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We’re not outside for more than five minutes before the guy we’re avoiding finds us.
“Has your mother had a chance to think about my offer?” Mr Lightwood asks.
“Nope,” Nellie says bluntly.
“When are you going to get the message?” I ask, throwing my hands up in the air.
“This has nothing to do with you,” he says to me.
“Look, Mr Lightwood, my mother doesn’t need to speak to you. I’m telling you to get lost.”
“I can see I’ve made a mistake approaching you with your boyfriend. Have a good day.” He tips his imaginary hat and makes a hasty retreat.
We’re quiet for a few minutes while we stew over what just happened.
“You didn’t need to do that. I can handle myself.” She crosses her arms, closing off her stance. Her whole demeanour towards me changes, and I don’t like it.
“I’m sorry. I was just looking out for you.”
Once everyone’s in the car, we drive home mostly in silence. A tense atmosphere is hanging over us and I’m unsure how to defuse it. Nellie doesn’t say much as I drop her off, and I don’t push to be invited inside.
CHAPTER Fifteen
Nellie
The doorbell rings, and the same delivery driver as yesterday hands me a bunch of wildflowers. For the last three days, I’ve received beautiful bouquets.
“What does the card say this time?” Ainsley asks.
“I’m not sure yet.” I put them in a makeshift vase with the rest of them. The large bowl is now full and it doesn’t do the flowers justice. Christopher is the first man to ever send such a gift. They’re nice, but unnecessary. I’ve already apologised for overreacting to his response to Mr Lightwood. Pulling the envelope out of the stems, I read his words.
Let me take you out on a real date.
Ainsley doesn’t care about my privacy as she reads the message along with me. “Wow. This is more than a few kisses. He must be getting serious about you. Are you going to go?”
“I’m not sure. Our arrangement never included dates.” This might be an apology offering, or it could be more. If he didn’t have feelings for me, he wouldn’t care that we had a disagreement.
“Why not give him a chance?” Ainsley shrugs like it should be the easiest decision in the world.
“What’s the point if we don’t have a future?” Christopher is afraid of commitment. I’m not sure how he’s going to overcome his fear.
“If you don’t hear him out, you don’t know that. Sometimes people change their minds. He seems to like you as more than a friend. You never know where your relationship could lead.”
Ainsley’s right. I want to spend time with Christopher, and I may have acted irrationally at gymnastics. If I don’t take a risk by letting him get close, I won’t know what we could be. “Fine. I’ll call him.”
She pushes me toward the stairs. “You’d better.”
I roll my eyes, but I’m happy to connect with Christopher. There’s a skip in my step as I make my way to my room. Without hesitation, I hit dial on his number.
He answers on the third ring. “Hello,” he says.
“Hi, Christopher. It’s Nell.”
“Yes, I know. Your name popped up on my screen. Are you calling to arrange our date?” The pitch of his voice rises toward the end like he’s optimistic.
I sit on the bed, pulling my legs up. “What makes you think I’m going to accept?”
“I’m hoping you are.” He sounds unsure of himself, and it makes my stomach jolt. Christopher is a confident man and doesn’t usually waver. Does he care about me more than I realised? No. I can’t think like that.
