Chapter 167: Teasing in Restaurant
The bathroom cubicle had been our private world, but now it was time to face the outside again. I pulled back from our kiss, my lips tingling, our breaths mingling as we stood so close, practically breathing into each other’s mouths. Aeri’s eyes were still locked on mine, soft and warm, her cheeks flushed pink.
"It surely did," I said, my voice low, finally answering her earlier tease about making my heart skip. A grin tugged at my lips as I brushed my thumb across her cheek.
"Ohh..." Aeri said softly, her voice barely a whisper, a shy smile spreading across her face. Her eyes sparkled, and for a moment, we just stood there, wrapped up in each other, the faint drip of the faucet fading into the background.
"Let’s go out now," I said, my grin widening as I stepped back, smoothing my shirt. "We can’t stay locked in here forever."
"Hmm, yeah, let’s go," Aeri said, flashing me a toothy smile that made my chest feel light. She adjusted her mini skirt, tugging it down, and ran her fingers through her hair, trying to look like we hadn’t just spent who-knows-how-long in a steamy haze.
*Clack.*
I unlocked the steel door and pushed it open, letting Aeri step out first. The narrow hallway felt cooler than the cubicle, the faint smell of lemon cleaner hitting us as we made our way back to the restaurant.
The place was bustling, but the crowd had shifted—new faces filled the tables, strangers sipping coffee and laughing over plates of food. Our booth was still there, the half-eaten pasta and my cold coffee waiting like we’d never left, but it felt like a lifetime had passed.
As we walked, I caught sight of two waitresses—Mandy from earlier and another one with short blonde hair—standing near the counter. They were whispering to each other, their eyes flicking toward us, their cheeks pink. Mandy nudged her friend, nodding our way, and I could practically hear their giggles from across the room.