Mate revealed

Supernoodles 24/7

“Hi Luca, it’s Ester…”

She was met with silence. She imagined his jaw, clenching and unclenching. The dark stubble moving with the movement. His full lips pursing.

Desire unfurled in her stomach just from the thought.

“Luca?” Her voice was weak and thin.

“Ester” He finally murmured. Goosebumps rose, her name from his mouth made her head light. “How did you get this number?” He didn’t sound angry, he sounded tried.

“I’m sorry, did I call at a bad time?” She checked her clock, it was 8:14pm. “I shouldn’t have called I’m-“

“-No, it’s ok Ester” He interrupted simply . Again with her name. “How did you get this number?”

“You won’t like my answer”

“Then don’t tell me” He whispered. This isn’t the Lucca she’d expected. She expected him to be angry, or sarcastic. Perhaps accuse her of interrupting his privacy. Tell her to leave him alone, as he had at Darkthroat.

She wondered why he was so tired? Was he on the way back from the gym? Or had he only just finished work for the way?

“Are you ok? You sound…. Off” Ester winced. In truth she realised she didn’t actually know him. She didn’t know what he was like when he was ‘on’ or when he was ‘off’.

“Why did you call Ester?”

“I just, I…” Why was she calling? Why did she need to hear his voice so much? She took a breath, spreading confidence into her lungs. “I think we should talk”

“That’s what we’re doing now, isn’t it?” She could almost hear the smirk gracing his lips. There he was, Mr Cocky.

Ester rolled her eyes, “Talk about… talk about… I’m confused as to what’s going on, with you… and me” As soon as the words were out, Ester felt stupid, clingy. What if he thought she was being presumptuous, or what if he really did want her to leave him alone. Had those moments actually meant nothing? Or had she made them up in her head?

Silence.

“It doesn’t matter” Ester murmured, her finger shifting to the end button.

“No, it does.” He stated simply, quietly. Ester felt her heart quicken. “I’ll send Sam to pick you up in 40 minutes.”

“Wh-What, why?”

“To bring you here” He commented as if it was the most logical thing in the world.

Her mind reeled. Memories flickered from the last time she’d been to Darkthroat; tracing lines across Luca’s chest, his eyes on hers…The journey back in the cab, the smell of his skin as he leant towards her.

“No” she almost spat, as if to stop the memory progressing any further. “No, not Darkthroat.”

“Ok,” He drew the words out as if waiting for her to explain. She didn’t. “I’ll come to you”, the scrape of something sounds as if he’s coming to her that moment.

Her brain flickers through to another memory; Luca standing in the rain, striding towards her, his chest bare and his face set in determination. Ester shivered.

“No, not here either.” Her face flushed. “We need somewhere… neutral”

“And why would we need that?” His voice was suddenly low, gravelly. Ester felt her tongue lick her bottom lip. Her stomach quivered.

He chuckled at her silence. “Ok, Sam will pick you up in 40 minutes, to take you somewhere… neutral”

Then he hung up. It took Ester a few moments to take her phone away from her face, and another few moments. And then, all hell broke loose:

Ester tore through the cabin, disrupting already scattered piles of clothing, looking desperately for anything appropriate. Where was he taking her? Jeans or a skirt? Or a dress? Oh god, had Ester even brought a dress? When had she even last worn a dress?

Oh. The memory lifted from the back of her mind. She was stood in black. The cold stone on the church bled into her limbs. His casket had been open, his face peaceful, kind.

Ester stilled. Pushing away the memory, and the wave of emotion that accompanied it. She swallowed down the lump in her throat and shook off the heaviness.

No, she would wear jeans, converse and some nice top Penny had bought her. If it was anywhere fancy he would have to deal with jeans. Oh God, she hoped it wasn’t anywhere fancy.

The sound of her phone ringing ripped through the quiet.

Penny’s name lit up the screen.

“Hi” Ester answered

“Wow, are you feeling alright?” Penny’s voice was coloured in amusement.

“What do you mean?”

“You answered on the first ring, the first time I called. That’s got to be a record” Her laugh made Ester miss her even more.

“Shut up. What’re you doing – wait why’re you up so late?” That wasn’t like Penny. She was in bed by 10pm every night.

“I went out”

Ester gasped “As in… to a club?!” It was her turn to now be shocked. Penny wasn’t the type – she didn’t like the noise, the crowds, the expensive drinks.

“Shut up” Penny mimicked Ester “It was a works thing, and I hadn’t had lunch, and well things got out of hand, and before I know it is 2AM.”

“Where are you?”

“In a taxi home”

“Alone”

Penny snorted “Of course alone you dipstick! What’re you up to?”

“Just heading out actually”

“Oh, not for a date I assume” Penny said absentmindedly, but when Ester didn’t confirm, she inhaled loudly “Wait, it is a date?! Tell me all! Is it Stevie? He sounded so sweet, oh my god, you’ve never actually liked anyone enough too-“

“Penny calm down! And no, it’s a guy called Lucca. It’s not really a date, more of a discussion.”

“Explain” All wonder and glitter gone from Penny’s voice.

Ester told Penny most of it, the bike, the cocky comments, seeing him in Darkthroat, the kisses… However she missed out the obvious red flags pointing to Ester’s mental health, like the wolf incidents or her opinions he may or may not be apart of a cult or drugs cartel. She didn’t have time to delve into those conspiries.

“Hmmm” was Penny’s response.

“What does that mean? You sounded a lot more excited when you thought it was Stevie.”

“I don’t know Ester, it’s just-“

“Just what?!”

“Well, last time we spoke you weren’t feeling so good. I don’t know whether right now if the time to get involved with Mr Dark-and-Mysterious-but-Angst-Riddled-Man-God.”

Ester let out a fake laugh. Penny, of course, had a point.

“Sorry Ester. I think if it was Stevie, and to be honest I don’t know if either, but he sounds like good fun. Lucca sounds… complicated”

He was, Ester grimaced.

“-And things are already complicated for you. I’m worried it would make you ill again.” She did genuinely sound sorry. “I just want you to be happy and healthy. I’m sorry, but it is just my opinion, you’ve got to choose what’s best for you.”

Ester was quiet for a moment, before saying “No, I know you’re right Penny. I probably needed that”, and sighed. “Thank you. I miss you so much. What would I do without you?”

“Hmm probably be malnourished from eating Super Noodles 24/7, and wearing the same clothes 3 days straight… although, I’m not around anymore…”

“Oi, I am doing my laundry” Although she wasn’t going to apprach the topic of Super Noodles… “Ok, well ‘ve got to go finished getting ready, but it’ll be the first and last date”

“Be gentle on him, I’m sure he’s besotted already” Ester raised her brows but didn’t respond. He most certainly wasn’t besotted.

“Love you” Ester said as a goodbye.

“Love you to Smell-Ester”

She hopped in the shower, making quick work of her hair. She applied basic make up and spritzed one squirt of her perfume. It had been her mother’s favourite scent too. It had always brought her comfort. Her mother used to have a velvet green scarf. She’d taken it to sleep with her each night, her hand wrapped around it. When the smell of her mother has eventually dwindled, she’d raided her perfume stocks and resprayed it.

Before long a knock at the door rung through her cabin.

Ester looked at her watch: 39 minutes, Ester thought wryly. Sam stood the other side, a tight small the only expression gracing his face.

The leather stuck to her bare arms. Why hadn’t she thought you wear a sweater or something?

No music was playing, and Sam didn’t say a thing. Ester felt awkward. He drove carefully, his phone vibrating on the dash repeatedly, his eyes temporarily gliding over his screen and then back to the road.

Her sisters words were ringing in her head‘Be gentle on him’.She almost snorted at the thought. There was nothing delicate or fragile about Lucca. Not in his expressions. Not in his words. Not in his body, or the way he kissed her.

Her cheeks turn red. She had been too busy thinking about the nerve in her stomach to think about where they were going. But now the car stopped. She looked up… The diner? That’s where he wants to meet?

Well at least my jeans are appropriate, she thought, and they do a mean burger.

Sam opened the door for her and she glanced to see Lucca perched on the window sill of the next building. His long legs stretched out in front of him, has arms crossed over his chest. His hair was tousled like he’d repeatedly ran his hands through it. He wore a dark grey suit, almost black in this light, and a white shirt open at the collar – no tie. And his eyes, they’d been on her since the car came around the corner.

Ester noted there was a touch of darkness beneath his eyes. He was tired.

“Hi” She whispered. Her voice small and weak. He stood to his full height, towering over her. His mouth tried to resist a small smirk. Her stomach tried to resist quivering...

“Good evening Ester” He nodded for her to go first through the open diner door.

Mary, one of the two waitresses called for them to take a seat anywhere. Ester then watched her eyes widen as they trailed over Ester to the dashing figure behind.

She chose a table by the window, where near no one else. Before taking the seat opposite, he shrugged out of his jacket, and slowly rolled up the sleeves on his shirt. Ester’s eyes couldn’t help watch, as inch by inch, more of his torso was revealed. Or at least the torso clad in his white shirt.

“It’s rude to stare” He murmured quietly, so no one else could hear.

She dropped her eyes immediately to the menu before her, her cheeks hot once more.

“I was just wondering what sort of man buys a shirt two sizes to small” she stated calmly, still studying the menu. A large hand pulled down her menu, making her look up at him.

The corner of his mouth quirked up and she inwardly felt proud she’d made him laugh. But his eyes were stormy, one brow raised he commented “That sharp tongue of yours is going to get you into trouble”

And of it’s own volition, Ester’s tongue darted to skim her bottom lip. Then bite her lip to try to hide what her body had done. He hadn’t missed it. His eyes still pinned to where her tongue had escape moments before. “And anyway, lying isn’t good”

“I wasn’t-“

At that moment Mary stood, her usual effortless smile strained and she silently waited, eyes darting restlessly between Ester and Lucca, pen poised above her pad.

“Two double bacon cheese burgers please, fries, chocolate milkshake for her and an Americano, double shot, for me”.

Ester blinked as he ripped the menu out of her hands and handed it back to Mary with seamless efficiency. Mary had hardly a chance to write down the order, collect the menus before he’d turned his attention back to Ester, as Mary was still there playing catch up.

“You ordered for me” She stammered.

“I did” He leaned towards her, clasping together his hands in the middle of the table. Ester leant away.

“What if I wanted something different?”

“But you didn’t” He frowned confusedly, as if he was missing something. “Did you?”

No, it had been exactly what she’d wanted. “No” She pouted.

He smiled then, as he he’d forgotten he wasn’t supposed to. He looked younger, and Ester found herself softening, smiling back.

“Why did you chose here?” She asked quietly.

His expression slowly crept back to the careful, stern one it usually was. “You’ve been her before, a couple of times,” He looked around the diner, curiously “I thought it might make you feel more comfortable… it’s more… neutral”

The hairs on the back of her neck raised. How had he known she’d been there before? Had he watched her? Is that how he knew what she ordered? Why did the thought of him watching out for her give her a flutter in her stomach, rather than fear or revulsion?

“How do you know that?”

“It’s a small town” – the same response he’d given her when they’d first met, “Although I’m sorry the company isn’t as good”.

“The company is fine,” she rolled her eyes, “Unless he’s trying to kiss me and then run off.” The words crawled out her mouth before she could stop them. She almost slapped her hand over her mouth.

He flinched. s**t, why had she said that. If anytime, this would be the time when she’d happily be swallowed up by the ground.

He signed loudly. “I should never have kissed you. I’m sorry” His voice was now hard and sharp. The words cut into Ester. “It was a mistake.”

“A mistake” She echoed numbly.

“Yes.” Ester felt all resolve shrink. She was an i***t. “I would never… I won’t mention anything to Stephen Collins” His voice breaking subtly in the middle, something Ester didn’t catch.

“Stephen Collins?” Who was that?

“Yes”

“Oh you mean Stevie? Why wouldn’t you… Oh” She couldn’t help the smile that split her face into two. He saw her, saw her getting out of Stevie truck, kissing him on the cheek. She also went to Darkthroat in Stevie’s truck. “I’m not seeing Stevie, he’s just a friend.”

“A friend?”

“Yeah. Stevie’s a friend.”

His words were sluggish “Not your boyfriend?”

“No” she shook her head as if to emphasise the point “Anyway, I’ve only been here just over two weeks. Although they do say Americans are better at the whole dating thing than we are.”

“Oh.” The muscles in his jaw pulsed “So you’re dating?”

“What? No. I’m just friends with Stevie.” She dropped her eyes from his and suddenly became very interested in her fingernails “I’m not dating anyone” Her voice was small and thin.

“And, you’ve not left anyone behind, back in the UK?” He said the words slowly, and Ester wasn’t sure whether that was for her benefit or for his own. Did this interest mean he was, in fact, interested in her?

“No… Well apart from my sister.”

Oh Penny. Begentleonhim. She wrung her hands together, peaked up at him and found his gaze burning into hers. She looked back down.

“Actually I spoke to my sister after I got off the phone to you”

“Oh” he murmured as if he wasn’t actually listening, his mind wandering somewhere else.

“Here we go” Mary sung quietly, placing down the burgers with fries, and then snatching the drinks from the counter behind her. She didn’t wait to see if we needed anything, but stumbled away and out of reach.

Ester eyed the burger, it looked amazing. She didn’t care that she was sat in front GQ’s answer to masculinity and male beauty, she could eat the whole thing.

“And, was she well?”

“Who?” Ester frowned.

“Your sister, you said you spoke to your sister?”

So he had been listening. It felt odd to talk about such mundane things with someone so unearthly.

There was no time like the present, she thought, to tell him she should probably just stay away from him.

“Yeah, actually she’s worried about me” Ester crammed a fry into her mouth to give her time to think a bout her next words.

Lucca looked at her, burger hovering, halfway to his mouth, “What wrong? Has something happened?” His words were soaked in worry, his brow furrowed. His eyes rushed across her face, as if looking for a hair out of place.

“No nothing is wrong like that” She waved her hand dismissively “It’s just er… gah… this is going to sound really lame, and probably too much information, but umm…” She put her burger down for the second time “I was ill a while back, and Penny looked after me, and it’s just probably not a good idea that I bet involved with a guy right now”

She took a bite. She looked up at him, his face was unreadable. His jaw tight.

Eventually he broke the silence “All guys? Like Stevie?”

She swallowed, and huffed “I’m not interesting in Stevie”.

“So, you’re interested in me?” His voice careful, not an ounce of humour.

“I didn’t say that”

“But are you?”

She squirmed. “I just said it’s good idea I get involved with anyone right now, even you”

“‘even’ me?”

“Yes, ‘even’ you.”

He stared at her for a moment longer, nodded and then resumed eating his food.

They ate in relative silence for the rest of the meal, occasionally Ester caught Lucca staring at her, a curious expression marring his face, before he’d wipe it away.

“I’m impressed” He nodded to her spotless, empty plate.

“Girls can eat too” She pouted, but inside was thrilled by his approval. And… she hated herself for that. Since when did a man’s opinion of her matter so much to her? She’d never given a crap before, other than her father’s view…

“Good” he smiled.

He threw down a wad of cash, and without a word grabbed her hand and pulled her up from the table. They both refused to acknowledge the hum where their skin touched. And he didn’t let go. Neither did she.

Outside sat his shiny be 4x4. “Where’s Sam?”

“I’m taking you home” he opened the passenger door “get in.”

She wrinkled her nose, “I’m not sure that’s a good idea”

“I won’t kiss you and run away again, I promise” His voice was strong, and she wondered what that statement actually meant, that he wouldn’t kiss her, or that he would, but he just wouldn’t run away this time?