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Why does this feel so awkward? We usually talk with such ease with one another!
Uncertain what to say, Chloe found a question falling from her lips.
“Why did you leave yesterday?” she asked.
“I’m sorry?” Leo snapped his gaze back toward her.
“Yesterday. You could have stayed and given the gift to me in person.”
“Miss Baker explained you were busy with work. I didn’t want to intrude.” Leo spoke quickly, avoiding her gaze once again.
He’s lying . . .
The realization filled Chloe with hope again.
Is it possible? Perhaps, he really could care for me too.
Without knowing how to discover the truth, all Chloe thought was that she had to stay beside Leo right now. Afraid of asking him how he felt outright, she hoped she could find a way to ask him indirectly.
“Well, I’m taking some time off work today,” she said slowly.
“You are?” He seemed intrigued by the idea, raising his eyebrows.
“Yes. A good friend pointed out I was working too hard.” She nodded in his direction, making him smile once again.
“Ah, my advice is being listened to, is it?” he said with that charming smile as he leaned on the doorframe.
“Perhaps, though I hope my praise will not go to your head.”
“I can make no guarantees on that.” His jest made the two of them laugh together. “So, you are unoccupied at this time?”
“Yes, that is why I find myself at your door. Not only did I come to thank you, but I thought perhaps . . . we could spend some time together, if you do not have to attend to your own work?” She gestured to the table where the briefcase resided, but Leo didn’t even turn back to acknowledge the case.
“I can do my work another time,” Leo said quickly and reached for the top hat on his stand, hurrying to put it on his head. “What do you say to a promenade, Chloe? A walk through the park on a day like this would certainly be agreeable.”
“Yes, very agreeable,” Chloe said eagerly and stepped back, trying to keep her excitement at bay. When he stepped out, they both hurried down the stairs, not touching, as a silence descended between them again.
Oh no, do not let the awkwardness return!
Yet it did. For some reason, Chloe grew nervous, unsure what to say, and she half wondered if Leo kept quiet because of the same feeling. They walked out of the building, not uttering a word, before moving down the road together, side by side, heading toward Hyde Park.
“After you,” Leo said, gesturing to the gate and allowing her through first. Chloe smiled, almost humored by their lack of skill in talking to each other all of a sudden. Then she stepped through and into the park.
Chloe had barely gone two steps before she decided she’d had enough. Rosaline’s words whirring round her head would not allow her to remain awkward.
“You’d think we had forgotten how to talk to each other,” Chloe declared. As Leo stepped through the gate, his eyes shot to hers. “Whatever is on your mind, Leo, I hope there is nothing wrong?”
“No, nothing is wrong.” Leo seemed to force a smile, she saw it, though she said nothing. The two of them walked forward together, striding into the park.
In Chloe’s eagerness to keep up, she tripped on the hem of her skirt. She was barely aware of what had happened, her eyes on Leo, but when she expected the ground to come up toward her, no such thing happened. Instead, Leo’s arm was under hers.
“Are you taking after me?” Leo said in sudden jest. The playful smile on his face seemed to crack the air between them, and Chloe laughed too, still clinging to his arm.
“I seem rather clumsy at the moment.”
“Trust me, one gets used to it,” he laughed at himself and helped her to stand straight properly. As the two of them walked forward, this time Chloe’s arm was through his. “Shall I keep hold of you in case it happens again?”
“Please do,” Chloe urged. “If I fall on my face, then, at least I have someone to blame for not watching my steps.” Her wit made him laugh some more.
