A Broken Forever(106)

"That is exactly what I want. I understand the sudden need to reach out and grab my hand because I have those feelings too. We just have to work at keeping the touches to a safe friendly amount."

"We can do this."

"We can." I smiled. The sincerity in his eyes and the curves of his lips warmed my soul. Stefan meant every word he said and in the end, that was all I desired. Together we could work this out and that was a dazzling thought.



As the next week passed, everything only got better.

Every day the routines stayed the same; I spent my lunch hours with Stefan and my evenings with Richard. The extra effort we put into keeping our relationship light was working immensely. We still sat next to each other in the break room, and if we took a little walk around the neighborhood he'd sling an arm around my shoulders. He said hello and goodbye with a hug that never lingered too long, or even had the hint of expecting anything more.

On Thursday we drove to a nearby park and ate at the picnic tables while the sun shone brightly down upon us. My heart fluttered the way the sun caught the endless shades of blue in his eyes. Stefan's phone was set on some music playlist that offered a little background noise. One song began and Stefan's aura radiated with euphoria. The music was set so low I hardly ever noticed it. He picked up the phone, restarted the song and turned the volume to its peak. Setting the phone back he held down his hand to me.

I eyed it suspiciously, but Stefan absolutely glowed with delight and there was no way I could say no. I was on my feet and suddenly held in his arms in a slow dance, moving back and forth. 

"Stefan?"

"Shhh, just listen. I love this song."

I stopped talking and let him lead us in a gracefully playful dance. He twirled me out, and spun me back in. My cheeks stung with the never relenting smile in place. Stefan's grin never dropped either and for five minutes we did nothing but dance, and stare. The melody was coming to an end; when I twisted back into his arms for the final time, I caught the tail end look of melancholy. He recovered again with a smile, but this one didn't make him shine like the others. I didn't understand what was happening but I couldn't bear to imagine the thoughts racing through his mind that brought that reaction around.

I laid my chin against his shoulder and let the music come to a close; with nothing but the feeling of our bodies dancing together.

Friday was a morning filled with debate for me. I wanted to go to Stefan with lunch again but that downhearted expression upon his face haunted my thoughts. It was impossible to shake the feeling that something was off. My willpower unsuccessfully managed to stay away and for the most part the meal went well.

Right before I had to say goodbye that look came back. Organizing a few papers on his desk he was able to shield it a bit, but I still saw. He didn't know I was watching and that made me unable to turn away. The week had been wonderful, at least I thought so. I was seeing now though that maybe that perception wasn't returned. I had to make that pain fade away and in a rash decision asked if he wanted to go to the Farmer's market with me Saturday afternoon. The depths of his misery eased up-somewhat-at least he still agreed.

We planned for him to pick me up from my house at 11:00 the next morning. By then Richard would be at work for his next 30-hour shift and we had the whole day to walk about together.



The second I was in Stefan's car I had almost immediately noticed a complete 180 from yesterday. The melancholy was no longer prominent, and playfulness took over. Changing the radio stations from his song to mine had us laughing like school children. Reaching my hand across to unclick his seat belt immediately, bringing out obnoxiously persistent little beeps. He cast me an unimpressed glare that had me cracking up even more each time. In the middle of my fun and games my cell phone buzzed with an incoming call. The air in the car quickly filled with the tension as we both expected the same person-Richard.

A shaky glance later and I practically sighed with relief that the call was only my mother.

Stefan grinned wickedly. "My turn to have some fun."

"Don't you dare!" I mouthed out with my most terrifying glower. "Hi mom." I answered.

"Greyson, where are you? Please tell me you're on your way to the bridal shop!"

The instant I started talking, Stefan reached over and pinched the exact spot on my side that tickled me the most. "Headed to the … farmer's market." My breath caught and I tried to jump away from Stefan's touch. "Why would I go there?"

"Greyson Rose Desmond, tell me you are joking right now."

I opened my mouth to respond and Stefan's fingers poked my hip, just below by rib cage and directly below my bra strap. It honestly amazed me that he remembered my prime tickly points. I became breathless trying to avoid him, not laugh out loud, and hold a conversation with my mother.