Chapter 256: the hope he couldn’t let go III
Once the others had left, the consultation room suddenly felt much quieter.
Vivienne finished putting her notebook away.
She looked up.
Damian was still gathering the East Junction materials.
For a moment, she simply watched him.
Then she smiled.
There was no reason to hesitate.
"Hey, Damian."
He looked up.
"I haven’t seen you in forever."
Her smile widened.
"How have you been?"
Damian looked at her for a moment.
"Fine."
"Just fine?"
She laughed softly.
"That’s not very convincing."
"I’m fine."
Vivienne smiled.
"Good."
She picked up her bag.
As she slipped the strap over her shoulder, she noticed something.
Damian hadn’t offered to carry it.
Her eyebrows lifted slightly.
Interesting.
It wasn’t as though he always carried her things.
He had only done it twice.
Once on Friday.
And again the following Saturday.
At the time, she hadn’t thought anything of it.
But now she knew.
Now that she understood how he felt about her, those two moments suddenly looked rather different.
Oh.
So that’s why.
She remembered how naturally he had taken her bag from her, as though it were the most ordinary thing in the world.
Vivienne glanced at him again.
Maybe he had finally realized how obvious he’d been.
Perhaps he was embarrassed now that he knew she knew.
A small smile tugged at her lips.
He’s shy.
That was actually rather cute.
She wasn’t going to tease him about the bag.
Not yet.
Instead, she looked at the East Junction folder in his hands.
"Do you have everything?"
"Yes."
"Good."
She walked toward the door.
Damian followed.
Vivienne glanced back at him.
She had spent the morning wondering how he would react when he saw her.
Now she was beginning to think she had her answer.
He was trying very hard to act normal.
And somehow, that made her want to see how long he could keep it up.
They stepped into the hallway.
Vivienne smiled to herself.
This was going to be fun.
--
They walked down the hallway toward the entrance.
Vivienne was quiet for a moment, though the smile on her lips hadn’t disappeared.
When they reached the door, Damian opened it for her.
She stepped through.
"Thank you."
He nodded.
Vivienne glanced back at him.
At least that hadn’t changed.
They continued toward the vehicle waiting outside.
It was a Toyota Alphard, the large sliding door visible from the entrance.
Damian walked ahead and opened it.
Vivienne stopped for half a second.
She waited.
Nothing.
He didn’t raise his arm above the doorway.
Vivienne looked up.
There was more than enough room.
She could have climbed in without worrying about hitting her head.
Her lips twitched.
Oh.
So he had finally realized how ridiculous that looked too.
She almost laughed.
Perhaps he really was embarrassed.
Vivienne climbed into the vehicle.
Damian got in after her.
--
Vivienne settled into her seat.
She glanced toward Damian.
He closed the door, sat down beside her, and fastened his own seatbelt.
Vivienne’s eyes dropped to hers.
She didn’t move.
Last time, Damian had fastened it for her.
She still remembered how surprised she’d been.
At the time, she hadn’t understood why he had done it.
Now she did.
Vivienne waited.
Perhaps he would notice.
Perhaps he would reach over and do it again.
She glanced at him from the corner of her eye.
Nothing.
Damian simply looked ahead.
The vehicle began moving.
Vivienne looked down at the unfastened belt again.
Oh.
So this was how it was going to be.
She considered asking him.
Damian, can you help me with this?
Her lips almost curved.
No.
That would be too obvious.
Besides, if he was being shy because he now knew that she knew, she didn’t want to make him even more embarrassed.
She could be patient.
For approximately thirty seconds.
Vivienne finally fastened the seatbelt herself.
Fine.
She could let him have his dignity.
For now.
The vehicle moved through University Town.
Vivienne looked out the window.
Then she glanced toward Damian.
He was sitting beside her, his head resting lightly against the seat, his eyes closed.
She watched him for a moment.
Was he asleep?
Probably not.
They had barely left the Foundation building.
A small smile appeared on her lips.
He’s pretending.
Vivienne looked out the window again, giving him a few seconds.
Then she glanced back.
Still nothing.
Fine.
If he wanted to pretend to sleep, she could let him.
For approximately ten seconds.
"Damian."
No response.
Vivienne smiled.
"Damian."
Still nothing.
She leaned slightly toward him.
His eyes remained closed.
Definitely pretending.
She lifted one hand, extending her index finger toward him.
She brought it close to his face but stopped just short of touching him.
"Damian."
Nothing.
Vivienne’s smile widened.
All right.
She would give him one last chance.
She moved her fingertip a little closer.
At that exact moment, Damian opened his eyes and turned toward her.
Her fingertip landed lightly against his cheek.
Vivienne blinked.
Then grinned.
"Got you."
Damian stared at her.
For a second, neither of them moved.
Vivienne slowly withdrew her hand.
"You weren’t asleep."
"I was resting."
"With your eyes closed?"
"Yes."
Vivienne laughed softly.
"That’s called sleeping."
"I wasn’t sleeping."
"Mm-hm."
She settled back into her seat.
"I knew it."
Damian looked away again.
Vivienne watched him for a moment.
At least he was talking to her now.
She smiled to herself.
Then she tilted her head.
"You’re very quiet today."
Damian glanced at her.
"Am I?"
"Very."
"I’m usually quiet."
"No."
She shook her head.
"Not with me."
He didn’t answer.
Vivienne waited.
Nothing.
She smiled.
Fine.
If he wasn’t going to give her anything, perhaps she could make him.
She turned toward the window for a moment, then deliberately sighed.
"I thought I was going to be late this morning."
That caught his attention.
"Why?"
Vivienne looked at him with an innocent expression.
"I spent too long getting ready."
His eyes flickered over her.
Just briefly.
But she noticed.
Of course she noticed.
Her smile grew.
"Well..."
She reached up and adjusted a strand of hair.
"I had to make sure I brought everything."
Damian looked at her.
"You nearly arrived late because of that?"
"Almost."
She smiled sweetly.
"But I made it."
She leaned slightly closer.
"Eight fifty-eight."
Damian stared at her for a second.
Then looked away.
Vivienne’s eyes brightened.
There.
He had noticed.
She didn’t need him to say anything.
That little reaction was enough.
She leaned back into her seat.
Maybe he really was shy now that she knew.
And if that was the case, perhaps she could have a little fun with him.
She watched him for another moment.
Then, with a playful smile, she asked,
"Did you miss me?"
Damian went still.
Vivienne’s smile widened.
She had wanted a reaction.
She certainly got one.
--
Tbc