Amber flipped her hand in his so that they were both holding each other’s. She blew out a long breath as she thought, glancing away for a moment.
“Well… My favorite color is blue, obviously,” she started with a chuckle, gesturing to her hair with her free hand. “I like wolves, specifically white ones. Uh… I grew up in Southern California but moved here when I was ten…”
William’s eyes went to their joint hands as he linked their fingers together, her small hand pressed against his. He let a smile take over his lips.
“Well, somehow that doesn’t surprise me,” William chuckled when she mentioned her favorite color. “Was there a specific reason as to why you moved?”
“My parents… I think it was for my mom’s job, but it might have been for both of them. I don’t really remember anymore,” Amber answered with a shrug.
“Do you like it here?” William asked softly, resting his cheek on his free hand.
Amber smiled over at him and gently squeezed his hand. “I do. I like it here a lot. Especially now.”
“I’d be offended if you didn’t,” William teased. Just then, their food arrived. The waiter set their burgers, drinks and fries on the table and walked off.
Amber chuckled and pulled her hand from his so they could eat. “All right, lets eat, now. I’m starving.”
After they’d eaten, William paid and pulled Amber out of the diner.
“The snow stopped,” he noted. “Do you want to walk a little? We can go get ice cream. I think it’s just a few minutes’ walk from here.”
“It’s cold out, Will! You want to get ice cream now?” Amber questioned with a laugh. “Also, I just had a milkshake… Why don’t we go for a walk, instead?”
“I don’t see what the problem is, but we can walk,” William shrugged, shaking his head before he began to walk. “Let’s go then.”
Amber grinned up at him and reached up to press a lingering kiss to his cheek. “Great,” she said, wrapping an arm around his waist and leaning into him.
“Hey, I thought you said no kisses,” William teased, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “Though I’m not complaining.”
"I said you couldn't give me kisses," Amber clarified, looking up at him. "So it's totally within my rules."
“Then kiss me,” William looked down at her in the eyes. “It’s torture seeing you look this beautiful and not being able to tell you through my mouth.”
Amber's grin morphed into a smirk as she leaned forward slightly, the distance between their lips being split almost in half.
"Hm… I think I'll make you wait a little bit longer," she mused quietly, her eyes gleaming with a teasing light. "Maybe when we get home I'll let you kiss me. As long as you continue to behave."
William held her arms in his hold, keeping her in position.
“Amber,” he murmured her name, his voice lowering as he held her gaze. “Let me kiss you.”
Amber felt her heart rate pick up slightly at the way he spoke. She wouldn't let it get to her, though. She had to know she could stand her ground against him even when she wanted him, too. Plus, it was fun teasing him.
"Later, babe," she whispered, her eyes meeting his. "I promise."
“Okay,” William closed his eyes, simply resting his forehead against hers. “I’ll hold you on to that promise.”
What was wrong with him? The intense need to kiss her, hold her tightly was driving him insane. For now, he would have to make do with holding her close.
"Deal," Amber murmured, wrapping both arms around his waist and hugging him tightly. She pressed another kiss to his cheek, her lips firmly against his skin. "Are you ready to continue our—"
"Is that Amber Page I see?" a loud, low voice called, causing the girl to cringe and bury her face in her boyfriend's chest.
William wrapped his arms around her as well, loving the feeling of her lips pressed against his cheek when they were interrupted. His hold on her tightened, eyes twisting into an almost territorial way as he looked at the source of the obnoxious voice.
The reaction Amber gave out annoyed him. Not because of her action, no. Because of the person who caused such tension in her in the first place.
“Do you know this clown, sweetheart?” William questioned, balantly ignoring the other male.
"Yeah…" Amber admitted in a breath without moving from her spot.
"I see you've got your weekly boy toy," the man said as he looked over William, his hand stuck in his front pockets while an arrogant smirk twisted his lips. On William, the smirk would have made her melt. On this guy, though, it has always made her cringe because he looked almost… frightening. "Any chance you'd like to change things up and have another go with me? It's been a while, hasn't it?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Amber lied through her teeth, keeping her face buried in her boyfriend's chest. "Leave me alone."
William stiffened at what the male said. The arrogance in his face… it boiled William’s blood. Nobody talked to her like that. Nobody treated his girl with such disrespect.
“I want you to let me go, Blue,” William muttered, body shaking from the anger he was holding back. “So I can decorate his face using my fist.”
Amber shook her head, moving only to bury her face in his neck. "No, Will… He's not worth it," she murmured against him.
"C'mon, beautiful. I can't wait to see you again," he chuckled darkly, always avoiding the other man's eyes.
"Let's just go home," Amber muttered, finally pulling away at those words.
“One more word,” William snarled, ignoring Amber. “One more word and I will rip your damn tongue out of your mouth.”
It pained him to hold back. He wanted to let go of his anger, to give in to it, just so he could hit the man disrespecting his girlfriend. William knew very well what the other guy meant. But so what? He meant what he said that day to Amber. Whoever she was in the past, his feelings for her would never change.
The man raised an eyebrow at William, somewhat surprised. "Good luck with that," he muttered under his breath belle turning away. It just wasn't worth it anymore.
"William… Let's go," Amber said, pushing against his chest. "Now, please."
“Once,” William released a shaky breath, vision flickering to red with untamed anger. He gritted his teeth. “Let me hit him once and I promise I will go back with you. I will not tolerate anyone who talks to you like that.”
"William," Amber clipped, grabbing his collar in her fists and pulling him down to look at her. She looked into his eyes, daring him to look back into hers, which were slowly turning red with the force she used to held back tears. "Let's go."
William froze, locking eyes with Amber. Her red eyes, brimming with tears. Regret immediately coursed through him and wiped away his anger.
“Okay,” he breathed out, hesitantly reaching out to touch her cheek. “I’m sorry, Blue. Let’s go home.”
Amber slowly uncurled her fingers from his shirt, releasing him as she let out a breath. She nodded and took a step back, toward the car. "Good…" she breathed.
William shot his glare at the back of the man. He was lucky Amber had held him back. William’s fists clenched again before he took his gaze off of him and instead followed Amber to his car.
He unlocked it and sat inside, buckling his seatbelt, turning on the heater, and waiting for Amber to do the same. When she did, he drove. He didn’t say anything.