such a fancy outing probably set the wrong impression,” Eli says. “I had thought it would simply be a nice time together, but instead I confused you.”
“It’s okay,” I say. “I didn’t meant to get so attached so quickly. Really. We’d talked about it even. It’s my fault.”
“Still,” Eli says, “I should have picked something more casual. More suiting to the ‘terms’ of our relationship.”
I give a small smile before it disappears. I take a breath, trying to find some strength for the remainder of my apology. “I was also wrong to call you cold,” I say. “You don’t like people getting close to you, but you do care. In the brief time I’ve known you, you’ve handed food out to the homeless, donated money to a food pantry and soup kitchen, and saved a boy’s life at the risk of your own.” I tremble a little and use the tissue in my hand to wipe the additional tears that have formed in my eyes. “You have passion. It’s just different than mine, and you don’t like to show your passion. And that’s okay.”
Eli stares at one of the windows in the room, quiet for a long time. “I don’t like people getting close to me,” he says quietly.
“But you still care about people,” I say. “I’m sorry, Eli.”
I really want to hold Eli’s hand, but I know I’m on thin ice as it is. So I set one hand on the desk, my palm up, but I let it lie there, waiting. It feels like a déjà vu from our last dinner, and I don’t know why I’m chancing this again. My heart’s already been burned once; why am I looking for more pain?
Eli watches my hand for a long time. And then, to my astonishment, he reaches forward and takes my fingers into his. His hand is very warm, and I close my eyes at his touch, my body shuddering.
“I really miss you,” I whisper. “And I didn’t mean to hurt you. Things have been really difficult for me lately. I’m so sorry.”
Eli avoids my gaze, still staring at our hands. His fingers entwine with mine. “I want you, but I don’t want to be close. And frankly, I was really hurt after your outburst.”
I flinch, but I’m glad he’s telling me this. He’s being open with me, and it’s more than I’d hoped for when I’d come to Marnvell Jewelers. I wait, sensing he has more to say.
Eli’s eyes lift up, and I see a longing in them. “But I’ve seen you care for people, deeply, and your passion for your business is inspiring,” Eli says. “You have a smile that lights up a room, and a great sense of humor. And…I know I haven’t made it easy.”
I give him a small smile, but I stay quiet. Eli is debating something, his eyes going from my face to our hands, and finally they rise back to my face. He puts his other hand over mine, encasing my hand between both of his.
“So, what has been difficult for you?” Eli asks.
“Well, Chargene Jewelers, for one, but the reason I was trying to talk to you Friday after you dropped me off was because Buttercup had died,” I say, my volume lowering as I talk.
Eli blinks. “I didn’t know. Ruby, I’m so sorry,” he says, his deep voice gentle.
A couple of tears break loose down my cheeks, and I wipe my face with the tissue. “I know, and I kept trying to tell you, but….” My voice fades away.
“I wasn’t exactly stopping to listen to you,” Eli offers.
I finally nod. “And then I just felt like you knew, and I was still upset about our conversation. It doesn’t make what I did right, but I wanted you to know why I just…blew up like that,” I say. My voice has started to crack, and I take a breath. “I’m really
“It’s okay,” I say. “I didn’t meant to get so attached so quickly. Really. We’d talked about it even. It’s my fault.”
“Still,” Eli says, “I should have picked something more casual. More suiting to the ‘terms’ of our relationship.”
I give a small smile before it disappears. I take a breath, trying to find some strength for the remainder of my apology. “I was also wrong to call you cold,” I say. “You don’t like people getting close to you, but you do care. In the brief time I’ve known you, you’ve handed food out to the homeless, donated money to a food pantry and soup kitchen, and saved a boy’s life at the risk of your own.” I tremble a little and use the tissue in my hand to wipe the additional tears that have formed in my eyes. “You have passion. It’s just different than mine, and you don’t like to show your passion. And that’s okay.”
Eli stares at one of the windows in the room, quiet for a long time. “I don’t like people getting close to me,” he says quietly.
“But you still care about people,” I say. “I’m sorry, Eli.”
I really want to hold Eli’s hand, but I know I’m on thin ice as it is. So I set one hand on the desk, my palm up, but I let it lie there, waiting. It feels like a déjà vu from our last dinner, and I don’t know why I’m chancing this again. My heart’s already been burned once; why am I looking for more pain?
Eli watches my hand for a long time. And then, to my astonishment, he reaches forward and takes my fingers into his. His hand is very warm, and I close my eyes at his touch, my body shuddering.
“I really miss you,” I whisper. “And I didn’t mean to hurt you. Things have been really difficult for me lately. I’m so sorry.”
Eli avoids my gaze, still staring at our hands. His fingers entwine with mine. “I want you, but I don’t want to be close. And frankly, I was really hurt after your outburst.”
I flinch, but I’m glad he’s telling me this. He’s being open with me, and it’s more than I’d hoped for when I’d come to Marnvell Jewelers. I wait, sensing he has more to say.
Eli’s eyes lift up, and I see a longing in them. “But I’ve seen you care for people, deeply, and your passion for your business is inspiring,” Eli says. “You have a smile that lights up a room, and a great sense of humor. And…I know I haven’t made it easy.”
I give him a small smile, but I stay quiet. Eli is debating something, his eyes going from my face to our hands, and finally they rise back to my face. He puts his other hand over mine, encasing my hand between both of his.
“So, what has been difficult for you?” Eli asks.
“Well, Chargene Jewelers, for one, but the reason I was trying to talk to you Friday after you dropped me off was because Buttercup had died,” I say, my volume lowering as I talk.
Eli blinks. “I didn’t know. Ruby, I’m so sorry,” he says, his deep voice gentle.
A couple of tears break loose down my cheeks, and I wipe my face with the tissue. “I know, and I kept trying to tell you, but….” My voice fades away.
“I wasn’t exactly stopping to listen to you,” Eli offers.
I finally nod. “And then I just felt like you knew, and I was still upset about our conversation. It doesn’t make what I did right, but I wanted you to know why I just…blew up like that,” I say. My voice has started to crack, and I take a breath. “I’m really
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