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Chapter 325
~Valerie’s POV~
Fifteen minutes later, we stopped in front of a cozy little retro diner tucked between two bookstores.
Its neon sign glowed softly under the fading amber light of the setting sun, casting a warm halo over the cracked pavent.
My nose picked up the scent of grilled burgers, crisp fries, and creamy vanilla milkshakes instantly.
"You brought to a diner?" I asked, blinking at the red-frad windows lined with old movie posters.
"Correction," Ash said smoothly, holding the door open with an exaggerated flourish and a mock bow. "I brought you to the diner. Best milkshakes in town."
I arched a brow as my lips twitched. "And you’re bribing with sugar."
"Absolutely," he said with zero sha. "Works every ti."
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t stop the tiny smile pulling at my lips as I stepped inside.
The mont we walked in, a wave of warmth wrapped around , carrying the nostalgic soft music.
The place looked like it had been pulled straight out of the 1950s.
Shiny red leather seats, glossy black-and-white tiles, a jukebox humming faintly in the corner, and the faint scent of syrup and butter lingering beneath the stronger aroma of fried perfection.
Ash guided to a booth by the window, sliding in opposite . He grabbed a nu, flipping it open like it was a treasure map.
"Pick whatever you want. My treat," he said casually, leaning back.
"You don’t have to..."
"I insist," he interrupted, not even looking up from the nu. "Besides, you owe for rescuing you earlier."
"Yeah, and I was going to treat you to dinner." I stated the obvious while arching a brow. "Besides," I shrugged. "Pretty sure they weren’t going to eat alive."
His lips curved into that lazy, infuriating smirk of his. "Not physically, no. Emotionally, though?" He tapped the nu lightly for emphasis. "You were drowning back there, Val."
I didn’t have a coback for that. My fingers fidgeted with the straw holder on the table, spinning it absentmindedly as silence stretched between us.
"...Yeah," I said softly. "Thanks for that."
He waved off my words with a flick of his wrist. "No need to thank ." Leaning back comfortably, he stretched one arm across the top of the booth like he owned the entire place. "I like being your escape plan."
I tilted my head at him, narrowing my eyes slightly. "...That’s... sad."
"Or charming," he countered smoothly without missing a beat. "Depends on the angle."
I snorted, shaking my head. "You’re impossible."
"Accurate," he said with mock solemnity.
When the waiter ca by, Ash ordered a cheeseburger, fries, and a chocolate milkshake. I went with a simple grilled chicken sandwich and a vanilla shake, wanting sothing lighter.
As soon as the waiter disappeared, Ash leaned forward on his elbows, his eyes glinting mischievously. "Okay," he announced, "I’ve decided. I’m testing you."
I frowned, suspicious. "Testing how?"
"Fries," he said simply, folding his arms on the table like this was a sacred rite. "Do you dip them in ketchup... or milkshake?"
I stared at him, unblinking. "That’s not even a debate. Ketchup, obviously."
Ash gasped like I’d just confessed to murder. "Wrong answer."
"...Excuse ?"
"Milkshake, Val," he said with utter conviction, like he was passing down ancient wisdom. "It’s all about the milkshake. Perfect mix of sweet and salty."
I gave him a flat, unimpressed stare. "You’re insane."
"You’ll thank later," he said confidently.
"No, I won’t."
"Yes, you will."
"You’re ridiculous."
"True," he admitted cheerfully, "but I’m right."
When the food finally arrived, Ash wasted no ti proving his point.
He dunked a fry into his milkshake, swirled it around dramatically, and popped it into his mouth with a satisfied groan (which sounded like a moan) loud enough to draw a few curious glances from nearby tables.
"Pure. Bliss," he declared, closing his eyes like he was experiencing divine enlightennt.
"That’s disgusting," I said flatly.
"Try it," he challenged, holding a fry out to .
I leaned back, crossing my arms. "Not happening."
"Chikening out?"
I narrowed my eyes, snatched the fry, dipped it into his shake with unnecessary aggression, and shoved it into my mouth, mostly to shut him up.
And... okay, it wasn’t bad.
My chewing slowed, and I blinked. "...Oh no."
Ash grinned like the cat that got the cream. "I win."
"You’re just... you’re you, naughty, insufferable, daring..." I stopped before I turned it into a complint.
"Accurate," he said again, swiping at another fry without hesitation.
By the ti we’d finished eating, the sun had dipped low enough that the soft orange glow spilling through the window made the diner feel almost dreamlike.
Outside, the streetlamps were flickering to life one by one, chasing away the shadows.
Ash leaned back, sipping the last of his milkshake through a noisy straw that made my eyebrow twitch.
"So," he said casually, swirling the empty glass, "how’s the whole... six-mates drama treating you?"
I groaned dramatically, dropping my forehead onto the table with a muted thud. "Why would you bring that up now?"
"Because you look like you’re about to explode," he said simply. "Figured talking might help."
"It won’t," I muttered into the table surface.
He chuckled softly. "Fair enough. But just so you know, you don’t have to carry all of it alone."
I peeked up at him through loose strands of hair, caught off guard by the softness in his tone. "...Why are you being nice to ?"
"Because, Valerie, I love you, and you know it," he said easily, without a trace of hesitation.
I blinked. "...Oh."
"Relax," he added quickly, waving a hand. "Not in a creepy, possessive mate way. More like... you’re fun to be around. And I think you deserve to have soone in your corner who isn’t trying to control you."
Sothing in my chest shifted at his words, an odd warmth pooling there.
I stared at him for a long mont before looking away, suddenly very interested in the condensation sliding down my empty milkshake glass. "...Thanks," I murmured.
"Anyti," he replied softly, and for once, there was no teasing in his voice.
After he paid and we stepped outside, the cool evening breeze brushed against my skin, carrying with it the faint scent of rain on asphalt.
I inhaled deeply and realised, with a flicker of surprise, just how much lighter I felt compared to when the day began.
Ash shoved his hands into his pockets, falling into step beside . "See?" he said, glancing at with that easy grin. "Fresh air works wonders."
I smiled faintly, hugging my arms around myself. "Yeah... it does."
He shot a quick sidelong look, smirking. "Don’t worry. Tonight, no mate drama. No necklaces, no stolen maps. Just you, , and a detour."
I squinted at him warily. "...Detour?"
"Yep," he said cheerfully, his voice far too suspicious for comfort.
"What kind of detour?"
"You’ll see."
"Ashton..." I warned.
He only grinned wider, stepping closer. Before I could protest further, he reached out and gently grabbed my wrist, tugging along the sidewalk like he’d already decided the night’s course.
"Trust , Val," he said quietly.
"Ash..." I dragged his na out like a warning, narrowing my eyes at the infuriating smirk on his face as he tugged along the quiet sidewalk. "Where exactly are you taking ?"
He didn’t even glance back. "Relax, princess. I promised no mate drama tonight. You’re safe."
"That’s not an answer."
"Exactly." He shot a quick grin over his shoulder, his free hand shoved deep into his pocket as he walked like he had the entire city mapped out in his head. "You’ll see."
I groaned, dragging my feet just to annoy him, but he didn’t slow down.
Instead, he glanced at sideways, eyebrow raised. "Are you always this stubborn, or is it just with ?"
"Only with people who kidnap under the guise of ’detours.’"
"Kidnap is a strong word," his lips twitched as he spoke in a smooth voice. "I prefer... unexpected adventure."
"That sounds even sketchier."
He chuckled, low and warm. "You’ll thank later."
"Doubt it."
Five minutes later, we stopped in front of an old, slightly run-down arcade. The blinking neon sign above the door buzzed faintly, spelling out Pixel Haven.
As I stepped inside, I could hear the soft sounds of chis, dings, and the cheerful laughter of kids and teenagers gathered around the machines.
I blinked at the sign, then at him. "...Seriously? An arcade?"
Ash shrugged, looking totally unfazed. "You said you needed to unwind."
"I said nothing of the sort."
"You didn’t have to." He shoved the door open and gestured for to step inside with a mock bow. "After you, princess."
I hesitated, glancing inside at the flashing lights and chaotic noise. "...This looks like a headache waiting to happen."
"And yet," he said, leaning in close enough that his voice dropped to a low murmur, "I bet you haven’t done sothing this fun in forever."
I hated that he wasn’t wrong.
Sighing dramatically, I stepped past him. "Fine. But if this ends with embarrassed or broke, I’m blaming you."
"Wouldn’t have it any other way," he said, following in with that infuriating smirk still firmly in place. "Besides, my threat. I’m paying."
Inside, the air slled faintly of popcorn and sothing sweet, probably candy from one of the prize counters.
Kids ran past us, clutching handfuls of tickets, laughter echoing off the walls. Ash headed straight for the change machine, pulling out a neat bill.
"You’re really committing to this," I muttered as he shoved a pile of tokens into my hands.
"Obviously," he said. "Now, the real question is... are you ready to lose?"
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