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Dad wore an odd expression. “Yes, perhaps a bit too nice.”
My frown deepened. What do you mean?
Dad blew out a breath. “Oh, nothing. Don’t mind me. I don’t know why we’re talking about your ex-girlfriend when there’s a beautiful young woman upstairs who seems to really like you.”
That caught my attention, and I instantly forgot everything else. You think she likes me?
Dad’s smile was gentle. “Yes, son, I do.”
I glanced up just as I heard her coming back down the stairs, and I went into the hallway to meet her at the bottom. “Hey,” she said, then glanced at where her jacket hung on the coat rack. “It’s getting late. I should go.”
I held my hand up for her to wait, then went to grab Daniel’s lead from the hook by the back door. His head whipped up as soon as he saw me holding it, and he ran straight for me before sitting and waiting for me to clip it to his collar. I led him back out where I found Maggie waiting by the front door.
“Oh,” she breathed, her eyes going from Daniel to me. “Are you walking me home?”
I nodded, then quickly signed the question, If that’s okay?
I hoped she remembered the signs I’d taught her during our bus journeys that week. I saw her thinking about it for a moment, as though trying to remember, before she bobbed her head, her eyes returning to mine. “It’s okay.”
Momentarily dropping Daniel’s lead, I went to grab Maggie’s jacket for her. I motioned for her to turn around, so I could help her on with it, and she did so quietly. Then she was facing away from me, and I found myself gathering her soft, silky hair in my hand, so I could slide the jacket over her shoulders. My knuckles unintentionally brushed the back of her neck, and I thought I heard a faint inhale. Something tightened in my gut at the sound of her surprised breath as she slid her arms into the jacket. I reluctantly released her hair. It cascaded down her back as she turned, looking up at me with bright eyes.
“Thank you,” she said, and I nodded, doing my best to ignore how much I enjoyed touching her. I grabbed my coat and shrugged it on, then picked up Daniel’s lead again.
I approached the door and opened it, gesturing for her to go ahead of me. She stepped out, and I followed with Daniel walking at my heel. He’d always been a good dog like that, naturally staying by my side instead of pulling on the leash. Maggie’s floral perfume wafted by my nose as she walked on the other side of me. It was a mild evening, with lots of people out walking or cycling. A chill touched the back of my neck and the tips of my ears, a sign of approaching winter.
“Your family is very nice,” Maggie said, then paused, her eyebrows furrowing. “How long have you and Nigel been friends?”
I softened my gaze, sending her a look of apology for his behaviour, then held up five fingers.
“Five?” she said. “Five years?”
I shook my head. She bit her lip, thinking on it. “Okay, definitely not five decades. You’re not that old yet, I presume?” She shot me a smile, and I grinned. “Oh, since you were five, you mean?” I nodded, and her eyes widened. “Wow, that’s a long time. I haven’t kept in touch with anyone I knew at that age.”
I shrugged, wishing I could explain to her Nigel was a better bloke than how he’d come across. All through school, he’d had my back. He stuck up for me when anyone tried to bully me for being mute. Then I grew big and tall, and less people tried to mess with me. I didn’t need him to defend me anymore, but we still remained the best of friends.
“So, he definitely doesn’t like me,” she continued, then shot me a curious glance as her gaze wandered over me. “He’s not secretly in love with you, is he?”
I smiled wide and shook my head. Nigel wasn’t gay or even bisexual. He was a ladies’ man through and through. He’d always had a string of girlfriends, though, that had ended about a year ago, and he’d been single ever since. I think he decided to take a break from the dating scene.
Maggie grimaced. “Sorry. I had to ask. I guess he just generally doesn’t like me, then. Well, that and—” She stopped mid-sentence like she’d been about to say something before she caught herself.
I paused walking and gently caught her hand in mine. She inhaled sharply at my touch, and I tried not to fixate on how soft and right her palm felt against mine. I stared at her intently, and she grew flustered. Her cheeks reddened, and her eyes flickered away nervously. There was something she wasn’t telling me.
