eyes immediately moved toward the dessert section.

"Yes."

Damian already knew.

"I’ll have the blueberry cheesecake, and please have it served first."

The waiter nodded.

"Of course, ma’am."

Damian turned toward her.

"Again?"

Vivienne looked at him innocently.

"I am a bit famished."

Damian stared at her.

"For cake?"

She nodded.

"Yes."

He shook his head slightly.

"You haven’t even had your meal."

"I know."

"You should eat something proper first."

Vivienne gave him an innocent look.

"But I’m hungry now."

Damian looked at her for a moment.

There was no point arguing.

He turned back toward the waiter.

"And that’s all."

The waiter nodded and left.

Vivienne watched Damian.

Then a small smile appeared.

"You really do worry too much."

"I’m just saying."

"I know."

She leaned back against the bench.

"I’ll eat my meal."

A pause.

"Eventually."

Damian almost smiled.

Almost.

He looked down at the menu instead.

He needed to remember himself.

This was exactly what he had promised himself he wouldn’t do.

Let himself get pulled back in because Vivienne smiled at him.

Because she teased him.

Because she was affectionate.

He had already decided.

He would be her friend.

Nothing more.

Yet she was sitting beside him again, close enough that he could feel the warmth of her shoulder.

And somehow, despite everything, he already knew he was going to have trouble keeping that promise.

–

A few minutes later, the blueberry cheesecake arrived.

Vivienne’s expression brightened immediately.

She picked up her fork and cut a small piece.

Then she ate it.

Her eyes closed as she slowly savored the taste.

She took another bite.

Damian frowned.

"You shouldn’t eat that much dessert before the meal."

"Why?" Vivienne asked, taking another bite.

"Because you need an actual meal."

Vivienne looked at the cheesecake.

Then at him.

"Hmm..."

She considered this with exaggerated seriousness.

"I think you’re right."

Damian relaxed slightly.

Then she smiled.

"But it would be a waste not to finish this."

His expression tightened.

"Vivienne..."

She laughed softly.

"How about you help me with it?"

She cut a small piece and held the fork toward him.

Damian looked at it.

Then at her.

He hesitated.

He should say no.

He should maintain some distance.

But Vivienne was holding it out toward him, watching him expectantly.

"Come on. Try it."

Damian stared at her.

For a moment, he thought about refusing.

Then he remembered the way she had looked at him in the car.

The way she had asked if he missed her.

The way she had smiled when he admitted he had been thinking about her.

He shouldn’t read too much into any of it.

He knew that.

Still, he leaned forward.

He took the cake from her fork.

Vivienne smiled triumphantly.

"It’s good, right?"

Damian swallowed.

"It’s okay."

Vivienne laughed.

"Okay?"

"It’s good."

She smiled.

"I told you."

Then she lowered the fork.

For a moment, she looked at it.

Then at him.

There was a playful glint in her eyes.

She took another piece of cheesecake with the same fork.

Damian watched.

And this time, Vivienne deliberately brought it to her mouth.

She took the bite.

Her eyes closed again.

"Mmm."

She savored it, almost exaggeratedly.

"Ahh. This is so good."

Damian went completely still.

The same fork.

Her lips had just touched it.

Damian’s thoughts stopped.

For one brief second, he simply stared at her.

Then the attraction he’d been forcing himself to ignore for the past two weeks came rushing back with startling force.

He wanted to kiss her.

The thought arrived before he could stop it.

His gaze dropped to her lips.

He immediately looked away.

Not here.

His fingers tightened against the edge of the table.

He had known he wanted her.

That wasn’t new.

What caught him off guard was how suddenly the physical pull returned—the desire he’d been trying so hard to keep under control.

And then another thought slipped in.

She knows I like her.

He glanced at her again.

There was no Anthony.

No audience.

No one she needed to impress.

She had simply asked him to sit beside her.

She remembered what he liked.

She had fed him her dessert.

And now she was eating from the same fork without the slightest hesitation.

His heartbeat quickened.

Maybe she wants me too.

Damian swallowed.

He forced himself to look back at the menu.

He wasn’t going to do anything.

Not here.

Not until he knew for certain.

But God, it was getting harder to pretend that he didn’t want to.

And harder still to pretend that perhaps—

just perhaps—

she didn’t want him too.

--

Tbc