Page 6 of A Beary Nice View
Chapter Four
Dell
WhenAlaricinvitedmeinto his house to do my laundry, never in my wildest dreams did I expect things to end up like this. He said he wants to get to know me! Me! I’m just the weird neighbor that caught him jerking off but for some reason, he seems interested in me.
Instead of questioning it, I’m just going with it. Being in his house felt unreal. His scent permeated the air and I couldn’t seem to breathe it in fast enough. He has a warm, nutty scent that I can’t get enough of. It’s addictive. It took all of my self control not to pull a shirt from the laundry room and stuff my face against it. I might be the weirdo neighbor but I’m notthatweird.
Getting lunch with Alaric is interesting because I assumed we’d stop at a fast food joint or maybe a diner. Something cheapand quick, but instead, we pull into a Japanese sushi restaurant that I’d never pick for myself because of the price. Part of me wanted to argue that this is too nice of a place but then my stomach growled loud enough for both of us to hear, so that kinda made the decision for me.
“Oh wow,” I breathe out, looking around. “I’ve never been here before. It’s so fancy in here!”
Alaric looks over at me, giving me what I can only describe as a fond look. My insides squirm and I do my best to keep my body from doing the same. I really don’t want to embarrass myself in front of Alaric.
I still can’t believe we’re having lunch together. How the hell did we go from jerking off together across the yard to actually talking and sitting down together for a meal? The quickness of this all leaves my head spinning. Thank every deity out there that I don’t have to work tonight or I’m sure I’d have my head in the clouds all night.
We’re seated at our table and I can’t stop looking around. The decor is gorgeous and the ceiling is covered in what appear to be handmade metal sculptures of fish. They’re like a metal school, swimming all around the dining room. It’s such a contrast to the place where I work. They’re the type of place to constantly have a stickiness to the plastic menus.
“Hello,” our waiter says, passing us a menu each. Yeah, this menu is clean. Not an ounce of stick to it. “I’m Kai and I’ll be your server today. Can I start you off with something to drink?”
I give him a little smile. “I’ll just take a water, please.”
“I’ll have your peach refresher. Thank you.”
“Would you like me to put in an order of appetizers while you look over the menus?”
I look down at my menu and my stomach sours. One appetizer is fifteen dollars! Oh my gods, what have I gotten myself into? This is so far out of my usual budget.
Alaric looks over at me. “Would you like to split something with me? Maybe the calamari?”
I shake my head. “I’m vegetarian. I don’t need an appetizer, Alaric, it’s okay.”
“How about the spring rolls?” I look away for a moment but Alaric is somehow able to read me. We haven’t known each other long, but somehow, he sees me. It feels strange yet leaves me warm all over. “I’m paying. Order whatever you’d like, Dell.”
I look up at the waiter. “Spring rolls, please.”
“I’ll be right back with those while you look over the menus,” Kai says, taking a note down on his pad before scurrying back towards the kitchen.
“I’m sorry if it felt like I was putting you on the spot.”
I shake my head, feeling self-conscious. “I’m not used to places like this. I umm, I just don’t splurge much.”
“Hey,” he says softly. Tentatively, Alaric reaches across the table and takes my hand into his own. My cheeks immediately heat but my stomach swirls with emotion. His hand is bigger than mine, engulfing my hand in his own. “You have nothing to be embarrassed about. I hate the way money has to dictate so much of our lives. I have more than I know what to do with so it brings me joy that I get to treat you to this meal.”
“I don’t want you to think I’m taking advantage or anything.”
“You’re not. And even if you were, I wouldn’t mind because you’re such cute company,” he says with a warm chuckle that doesnothingto help with getting rid of my blush. He gives my hand a squeeze before pulling back. I immediately miss his touch.
I cover my face with my now free hand. “You can’t just say shit like that!”
“Why not?”
“I might actually start to believe you.”
Alaric smirks. “And that would be bad because?”
I look away. Unable to come up with a proper response, I just shrug.
“We’ll work on that,” he says eventually. Thankfully, that’s when the waiter returns with our drinks.
