Chapter nine - Officially dating

A week and a half later, and Declan met up with Amara at the shopping district. They'd been texting, talking, meeting up every couple of days; thankfully he could afford the frequent bus travel. They spent some time window-shopping, laughing, and now eating lunch at a cafe. His choice, of course; and tab. Hhe didn't seem to mind.

"So what sort of fancy all-night joint do you work at, anyway?" Amara asked.

Declan gave her a sheepish grin and swallowed. "It's a cooking job. I cook. But they work odd hours and so I supply food for them when they work their odd hours which gives me odd hours in return."

Amara swallowed her food. "Alright. Did you just happen to find it randomly?" She gestured with her utensil.

"Well… um. Sort of. It's a long story." He looked around, never sure if people around him were going to overhear or not. If they cared. If it mattered. He swallowed and bit his lip. "It wasn't random, not really."

"Sooo… what?" she inquired, completely unphased by his shiftiness. "Y