"Are you sure this is what you want?" Jayden asked, his voice low, his eyes fixed on her.
"I'm waiting," Emma replied, steady but soft.
Jayden leaned back slightly, exhaling. "Look Emma... you mean so much to me. And that's exactly why I'm scared of hurting you."
"I'm ready to take that risk." Her voice cracked, but her eyes stayed locked on his. "I love you, Jayden. I've grown to love you. And you can learn to do the same.
He nodded faintly. "I know... I'm trying."
"Then show it," she pressed, her gaze tightening on him.
Jayden gave a short laugh under his breath. "Wait! don't tell me you expect me to ask you out right here. In a restaurant? Nah... that's weak."
Emma blinked. "What do you mean?"
"I mean... this isn't the perfect date. If I'm gonna ask you out, it won't be sitting at a table with steak knives and a menu between us." He leaned forward, eyes glinting. "A yacht cruise... maybe even a small island and that's more like it."
Emma let out a half-chuckle. "Are you playing with me right now?"
"I'm dead serious, Emma." He held her stare without flinching. "How about this, I'll plan something when I'm back from the games. A yacht cruise, any island you choose. A weekend getaway and you can even bring Mandy if that makes you comfortable."
Her lips parted slightly. "Are you for real right now?"
Jayden smirked. "If I've gotta ask you out, I have to do it the right way."
Her chest tightened. "You know I love you, right?" she whispered.
"I do," he said simply, a small smile tugging at his lips. "You don't go a day without reminding me."
She drew in a breath. "Do you love me?"
He paused, his jaw tightening. "See Emma... love is a strong word. I don't want to throw it around and then end up hurting you."
"It's either yes or no," she said firmly.
Jayden leaned in, lifting her chin with two fingers. "Well... I can't say no." He pressed a soft kiss to her lips before pulling back casually and picking up his fork like nothing happened.
Emma just stared at him, her heart caught in the middle of hope and confusion. If there was one thing she'd learned about Jayden, it was that he always ran from saying those three words. At first, she told herself not to push him. But now, with how close and intimate they'd become, it was harder to ignore the doubt.
Did he truly love her? Or were his little gestures just a way of keeping her close without ever fully giving her his heart?
An attendant approached their table with the bill, just as Jayden had requested.
"Can you get the chef that prepared our hibachi?" he asked politely.
She nodded quickly and walked away.
A few moments later, Dennis appeared, his apron already stained with little splashes from the evening's work but his face glowing with pride.
"Where am I signing?" Jayden asked as he pushed his chair back and stood.
"Right here," Dennis said, pointing to the upper left side of his chest. His white apron was basically a canvas, and tonight Jayden's autograph would sit proudly on it.
Dennis handed him a marker, one with a fine permanent tip. Jayden bent down slightly and signed his name across the apron in bold, fluid strokes.
"You a fan?" Jayden asked, looking up at him, though the excitement in Dennis's eyes already gave the answer away.
"I'm a huge fan," Dennis admitted, grinning ear to ear.
Jayden smirked. "New season's starting soon. If my team makes it to the finals, how about I get you a ticket for the last game?"
Dennis let out a loud, unrestrained yelp, the kind that turned heads. Diners all over the restaurant started whispering, recognizing Jayden.
Jayden's team, the United Blues, had already made history, three back-to-back championship wins. If they won again this year, it would be their fourth straight.
"Of course! Everyone knows the United Blues will take the trophy home again as long as you're on the field," Dennis said confidently, his voice almost trembling with excitement.
The whispers grew louder around the room, but Jayden just smiled, amused.
"You want a picture?" he asked. That small vote of confidence clearly meant more to him than Dennis realized.
"Yes please!" Dennis stammered, fumbling with his phone. "Let me just get someone..."
"I'll take it," Emma cut in smoothly before he could finish.
"You sure?" Dennis asked, glancing at her.
She nodded. He handed her his phone without hesitation, and Emma snapped a photo of the two men, Jayden's arm slung across Dennis's shoulder, both of them grinning wide.
"I should tip you, the food was great," Jayden said honestly.
Dennis chuckled nervously. "That's not necessary"
"Is it allowed here?" Jayden interrupted.
"Of course," Dennis replied quickly.
Moments later, Dennis's phone buzzed with a bank alert. He glanced down, and his jaw nearly dropped.
"Who... who tips twenty thousand dollars?" he asked, stunned.
"You deserve it," Jayden said simply.
Dennis's voice broke slightly. "You know... before you walked in here, I was having the worst day. I've been dealing with a lot of personal stuff and it's been eating at me since morning. But then you came in, and suddenly I forgot all of that. I started my shift frowning... and now I feel like I can breathe again."
Jayden smiled softly. "That's the power of football," he said, and then added with a small tilt of his head, "You want a hug?"
Dennis nodded before he could even think. Jayden pulled him into a quick embrace.
When they pulled apart, Jayden squinted at him. "Are you crying?"
"No," Dennis sniffled, his eyes glossy. "It's you who's crying."
Jayden laughed and clapped him on the back. The chef's emotions were raw, real and only he truly knew how heavy his heart had felt before tonight. Maybe this was proof that football really did hold a kind of magic.
"Well, this is Emma," Jayden said, turning toward her with a subtle smile. She'd been watching their exchange quietly the whole time.
"She your girlfriend?" Dennis teased, grinning.
"Not yet, but we're working on it," Jayden replied, extending his hand to Emma. She took it without hesitation, their fingers lacing together.
"Well, she's pretty," Dennis said warmly. "I wish you both the best."
Soon after, Emma and Jayden stepped out to the front of the restaurant, still hand in hand, waiting for the valet to bring the car around.
Emma tilted her head, studying him as the evening breeze played with her hair. She couldn't help wondering how someone with his fame, recognition, and influence could still be this grounded, this... normal.
"What?" Jayden asked, catching her stare.
"Nothing," she replied quickly, looking away, a shy smile tugging at her lips.
Jayden chuckled under his breath and gave her hand a gentle squeeze, the kind of small gesture that said more than words.