CHAPTER FORTY - SEVEN

NICK WALKER ©

“Will you keep coming to our house every day?” Mira asked Enzo as he drove.

The last thirty minutes had been hazy. I'd taken a quick shower, gotten dressed, and somehow ended up leaving the house with Enzo and Mira.

And Mira?

She hadn't stopped talking once.

That included her protest about doing her hair before we left for... wherever it was Enzo was taking us.

“Do you think I should?” Enzo asked, keeping his eyes on the road, and I glanced at him.

I wasn't really listening to their conversation.

My mind was somewhere else.

I watched him drive, one hand resting on the steering wheel, his calm expression fixed on the road.

Then he caught me staring.

I quickly turned to the window.

“Nick, would you let Enzo come to our house again?” Mira asked from the back seat.

I looked at him before answering.

“Well... I don't think that's possible,” I said carefully.

“Why not?” Mira asked, and I sighed.

“Stay quiet, Mira.”

The silence in the car grew heavier as we drove.

“Then why don't you both come over to my house?” Enzo asked, breaking the silence.

Mira gasped while I turned to stare at him.

“Really?” she asked excitedly.

I looked at her, then back at Enzo.

“What are you doing? Why would you ask that?” I asked.

He pulled the car over.

“My house is big enough for you and Mira,” he said.

Then he gently ruffled my hair before getting out of the car.

Mira got out too, leaving just me in the car.

I scoffed in disbelief, completely speechless after everything that had happened today.

Enzo walked over to my side and opened the door.

“Aren't you getting out?” he asked.

I let out a nervous laugh before stepping out.

We walked into a fast-food restaurant and took our seats.

Enzo had really listened to Mira.

She'd been craving fries and burgers, and he'd brought us here.

What the hell is going on?

“Have you decided what you want?” Enzo asked, pulling me out of my thoughts.

“Oh.” I murmured as my eyes scanned the menu.

Why was he doing all this?

He had willingly invited Mira and me to his house.

And now I was sitting in a fast-food restaurant with my professor.

No.

He isn't just my professor anymore.

What exactly was he to me now?

“He'll have this,” Enzo told the waiter. Then he looked at me before turning back to listen to whatever Mira was saying.

My head was a mess.

I chose him for myself.

I was the one who decided I wanted Enzo... right?

A few minutes later, the waiter brought our food.

As we ate, I could feel Enzo stealing glances at me whenever he had the chance.

“How's the waffle?” he asked. “Do you like what I ordered for you?”

I gave him a small nod.

“Yeah. It's good.”

“I need to use the restroom. I'll be back,” Mira said suddenly as she got to her feet.

“Do you know where it is? Should I come with you?” I started to ask, but she was already on her way.

“What's the matter?” Enzo asked, looking at me.

“Huh? What do you mean?” I asked.

“You've been zoning out all morning. You haven't been paying attention,” he said.

“Is this place not to your liking?” he asked.

“It is,” I replied.

He simply stared at me.

“It really is,” I repeated.

“I believe you,” he said softly. “You're just not telling me what's going on in that head of yours.”

Silence settled between us for a moment.

“My feelings... and whatever is happening between us.”

He watched me for a few seconds as I fell quiet before gently ruffling my hair.

“You keep doing that. I'm not a kid,” I said.

“You aren't.” he replied. “But I have to take care of you like you are mine.”

He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper as he slipped his hand on my thigh.

“I'll treat you like a baby, but not that kind of baby.“

“I'll drive you to college every day. I'll take you anywhere you want to eat. I'll buy you whatever you want. Just say the word.”

“Oh. I would claim you to myself by sticking what's mine into yours.“

My heart started racing the moment he said those words.

“What?” I asked in shock, quickly looking around to see if anyone had heard him.

“And I'd do it all over again because I chose you.“ He said.

“I want to care for you, and that means caring for the people around you too, including Mira.”

I felt my ears and cheeks grow warm.

He brushed the corner of my mouth with his thumb and looked quietly into my eyes.

I couldn't read his expression or tell what was going through his mind.

“I want you to come to my house again. I only told Mira that because I wanted an excuse to see you in my house.” He said, and the heat in my ears only grew stronger.

His words always got to me.

“I'm back,” Mira said as she slipped into her chair.

I quickly moved his hand off my thigh before she noticed.

“Ah! I suddenly want ice cream,” Mira said.

“Well, you're not getting any,” I told her, and she pouted.

“Why?” she asked, looking like she was about to cry.

Enzo was about to say something when I nudged him under the table with my leg and shook my head.

I knew he was about to buy her one, but I had to keep an eye on how many sweets she ate. That was my responsibility.

Give her one sweet dessert, and she'd start asking for more.

We finished breakfast, and Enzo drove us back home.

But going home didn't mean he was leaving.

He spent the day with us, playing with Mira before the two of them fell asleep for a nap.

He looked so comfortable in our house, and somehow, I felt the same.

As he slept, he took my hand in his while I quietly sat beside him and read my book.

This.

Whatever I was feeling inside...

I loved it.

I couldn't stop looking at him.