Page 85 of Gabriel's Salvation

I head off to order our meals and get another drink. Although this time I switch to water since all the carbonated drinks are making me feel bloated.

“Did you order extra fries?” Riley asks as I return to the table.

“No, was I supposed to?” I ask while trying to rack my brain to see if I forgot her fries. I’m sure she only asked for salad with her lasagna.

“No, it's fine. I didn't know if you ordered any for the table?”

“For the table? Why? Is the table hungry too?” I joke.

“Don't be silly. No, it's just people usually order fries to share.” Is that what people do? Normal people? People who actually socialize with others rather than heating up TV dinners at home alone?

“If you want fries, I can go order fries. It's fine.” I offer.

“No, I'm fine,” she replies, and I assume that's the end of it. That is until the food arrives and before I can even decide where to start, I see a hand fly over and grab some of my fries.

“I thought you didn't want fries?” I laugh.

“Just one,” she says and flashes me an over exaggerated cheesy grin.

“Here take some,” I offer, grabbing a handful.

“No, it's fine. I just wanted one,” she says as she pushes my fry filled hand back towards my own plate.

“Okay.” I shrug and continue eating, but a few minutes later that little hand is back stealing another fry.

“Just take some fries, if you want some, take a handful. Just stop eating them off my plate.” I say, shaking my head, feeling a bit irritated but also a bit of something else - like a warmth almost- but can’t explain what it is.

“No, it's fine. I just wanted one little one,” she replies again flashing that toothy grin.

“Are you sure?”

“Yep,” she replies, popping her mouth on the p like a child.

I’m almost finished with my burger when, yet again, she steals a fry.

“Fuck sake, here,” I snap, grabbing a handful and dropping them onto the side of her plate. “Just take some!”

“Thanks,” she grins as she wiggles in her chair doing some sort of happy dance. I can't help but grin as I watch her. It takes me back to the way Nate used to wiggle around as I read Izzy's letters to him when we were kids. I swear to God, if I smile any more, either my jaw is going to break or my cheeks are gonna split open. I can't remember the last time I felt this genuinely happy and at peace. Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve ever felt this content.

I watch as Riley devours her whole plate, including all of the fries. “That was soo good,” she groans as she leans back in the chair and unbuttons her jeans. “I’m stuffed though.”

“I'm not surprised! You ate yours and some of mine,” I tease.

“Hey, sharing is caring. I always steal food, that's the rule,” she pouts playfully.

“Oh yeah, and who exactly do you share food with then?” I joke back. Even though the idea of her sharing food with other guys makes me feel oddly jealous. What the fuck is wrong with me? This girl has got me fucking whipped!

“Well, Tucker always orders way too much, and he’s gotta stay in shape for football. So I'm doing him a favor, really. Harper just shares instinctively so she doesn’t count, and Nate, well, you know Nate, he's a total feeder so he and Izzy give me some of their food anyway.”

“So basically you just eat everyone's food then, yeah?” I laugh.

“Noooo! I don’t take Ava’s food.”

“Ava, which one is she again?” I ask. I'm shit with names. I only know who Tucker is, since he follows my brother around like a goddamn shadow.

“Ava, Tucker's girlfriend, has red hair. Don’t let her size fool you though. She looks cute and sweet but she's a total pocket rocket”

“Pocket rocket? I like that.”

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