Page 96 of The Fallen Ones

“Do you not think it’s risky?”

“What do you mean. What’s risky?”

“The masked guys.” She crinkled her brows.

“Have they done anything to make you feel unsafe?” I asked and swallowed hard, nervous of her answer.

“No. They’ve actually made me feel… loved. Does that sound silly?”

“Not at all. They clearly like you and this experience. I’d say they want to continue it so they’re making it a good time for all of you.”

The waiter came over to our table and interrupted our conversation. “Can I take your order?”

“Usual, Lil?” I asked her.

“Actually, can we get something a little spicy?” she replied with a mischievous grin.

It wasn’t like Lily to switch up our Giano’s order, but I figured she’d been feeling more adventurous lately.

“Yeah of course,” I replied before turning to the waiter. “Can we get a large spicy meat special and two cokes. Thanks.”

“Got it. It won’t be long,” the waiter replied and headed off to the kitchen with our order.

“I just want to know who they are,” she said picking up the paper menu off the table and rolling it between her fingers.

“Well, they know who you are and they’re clearly smitten with you. I’d say that’s a good thing.”

“Two cokes.” The waiter returned with our drinks.

“I know, but surely if they were serious about me they’d want me to know who they were so I could…”

She paused and took the straw in her glass between her lips and sipped her coke.

“So you could… what?”

“It doesn’t matter. It’s silly.”

“Lil bit, nothing you have to say is ever silly.” I reached out and took hold of her hand.

“But, Caleb.”

“Nobuts. Tell me.” I squeezed her hand to reassure her.

“So I could… love them.” She looked down at our hands. “I told you it was silly.”

My heart skipped at her words. I thought she was into it, but I never thought it was this far. It was a huge step for her, and I was more than here for it. I cleared my throat.

“It’s not silly. Not one bit. Maybe they want you to love them, but maybe they’re scared you won’t if you find out who they really are.” I feared I’d said too much and grabbed my glass gulping down half my coke.

“Trust me, Caleb. These guys aren’t scared of anything.”

Our pizza arrived and with good timing too. The conversation had become tense, and I was scared of fucking things up and saying the wrong thing.

“I’m just saying to consider that as a possibility,” I said.

She contemplated my words before nodding. “Yeah. I’m scared, so maybe.”

I breathed out a sigh of relief, our conversation rolling over to small talk, school and my job. We ate between conversations, laughing and genuinely having a good time.

---