Page 12 of All I Want Is Love
I gaze at Aspen, noticing how he chews on a slice of bread, still looking conflicted.
“Aspen, let me do something,” I say quietly. “I know you just want to protect me. I promise I won’t do anything…” My voice trails off like usual when I am trying to voice something difficult. I hate it. I didn’t use to be like that. While I always had difficulties standing up for myself or handling conflicts, I was able to voice my feelings and wishes.
Soren nods encouragingly at me before tearing his gaze away and pretending to be busy looking at his phone.
“I promise I won’t do anything stressful. Nothing that will push me too much.”
Aspen looks gloomy. “I am sorry, I am probably a little too overbearing right now.”
“Nah, it’s okay, but let me do something, please,” I say, slowly finding my footing in this talk. This is just Aspen, my brother!No need to chicken out. “It doesn’t need to be work, just anything.”
“Robin goes Christmas decoration shopping to East Sunhaven,” he says.
I perk up. “Oh?”
“For the coffee shop & library,” Aspen continues.
“Someone needs to keep an eye on him,” Soren grins. “Or the coffee shop will be crowded by pink unicorns again, like last year.”
“For real,” Aspen groans.
“Can I take Barkley along?” I ask Soren.
He nods. “He loves driving. He just wants to be with his human, and people here are used to dogs. He is pretty much welcomed anywhere.”
“Good.” I nudge Aspen. “Send me a list. I can make sure that we get everything.”
Aspen takes his phone, typing something. “You should have gotten it by now.”
I gaze at my phone, noting the incoming message with the list attached to it. At the same time, my gaze falls on Soren’s business card. Without overthinking it, for once, I add his number.
Thank you.I type swiftly before putting my phone away.
Soren gazes at his phone and briefly smiles at it. He turns his head towards me and nods.
five
*LEO*
This means I own your number now.
When I sent Soren my 'Thank you‘ message earlier, I didn’t even think of it as a way to give him my number, but now that it happened, I am actually happy he has my contacts.
Are you at work?I ask, because I have no idea how to react to his first message.
Currently on my way to a farm. They have an issue with one of their horses.
I hope it’s nothing too grave.
Don’t worry, it should be a routine visit. Do you know why horses can’t dance?
No…
They have two left feet!
I hold back my chuckle not to alert Robin, who is currently driving. I don’t want to explain what makes me laugh, because unfortunately for me, I am the world’s worst liar and also the world’s least spontaneous person. I am the kind of person who spends hours afterward thinking what I could or should have said.
So, if Robin should notice me laughing and asked about it, I’d try to come up with an excuse. I’d fail miserably, and then feel bad and think he would be hurt.
