"Excellent choice, sir," the waiter replied, bowing slightly before stepping away.
Jenny leaned back, folding her arms. "You sure you didn't grow up rich?"
Ashton smiled. "Why, because I ordered truffle risotto without stuttering?"
"Exactly. You even sounded French when you said it."
"I watched a YouTube tutorial before coming."
Jenny rolled her eyes, giggling.
"And why did you assumed I am not rich?"
"Because I know where you live."
Ashton smiled "Are you insulting me ?"
"No I didn't mean that."
Then suddenly, her phone lit up on the table.
A message.
Ashton noticed the way her expression flickered. Just for a second. She picked it up quickly, but not quickly enough for him to miss it. He sipped his water, trying to act casual.
"Who's that?"
Jenny looked up, her eyes unreadable. "Just… Leo."
Ashton raised an eyebrow. "Leo?"
"Yeah. A friend."
He didn't say anything.
He didn't have to.
Jenny quickly added, "We went to high school together. He's in town."
"Mmhmm," Ashton replied, forcing a smile. "So this 'friend' just texts you during dinner dates?"
"He didn't know I was on one."
"You could tell him," Ashton said, tone light, but something in his jaw tightened.
Jenny smiled, lips curling almost smugly. "I could."
A beat of silence stretched between them. The music from the violin in the background filled the space, soft and melodic.
Then Ashton leaned forward, resting his arms on the table.
"You know, if the roles were reversed, and I got a message from… let's say, someone like Freya…" he said slowly, watching her reaction, "you'd probably throw your wine at me."
Jenny's smile faded. "You and Freya don't talk anymore."
Ashton tilted his head. "So you do keep track."
Jenny looked away, pretending to read the menu again. "I keep track of a lot of things."
The waiter returned with their wine and starters, offering a polite nod before placing the plates gently on the table.
Jenny picked up her fork and stabbed a scallop without looking at him.
Ashton grinned, satisfied. The jealousy had finally surfaced.
Game on.
"So… this Leo guy," he said, casually twirling his fork. "Is he cute?"
Jenny glanced up with mock innocence. "What if he is?"
"Then I'll ask him to spar with me."
She laughed, almost choking on her wine. "You're terrible."
"I'm bruised, not broken. I can do this all day."
"Cocky," she muttered.
"Jealous," he fired back.
Jenny froze for a second.
And then smiled.
But this time, it was different.
Not teasing.
Not smug.
Just… soft.
She looked at him quietly, a look that held more weight than all her words that night.
"Maybe I am."
Ashton blinked, caught off guard.
The air shifted.
The music continued to play, which was soothing to soul.
But for a moment, the world narrowed to just the two of them.
Ashton held her gaze, her words echoing in his mind.
'Maybe I am.'
He leaned back in his chair, lips parted slightly as if he wanted to say something—but didn't. Instead, he looked away, his eyes settling on the soft golden glow reflecting off the wine glass.
Jenny twirled her fork in the risotto but didn't eat.
The silence between them wasn't awkward. It was charged. Heavy. Like both of them were standing on the edge of something neither of them wanted to admit was there.
Finally, Ashton broke it.
"You ever wonder how weird we are?"
Jenny looked up. "Weird how?"
He gestured between them. "Like… we flirt, we fight, we say things we don't mean. But somehow, we always end up back at the same table."
Jenny smirked. "Maybe we're just idiots."
"Maybe," Ashton said. "Or maybe we're addicted to chaos."
She set her fork down gently. "Is that what you think this is?"
Ashton hesitated. "No. Not really."
Jenny leaned forward, her voice quieter now. "Then what do you think this is?"
He stared at her for a second.
For a second, he considered lying. Brushing it off with a joke. Turning it into another lighthearted moment they'd both laugh about later.
But he didn't.
"I think," Ashton said slowly, "I'm starting to care more than I probably should."
Jenny's eyes searched his, and her features softened again. But she didn't respond right away.
Instead, she reached across the table and gently placed her hand over his.
His fingers flinched slightly at the contact—but didn't pull away.
"I don't care about your bruises," she said quietly. "Or if people stare. Or even if you show up looking like you punched a wall."
Ashton smiled faintly. "I didn't punch a wall. It was more like a guy who is built like a wall."
Jenny laughed softly, then added, "What I do care about… is whether you keep showing up. And for god sake give me some of your precious time and pick my phone."
Ashton's smile faltered. Not from fear—but from something else. Something deeper.
He gently flipped his hand and held hers properly now, his thumb brushing against her knuckles.
"I will," he said.
She blinked slowly, her expression unreadable.
"And Leo?" Ashton asked, only half-joking.
Jenny chuckled, finally picking up her wine. "Oh, you don't have to worry about him. He's just someone from the past."
Ashton smirked. "Good. Because I was two seconds away from challenging him to a duel."
"Mm. With your face looking like that? He'd just surrender out of pity."
They both laughed, the tension easing.
The food disappeared between slow bites, and the wine softened their edges.
After dessert—chocolate fondant with gold flakes—Ashton pulled out his wallet, but Jenny held up a hand.
"Nope. My treat."
Ashton frowned. "Hey—"
"You fought a whole boxing match today," she teased. "Let me pay for your battle wounds."
He sighed dramatically. "No I am paying now and you're paying next time."
"There's going to be a next time?"
Jenny asked it like a challenge.
Ashton grinned. "There better be."
She smiled, more genuinely this time. "There will be. I am sure of it."