Love Bites

LOVE BITES Chapter 30 : Reversion

Chapter 30 : Reversion

We approached the small Chinese restaurant wedged between two larger buildings. The fairy lights strung across its front windows flickered on and off in rainbow colours, bringing back childhood memories.

Grabbing Alastair's hand I rushed him through the glass door with a smile sprawled across my face. He chuckled softly, squeezing my hand back. A little bell above our heads rung pleasantly as we entered the well lit restaurant and on cue my stomach roared to life as glorious smells wafted into my nostrils. I breathed deeply, letting it wash over my senses and then let it out very slowly. Gosh, I really loved this place.

It hadn't changed since our last visit here a few months ago. The walls were still painted a warm red and splattered with gold flecks. Chinese paintings, as well as the exquisite giant red fans that I'd never witnessed anywhere else but here, decorated the restaurant. The owners definitely knew how to design; the place was both friendly and warm.

Sliding into the booth with Alastair opposite of me, the owner of the restaurant came up to us.

"Ah, the pretty girl with the big blue eyes who helps me fold the napkins," the Chinese man grinned, eyes crinkling happily in greeting. "How big you got now. You used to be so small." He put a hand against his waist and then pulled it up to his short height, measuring my height from years prior to now. "That really you?"

I smiled politely at him, glancing at Alastair who watched me with his chin in his palm. He grinned. "It's her. She's all grown up."

His attention switched to Alastair, admiring him. "My, you still so young! You don't show wrinkles. You look good."

I put my hand over my mouth to stifle my laughter but I'm sure Alastair could see the amusement reflected in my eyes.

"She's 18 today, actually." Alastair turned the tables back to me, probably to stop the old man from asking any further questions as to how Alastair kept so youthful.

The Chinese man's mouth made an 'O' and he clasped his hands together happily. "Lucky you! In that case, consider your meal on the house. What you like? I'll go get for you."

He took our order and once he left I turned back to Alastair, tucking a curl behind my ear. "You know, to this day I still don't know his name. And I doubt he knows mine either."

The time passed too quickly over dinner. We talked, ate and laughed, leaving no room to think of anything other than the moment we were in. My eyes were on Alastair the entire time and his equally on me. We were in our own little world, and that's the way I wanted it to be, forever.

But even though I wanted this light mood to stay settled over our shoulders, I couldn't fight the part of myself that wanted to know more about where I stood in this world.

"I want you to tell me about Evangeline," I said suddenly, catching him off guard.

Alastair leant back in the booth, eyes narrowing in on me. "How do you know that name?"

I was quick to respond. "Because you mentioned her."

"I don't remember mentioning that name."

"I doubt you would," I conceded. You were unbelievably drunk that night and still don't even recall me kissing you. "Callie also brought her name up in our conversation the other day after I told her I remembered being a... you know what."