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The door chimes as we enter. It's a charming little place.
Pancake Palace.
I remember Nick mentioning how he wanted to take me here when we were talking during one of our late-night chats recently. The ones where I would be curled up in bed, wrapped in a blanket. Missing Nick dearly but feeling comforted by his soothing voice that surrounded me, regardless of the distance between us.
Nick had mentioned how he first discovered this place during his weekly walks with Ruffles.
Ruffles is a poodle that Nick dog walks for an elderly lady, Linda. When Nick's old colleague from Lost Paws, Ned, mentioned that his gran, who happens to live in Leeds, was looking for someone to help with her dog after a knee replacement, Nick jumped at the chance. Of course he did. Nick would never miss out on an opportunity to help someone in need like that.
And I know how much Nick misses Nellie and Henry while he's away. I'm sure the time spent with Ruffles helps with that.
"Looks like there's a nice spot in the corner." Nick points, leading the way, my hand securely in his.
We sit across from each other and moments later a waitress approaches our table, placing menus in front of us.
"Can I get you drinks to start?" she asks.
"Tea for me please," Nick replies.
"And I'll have a coffee," I say. I've been drinking a lot more coffee in the past year, since getting the part time job at A Rainy Day.
The waitress nods, letting us know she'll give us time to look over the menus.
"I feel like we have to get pancakes." Nick leans back casually in his chair with a smile. "It is called the Pancake Palace after all."
"You're not wrong." I chuckle, glancing down at the abundance of selection they have. Every type of pancake imaginable. "I might go for banana chocolate chip."
Nick frowns. "Why be boring when you can order marmite pancakes!?"
"You've got to be joking."
Nick points to them on the list of pancake flavours. He isn't pulling my leg. There really is an option for marmite pancakes.
"I think I might order them."
"They sound terrible, Nick."
"I wouldn't go that far. Sure, it's an adventurous choice, but-"
I shake my head, a smirk on my lips. "Order it and I'll refuse to kiss you for the rest of the day."
Laughter escapes Nick's lips. "I guess it's blueberry for me then." And he winks.
Once our drinks have arrived and our orders have been placed, Nick reaches across the table, caressing the back of my hand, his fingertips gently brushing over my knuckles. We're in our own little corner of the café, or at least that's how it feels to me.
"Did you have fun last night?" I ask as my mind flashes back to the two of us on the dancefloor of the gay club.
"Which part?" He gives me a cheeky grin.
"At the club. You know which part I meant."
"Did I?"
The smug smile spread across his face lets me know that he knows exactly what he's doing.
"Nick, do you really think I'd be talking about that here?" I feel myself blushing.
"I had fun." His expression turns serious now. "Of course I had fun. I was with you."
He squeezes my hand.
"I like that we're more comfortable dancing together now," I comment.
"I like that too. Did you want to go back there again tonight?"
I shake my head. "Not unless you do. I'd rather stay in and cuddle."
Nick's mouth curls into a smile on one side. "I think that's a perfect plan."
"Good."
Nick lets go of my hand as the waitress arrives back at our table, placing our plates stacked high with pancakes in front of us.
We take our time eating, basking in the time spent together. Not through a screen on our phones but actually being face to face.
"Maybe after this we could stop by Linda's and you can meet Ruffles. I did let Linda know you're visiting this weekend," Nick suggests, covering his mouth as he chews.
"I would love to. Would she let us take Ruffles on a walk?"
"Probably. There's a nice park around here we could go to."
"I'd like that," I say, pancake syrup dripping from my fork as I take a bite.
"I love you, Char," Nick says, his eyes glistening as tears begin to form. "Your visits mean the world to me, you know."
It's moments like this that make my heart melt for the man I love.
"I know," I say softly. "Because they mean the world to me too."
I take the sleeve of Nick's uni jumper that I'm wearing and gently wipe the tears from his eyes.
When the bill comes, Nick reaches for it.
"Remember, I said it's my treat this time," I say, reaching for it.
"Darling, I've got it."
"Please," I whine.
"It's fine." Nick pulls out his credit card.
I snatch the bill away from him. "I win!" I say triumphantly.
"Maybe this time…"
We have stupid grins on our faces, ones that only happen when you're completely in love. And for now, I forget about the fact that I leave tomorrow and that I'll be missing Nick all over again. Right now, I'm here. With him. Tomorrow can wait.