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Chapter 14: There's Something Special About Tonight

Rachel hadn't stopped smiling for the past half an hour, and her happiness rocketed when she felt Eddie's hand on her back when they were led over to their table. Seemingly, she couldn't resist looking back over her shoulder at him. Rachel was hard pressed not to turn around and wrap herself up in his arms there and then. The way Eddie's eyes lingered over all of her features seem to symbolise everything that he had confessed to her in recent days. His irrevocable love, his belief in her beauty, and his endless support. And the best thing was that Rachel reciprocated every single inch of his love. Normally, the thought of such intense feelings for a person would have overwhelmed Rachel, scared her even. Yet with Eddie, everything just felt … perfect. From the way he smiled at her to their conversations about anything and everything, this was all that Rachel had ever longed for and more; particularly with Eddie.

At the table, their legs were constantly touching, with Eddie's knee resting somewhat lovingly against her thigh. With the contact happening so frequently, and the fleeting, sultry glances that he was giving her across the table, Rachel gathered that the gestures were entirely purposeful. Not that she minded, far from it in fact.

Their conversation was generally light, with more brief comments being passed between the pair of them than deep discussions. This was entirely contrasting to their eye contact. Rachel didn't think that their gazes had faltered from one another for more than twenty seconds or so, if that. Conversation with Eddie and Rachel wasn't a necessity, and that was one of the strengths and brilliant things about their relationship. The atmosphere was never awkward, and always comfortable. Being with Eddie was so amazingly easy it almost felt surreal.

Their food arrived shortly after this thought occurred to Rachel, and they reluctantly tore their eyes away. They made comments about the meals for a few moments, and ended up getting into a conversation about the different types of strange foods they had tried.

"Snails?!" Eddie exclaimed at Rachel's question.

"Yes, surely you've heard of them Lawson. Escargots."

He couldn't help but chuckle at Rachel's imitation of the French accent, and found himself thinking that snails sounded so much more appealing with the word escargots rolling off Rachel's tongue. Although she did have that effect on everything and everyone; the ability to make scenarios and phenomenons that little bit better.

"Well…. I've heard of them. Can't say I've tried them though, or that I'd like to."

Rachel laughed now, and Eddie found himself wanting to take a picture of this moment with his mind, to store in memory. He'd meant every word of what he said on Tuesday, she truly was beautiful. It was Rachel's smile that seemed to entrapture him the most; perhaps it was the way her already exquisite lips curled up into the most wonderful of shapes, or the way her head tipped back in the throes of ecstasy. Eddie couldn't help but take a glimpse of delight from the idea that this smile currently lighting up her face was down to him, and his presence. He made a mental note to at some point this evening, express to Rachel just how joyous she made him feel. That's if he can find the words.

"They aren't half as bad as you might think. Just tastes like garlic really," Rachel commented, shrugging her shoulder slightly.

"Here's one for you," Eddie chuckled after a few moments of silence, evidently quite pleased with the food he had come up with, "fried spider."

Rachel struggled not to splutter as she took a sip of her drink, swiftly swallowing before responding.

"So you won't try snails but have willingly ate fried spiders? Very logical."

Eddie couldn't help but join Rachel with the current laughter she was emanating. She just had that influence on him, with every passing moment they spent together, his contentment only elevated.

"Well… not exactly willingly. It was a sort of dare, on holiday with my brother a few years back in Cambodia."

Rachel brushed a strand of hair away from her eyes as she learnt that little bit more about Eddie. She had already known of his brother, but something as small as a past trip to Cambodia seemed to enthrall her. With Eddie, it was truly amazing to get to know him, something which Rachel had rarely felt about other people involved in her life. He held and would always hold that extremely unique place in her heart.

"Well Lawson, if you can stomach spiders, you can stomach snails. We will have to go to France so I can coax you into trying them."

Eddie went to respond but the words in his throat seemed to be snatched away from him as the comment Rachel made had said sank in. He truly began to realise the enormity of her suggestion. Rachel was thinking towards the future, desiring to share long periods of time with him in an environment such as a holiday. Eddie had to blink twice to fully assure himself that this was in fact, happening. He was finally sharing dinner with the woman of his dreams, discussing anything from bizarre foods to future plans.

"I think that's a marvellous idea," Eddie commented the second his heart rate had returned to a normal pace.

He felt that as another comfortable silence set in the atmosphere, it was a perfect moment to reach across the table and take Rachel by the hand. It hadn't been the first time he'd made the gesture this evening, but somehow now, given the topics that they'd recently discussed, the contact felt all the more significant. There was something about the atmosphere this evening that made being with Rachel all the more special.

Soon after Eddie had initiated the proximity, a waiter approached them wondering about desserts. They agreed to have a look at the menus, and would have normally removed their hands to turn attentions to the choice of food on offer. Somehow though, neither felt any sort of longing to lose that intimacy, so merely glanced across at the menus laid out on the table.

Eventually they pulled their hands away when deciding on what to have, with the shared knowledge that the contact could be resumed at any point throughout the evening.

Taking in the vast array of sweet items, the sharing desserts caught Rachel's eye. Agreeing intently at her suggestion, Eddie and Rachel decided on some kind of ice cream sundae.

They ended up in fits of giggles as the dessert arrived, with both of them leaning forwards to take a spoonful first. As it happened, it was Rachel who triumphantly scooped up some ice cream, which meant Eddie had an opportunity to focus his gaze on her for a moment. This always proved an advantage. Eddie wasn't sure what was affecting him more, the way her eyes were currently sparkling as they rested very much on him, or the way she was placing her mouth around the metal to make the most out of her spoonful. Perhaps not the most suitable place to have such thoughts, Eddie couldn't help but notice the sultry way with which she was eating. Seemingly, he had to mentally shake himself as a way of regaining both composure and concentration.

Only as Eddie lent further forwards to take a spoonful of his own, did he notice the satisfied smirk playing across Rachel's lips. He guessed that her actions and glances of moments ago had been more meaningful and purposeful than accidental.

He shared a knowing look with Rachel before returning to his ice cream, trying to focus on the flavour of the chocolate rather than the scenarios his mind had created for him. It was that exact moment that the waiter chose to return to their tables and question if everything was alright with their desserts. Rachel had to suppress a bout of laughter as she glanced across at Eddie before responding to their server. He was fidgeting slightly, and his skin tone rather flushed - evidently, he was doing everything in his power to regain at least a slither of composure.

"Shall we get the bill Eddie?" Rachel questioned once their dessert had been finished off, still struggling to fight off that knowing grin at the way Eddie was currently acting.

The man himself cleared his throat before sitting forwards, seemingly slightly more concentrated now. Eddie nodded and smiled, standing to make a move towards the bar, just as the voice of Rachel stopped him in his tracks.

"Eddie, will you let me pay half?"

He turned around fully now, stepping towards Rachel with a slightly more serious tone etched within his features, "no Rach, absolutely not. This is my treat."

Of course she opened her mouth to protest, but Eddie caught a glimpse of the unmistakable flash of happiness and awe which coursed across her features as an initial reaction. Yet again Eddie felt immeasurably delighted that he had been a part of this bubble of joy emanating from Rachel.

"No buts, I'm paying," he grinned, and Rachel could do nothing now but return the gesture, smiling intently as Eddie turned around and walked away.

Rachel kept her stare firmly locked on Eddie as he approached the bar area. Even if she wanted to, it would have been impossible to tear her eyes away. Rachel was truly transfixed by Eddie and all that he had done for her already, in the space of a mere few days. He made her feel a happiness like no other, and for that, Rachel would be forever grateful.