Shadow Of The Past | ✔️

40| Nostalgia in a Paper Heart

Naomi

He pulled out my chair, and I settled in gracefully, crossing one leg over the other.

As he took his seat, a waiter approached—a woman named Cassandra, with long, tied-back black hair and hazel eyes that seemed to flirt more than her words.

"Hello, I'm Cassandra, your server today. Can I start you off with drinks or appetizers?" Her posture leaned forward, revealing more than necessary.

I leaned in slightly, resting my chin on my palm, and offered a polite smile. "Hey," I greeted, my tone deliberate.

Slowly, Cassandra turned back, irritation flickering across her face.

"I'll have champagne, please," I said, meeting her gaze squarely, devoid of warmth.

"Sure," she replied, her smile strained, jotting down my order.

If she wanted to play games, I could match her—and then some.

With a feigned smile, I watched as she turned back to Ace, only to drop it the moment her back was turned.

His gaze met mine, his body language making it clear he had no interest in Cassandra's efforts.

"You handsome?" Cassandra's voice oozed with forced allure.

I felt my anger simmering beneath the surface.

"Excuse me?" I retorted, shocked by her audacity. She sucked in a breath, but her eye-roll exuded nothing but attitude.

"No, you don't get to say that without a reality check from me," I interrupted sharply, her eyes briefly flashing with unease.

"I'm sorr—" she began, but I cut her off.

"No, you're not," I asserted, rising abruptly and excusing myself before my temper flared further.

Maybe it was a bit much, but Cassandra was pushing all the wrong buttons.

In the bathroom stall, I muttered to myself, "What the hell, Naomi? Come on, get it together. Just stay calm and be yourself."

After a moment, I left, washing my hands with a sigh.

Returning, I found Ace still seated, scrolling on his phone.

Taking my place, he immediately pocketed his phone and asked, "You okay?"

"Yeah, just... some people," I replied calmly.

He nodded understandingly.

"Alright, let's forget that and tell me why we're really at this restaurant," I leaned in, curious.

"Do you remember how you always talked about this place? You said you'd love to come here together. Plus, you once mentioned the pasta here was almost as good as mine. I had to see if my Italian cuisine stands up to your standards," he explained with a grin, making me smile in return.

Ace

Damn.

That smile of hers.

This woman had an undeniable hold on me, and it seemed to grow stronger with every encounter.

Naomi

Cassandra returned with our drinks but lingered, still attempting to catch Ace's eye with blatant flirtation.

He didn't even glance her way.

She persisted, trying to draw his attention to her cleavage, but I knew he wouldn't indulge her, even if he noticed.

Her behavior irked me to no end.

"Babe, this isn't a good look for you. You're representing yourself poorly. You should stop. He's clearly uncomfortable and uninterested, so do us all a favor and leave before I make sure you don't look like this to anyone else ever again. I doubt your boss would appreciate you hitting on customers," I said sharply, my words cutting through the air.

She started to respond, but my raised eyebrow silenced her. With an eye-roll and a frustrated groan, she walked away.

I turned back to Ace, who sported a small smirk.

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing," he replied, shifting his attention to the small paper he'd been folding.

"You know, what I told you that night... I meant every word," he said, meeting my eyes.

I don't know why I admitted it, but I did.

"Yeah, I know. Even though I don't want to admit it, deep down, I feel the same way. I feel it whenever you look at me, talk to me, touch me. Despite trying to move on, those feelings never really left. They were just waiting for the right moment to resurface," I confessed, unsure of his reaction.

Something flickered in his eyes, but I couldn't quite place it.

I kept watching him, unable to look away.

He seemed too perfect to be real, and every breath he took seemed to weaken my resolve.

His touch still ignited a fire within me, a sensation I'd never experienced with anyone else.

Only him.

This version enhances the emotional depth and tension between Naomi and Ace, emphasizing their complex feelings and interactions.

It was silent between us for a few moments. Then, Ace looked up at me with a grin.

"Here," he said softly, holding out a paper that had been folded into a heart shape.

My heart seemed to do a triple backflip and decided to throw a celebration. That's how overwhelmed I felt in that moment.

Gently, I took the paper heart from his hands and studied it intently.

"I remember how you used to make these all the time," I began, my voice reflecting a mix of nostalgia and affection. "Every day, no matter how many times we saw each other, you'd find a way to give me one. I think I used to collect at least fifteen of these a day. But my favorite," I paused, recalling one specific memory, "was the one that said, 'You are my forever. No one can stand between us. Your smile brings me happiness. Your eyes sparkle and leave me speechless. The love I have for you is greater than all the stars in the universe.'"

Ace smiled warmly at the memory. "I remember," he murmured softly.

"All those hearts you gave me," I continued, a smile spreading across my face, "I kept them in a large box under my bed. It held all our memories—the good and the challenging. Even when I tried to push you out of my mind, you'd find a way back in like you owned the place."

He chuckled softly, the sound comforting in its familiarity. "I did a lot of that for you," he admitted, reflecting on the past. "And I'll keep doing it, no matter what life throws at us."

"Yeah," I whispered, meeting his gaze with a mixture of tenderness and uncertainty, "I know you will."