By the time Aiden pulled into the diner's car park, the last traces of daylight had sunk behind the horizon.
A warm, golden glow spilled from the large windows onto the gravel outside, while an illuminated neon sign buzzed softly overhead.
Through the glass, Aiden could see families winding down their meals, a couple of truck drivers gathered around the counter, and scattered travellers occupying the worn leather booths.
He killed the engine and stretched his arms high above his head, letting out a long groan.
"I don't think I've ever been this happy to see a diner in my life."
Kael studied the glowing building with a cool, critical eye. "It appears popular."
"That usually means the food is good."
"Or," Kael countered smoothly, "that it is the only establishment for thirty miles."
"...Don't ruin this moment for me."
The very corner of Kael's mouth twitched upward. "I shall reserve my judgment until after I have eaten."
They stepped out of the car and made their way toward the entrance. The moment the door chimed, the collective noise of the diner faltered.
It wasn't a dramatic, movie-esque silence, but Aiden caught it instantly.
Heads turned. A waitress carrying a tray of milkshakes nearly walked straight into a booth. Two teenage girls by the window leaned across their table, whispering furiously behind their laminate menus.
Even one of the line cooks peered through the serving hatch, double-taking before ducking back into the kitchen.
Aiden suppressed a sigh. *Of course.*
Kael, on the other hand, walked in completely oblivious to the commotion he was causing. He simply glanced around with mild, aristocratic curiosity before following Aiden toward the host stand.
"You're getting stared at," Aiden muttered under his breath.
"We?" Kael asked.
Aiden gave him a flat look. "No. You."
Kael looked genuinely perplexed. "Why?"
Aiden stared at him, bewildered. "You really have no idea, do you?"
"I do not."
Before Aiden could break down the concept of basic human attraction to a centuries-old prince, the hostess approached them with a wide smile.
"Table for two?"
"Yes, please," Aiden replied.
Her eyes flickered to Kael, lingering a beat longer than necessary before she blinked and gestured into the dining room. "Right this way."
As they wove through the diner, the low hum of whispers picked up in their wake. A young guy looked up from his coffee, nearly missing his mouth entirely, while a girl around Aiden's age leaned back to watch Kael walk past.
"He's breathtaking," she hissed to her friend. "I'd marry him tomorrow if he ask."
Aiden fought a sudden, absurd urge to laugh.
Kael either didn't hear a word of it, or if he did, he didn't care enough to acknowledge it.
They settled into a booth tucked near the back. No sooner had they opened their menus than a cheerful waiter slid up to the edge of their table.
He was roughly Aiden's age, with sandy blond hair, bright eyes, and an easy, practiced charm.
"Evening, guys," he greeted smoothly, his nametag reading Ben. "I'll be taking care of you tonight. Been on the road long?"
"Since before sunrise," Aiden admitted with a weary smile.
"Ouch." Ben winced sympathetically, shifting his weight to rest a hand against the booth's high back. "You definitely deserve a solid meal then."
"You have no idea."
While Kael quietly scanned his menu, Ben leaned in a fraction closer to Aiden. "So... just passing through?"
"A bit of a road trip, yeah."
"Sounds fun." Ben's smile lingered, his eyes locked onto Aiden's face with undisguised interest. "I've been wanting to get out of this town for a while. It gets pretty quiet around here."
"It's been an interesting drive, to say the least," Aiden said politely.
"I bet." Ben scribbled a quick note on his order pad, then paused, tapping the pen against his chin as he looked directly at Aiden.
"You know, if you're staying nearby tonight, my shift wraps up at eight. I could show you around... if you want to hang out."
Aiden blinked, caught off guard. "Oh—I..."
Before he could form a polite rejection, a cool, cultured voice sliced through the air.
"I believe," Kael stated without looking up from his menu, "he already has plans."
Ben turned, blinking at the stranger across the table. "I was just asking."
"Of course you were." Kael finally lowered his menu, his dark eyes meeting the waiter's. He was smiling—a calm, pleasant expression—yet something in his posture radiated such an effortless, predatory dominance that Ben instinctively took a half-step back.
"Right," Ben swallowed hard, clearing his throat. "I'll... give you guys another minute to look over the food."
The waiter beat a swift retreat toward the kitchen.
Aiden watched him vanish, then slowly turned his head to playfully glare across the table. A long, heavy silence stretched between them.
"...Were you just jealous?" Aiden asked softly.
Kael didn't miss a beat, turning a page. "I beg your pardon?"
"You heard me."
"Jealousy is entirely beneath me," Kael said evenly. "It is an unbecoming emotion."
"So you weren't jealous?"
"I was not."
"You sounded jealous."
"I did not."
"Kael, you practically growled at the guy."
Kael set his menu down with meticulous care. "I simply corrected a misunderstanding."
"Mhm. And what misunderstanding was that?"
"He assumed you were available for evening diversions," Kael replied, perfectly composed. "I informed him that you were having dinner with me."
Aiden rested his chin in his hand, a teasing smirk tugging at his lips. "Kael..."
"Yes?"
"You do understand what he meant by 'hanging out' right?"
Kael frowned slightly, a tiny crease forming between his brows. "...I do?"
" He was hitting on me" .
The tiny crease smoothed out, replaced by a momentary, uncharacteristic silence.
"I understood that."
Aiden watched him like a hawk. "...Oh?"
Kael neatly folded his hands over his closed menu. "I'm not stupid Aiden, I saw how he looked at you."
"You were definitely jealous," Aiden grinned, leaning closer.
Kael met his gaze, his composure sliding seamlessly back into place. "As I have already stated, jealousy is beneath me."
"But?" Aiden refuse to back down
Kael tilted his head, his expression softening into something far more dangerous. "...If another man intends to distract my traveling companion, I reserve the right to be mildly... territorial."
Aiden choked on a sudden breath, clutching his chest. "'Territorial?'"
"Yes, territorial."
"I see !" Aiden laughed under his breath.
"Honestly, I expected you to be a bit more dramatic, like throw him out the window with a gust of wind or something."
Kael looked thoughtfully toward the kitchen doors. "That would have been entirely excessive."
"So you did consider it?"
"I considered several possibilities."
Aiden let out a bright, unrestrained laugh, shaking his head. "You are unbelievable."
"Get used to it." Kael's gaze lingered on Aiden's flushed face, his eyes warm and dark under the diner lights.
Aiden's laughter settled into a soft, affectionate smile as he leaned across the laminate table.
"For the record..." he murmured, lowering his voice so it was just for the two of them, "I wasn't interested in him anyway."
Kael met his eyes, his smirk fading into something tender.
"I know," Kael replied softly.
The answer was so quiet it almost got lost in the hum of the diner, but the certainty in Kael's voice made Aiden's heart skip a beat. He ducked his head, pretending to re-examine his menu, but he couldn't wipe the smile off his face for the rest of the night.
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