They walked in silence untill Florentine decided to break it. “How old are you?” She blurted.
“Thirty two.” Carl answered and her heart dipped. She swallowed hard. A decade gap shouldn’t be of much concern.
What in heavens was she even thinking? She yelled within. No, this was bad. She should have been fifteen years older, that way the difference would seem outrageous.
“I’m forty one.”
“I wasn’t going to ask and you didn’t need to tell me just because you asked my age.”
“Well, I just did.”
“You could pass off as someone in her thirties. You just have a more mature behavior. You mother everyone, so it can’t be helped.”
“I’ll say you flatter about the thirty stuff.”
“Late thirties.” He said feeling amused.
“That’s a cruel joke.” They both laugh and silence followed. She couldn’t believe she just laughed.
They arrive at the tennis court and go to sit there.
She rubs her shoulder feeling chills from the night’s cold.
“You should have gotten something thicker.” She looked at him glaring but he smiles uneasily, backing out.
They wait in silence and she gets nervous waiting for him to talk. She holds her breath not wanting him to hear the sound of her breath. She didnt want to move as well to avoid getting his attention. It was laughable when she was just sitting right next to him.
“You….”
“I….”
They both spoke at the same time and things got awkward.
“You go first.” She said and he nodded.
“I’ve been thinking about that night i barged into your room and I know you haven’t told anyone about it. Why did you remain silent?”
“I thought you were going to apologize.”
“I’d get to that but first I just want to know.” She looks at him and his eyes is narrowed as he looks at her with so much interest. She wavers and feels speechless.
‘ You really have to stop looking at me like that.’ She said within her, admitting that his stare was somewhat uncomfortable for her.
” I thought I’d be thrown out of the mansion by now.”
“And have Thea hate me for that?”
“If you know Thea the way I believe you do then we both know that she would be on your side.” He said and she stared at him.
“I just didn’t want to ruin their moment with what happened. Angel and Thea are back together nothing else matters.”
“I harassed you.”
“You didn’t want to harm me. You were just scared. You said that or am I wrong?”
Carl remained silent for some seconds
“No, you’re right. I’m sorry Florentine. I’m really sorry for the way I treated you. For disrespecting you….. I was an asshole.”
Florentine sighs deeply feeling relieved from his apology. He looked so sincere and it was attractive on him now.
That’s alright everyone looks attractive with good virtues.’ she spoke within her justifying why she saw Carl more differently now. It was a harmless leap of the heart. Anyone could make her heart leap with those words. She thought to herself.
“I hope we can get along from now on. I don’t plan to be here forever, I just want to make sure that Thea reunites with her mother then I can leave knowing that I watched after her.”
“You must really care about Thea.”
“I do.” She smiles uneasily having her suspicions.
“Did you ever….”
“It was her mother.” He cut her off.
“What?” Florentine was confused.
“I was in love with Thea’s mum so naturally I cared for her because I felt the need to protect what was important to her mum.”
Florentine was taken aback recalling when he said he liked older women. He was referring to Thea’s mum.”
“I hope I cleared your doubts.” He said it in a way that made her feel he was trying to assure her that he had no feelings for Thea.
“Love doesn’t die easily so I’m guessing you still love her mother.”
“Well, I didn’t love her as much as her husband did. I still do care about Louisa a lot. I’d protect her and Thea anytime, any day but I already accepted that I can’t have her. I’ve had my share of heartbreak. It doesn’t hurt anymore.”
He didn’t answer the question in a way that set her mind at ease instead he made her feel the need to get his attention. Why did she need to do that? This night together with him was a mistake. She was getting confused.
She exhaled deeply but the feelings that swarm into her heart minutes ago didn’t leave. Something changed this night and she knew it was something she had to fight to get rid of.
“I should get back inside.” She said and Carl seemed disappointed. Deep inside her, she wanted him to ask her to stay.
“I guess it’s a goodnight then.” She felt disappointed but smiled it off instead. She stood up, dusted her butt and began leaving feeling a stab to her heart with what Carl had revealed about Thea’s mum.
“I didn’t know I was forbidden from walking you back.” Carl said behind her causing her to stop. She held her breath so that her heart didn’t leap again. Then she released it slowly.
“I didn’t think you wanted to.”
“Of course I want to.” He said running towards her and her heart failed her when she felt him behind her. It began pounding loud against her chest. How was she so moved by him as if her heart had been waiting all these years for him to come along so that it could react so shamelessly.
They walked back to her room without saying a word till they got to her door.
“So, it’s goodnight….” Carl said sounding unwilling to leave which Florentine could sense and surprisingly she wasn’t tired of having him around.
“Goodnight Carl.” She said and opened her door.
“I really enjoyed spending time with you tonight.” He said surprising her. She was rude to him and yet he was saying that. He wasn’t making things any easy for her. She nodded and smiled and pushed the door wider.
“Florentine.” He called stopping her again. She looked at him waiting for him to say something but was cut off guard when he suddenly went to her and hugged her.
“This was my best day, ever since I came here. It’s nice having your company, I hope you don’t treat me like a stranger after today.” He said and she just stared at him speechless.
“Goodnight.” She said making no promises then she got into her room and locked it.
She rested her back against the door and listened to know if he was gone but She couldn’t tell. She let out a deep breath and everything he said just replayed in her head.
His words excited her so much and it worried her. She was still in denial and tried to believe that she was rather excited to have company? There was no way she was getting attracted to a man younger than her when they barely had enough encounters.
She needed to keep her distance from him and figure how to get rid of this confusion before things got out of hand.