Shiftr~Swipe Left For Love [Niall] by Ariana Hawkes

Author:Ariana Hawkes [Hawkes, Ariana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Luna Negra Press
Published: 2019-03-29T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

Marcia

Niall narrowed his eyes, giving her that serious look of his that filled her with tingles from head to toe. He pointed an index finger at her. “Pizza?”

She gave a burst of delighted laughter. “Always!” They used to love going out for pizza together when they were teens. Niall picked out a cozy place with tables in an outdoor courtyard, shaded by big umbrellas.

“Okay, I’m ordering for you,” she announced, snatching up the menu. She scanned it fast, before jabbing a finger at an item half way down the page. “Extra-large, double meat supreme. With extra bacon, of course.” She crooked an eyebrow at him. “That suit you?”

He laughed. “As long as it’s the meatiest one they’ve got.”

She shook her head. “I knew you hadn’t changed.”

“And I’m ordering for you.”

She watched his expression, her tummy full of butterflies, as he went through the list. His dark eyebrows tugged together. He’d be upset if he got it wrong. Not that she’d tell him if he did.

“Four seasons,” he said slowly. “But only if they make it right, with all the different toppings separated. Because you like to taste each flavor separately.”

A huge grin stretched across her face. “The original and still the best.” She flipped to the drinks page. “And to drink…I’m getting you a root beer.”

He nodded. “Works for me.”

She stuck out her tongue. “Officially the grossest soda on the planet.”

He shook his head. “You don’t know what you’re missing. So, I’m getting you…a chinotto.”

“What’s that?” She grabbed the menu from him. “Sounds quirky. I think I’ll like it,” she conceded.

His eyes went soft, as if he was remembering. “I always loved that you’d try something unusual, just for the sake of it. I’m glad to see that hasn’t changed either.”

The server came over and Niall gave their order because she was suddenly too choked up to speak. In that moment, it felt as if no time had passed at all.

When they were alone again, Niall reached for her hand across the table and wrapped his fingers around hers. His hands were bigger than they used to be, and callused from years of manual labor. Nothing felt as good as his touch. He leaned forward and kissed her again, fleetingly, and her heart fluttered. She wanted to say, I wish we hadn’t wasted the years in between, but she didn’t want to ruin the moment. All that was in the past now.

The arrival of the drinks and pizza broke the tension and they went back to teasing each other again. She’d missed that a lot. Knowing that someone just got you. That you could make fun of each other’s quirks without worrying you were going to offend them. It’d been a long, long time since that had happened. She felt completely comfortable with him. Nothing was embarrassing or out of bounds. He’d been the first person she’d told when she got her period, aged eleven. She knew most girls would think that was deeply weird, and icky. He’s a guy! But he was also her best friend, so of course it was natural that she’d confide in him.

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