Chapter 21 #2
I quickly pad over to the table, where the little girl leans over the cape they’re decorating.
I wish I had a moment to just watch them interact, him handing her different colored sequins as she focuses intently on gluing them in the perfect spot.
He smiles softly, making my heart twist in my chest at how sweet and gentle he really is.
He may not look like it from the outside, but Steele Harlow is a softy…
at least when it comes to dogs and children.
Adults, we’re still working on, but we’ll get there.
Catching me out of the corner of his eye, he turns, an adorable grin tugging at one corner of his mouth. “Hey, there,” he says. “This is Abby, and she’s lending me her amazing cape-making skills, so I look extra cool in front of the other kids.”
The little girl looks up at me with a quick wave before returning to her work. I chuckle at her nonchalant response, leaning down to whisper in his ear.
“Mitch is here,” I say, noticing the way the muscles in his jaw tick in response.
He tries to remain stoic in case of onlookers, focusing his eyes on the fabric in front of him while he listens intently.
“I’m going down the hall to talk to him privately about everything.
I just want to ensure that he knows where I stand and make my boundaries clear. ”
“I have my phone,” he mumbles. “If he so much as lays a finger on you, text me. I’m not kidding, Syd.” I can tell he’s doing his best to remain calm, and while I appreciate his protective reaction, I can handle this on my own.
“I will,” I answer. “I’ll be right back.”
Minutes later, I’m being ushered through the open archway that leads to a brightly lit lounge.
The walls are white, with what looks to be hand-drawn children’s art displayed along each one.
The seating and tables are an array of vibrant colors, tying the entire area together and making it look fun and inviting.
But I’m certainly feeling the tension swirling in the air as we both sit down on opposite ends of a plush, red couch.
He doesn’t speak, presumably because I asked to talk, so I take the opportunity to let it all out at once, awkwardness be damned.
“I’m sorry for running out the other night,” I say, looking at my hands that are twisted together in my lap.
“When you asked me to go to the ball with you, I was under the impression that it was going to be as friends. It was brought to my attention that you were possibly looking for more, and I denied it because our relationship has always been platonic. But when I took a step back and really looked at it, I realized that maybe you and I aren’t on the same page. ”
I finally get the courage to look up at him. His expression is somber, like he knows what I’m about to say, so I continue, not wanting to make this any more uncomfortable than it already is.
“You’ve been a good friend to me for our entire lives, Mitch.
I respect you for all the work you do for the community, and I’m so proud to know you.
Maybe I’m way off base here, and you don’t have romantic feelings for me, but I want to make sure you know that I don’t see things between us that way.
I should’ve made that clearer, but to be honest, it never even crossed my mind that you would want anything more than friendship from me. ”
He’s quiet for nearly a minute as he processes, the silence in the room louder than any club or bar I’ve ever been to.
My heart pounds behind my rib cage, my stomach churning with anxiety because I hate the thought of hurting anyone.
But I really don’t want to continue tiptoeing around the situation now that I’m fully aware of it.
That’ll only damage what’s left of our relationship moving forward, and that’s something I really don’t want.
He takes a deep breath, blowing it out slowly before pressing his lips into a flat line.
He doesn’t look directly at me, picking a spot on the floor to focus on as he answers.
“You’re right. I’ve had more-than-friendly feelings for you for years.
At first, I tried to push them away because you were younger than me, and our personalities were so different.
Where I’m a workaholic who likes to stay home, you’re always on the go and love the nightlife.
I didn’t think we’d ever work, but when I saw how serious you were about helping Steele get involved with the hospital and showing the city that your dad made a good decision with him, I realized that there’s so much more to you than partying and clubs.
I thought maybe you were settling down, and it made me want more.
I was wrong for assuming you’d feel the same.
I’m also sorry for inviting you to be my date under false pretenses.
I should’ve been honest with you instead of assuming you’d be okay with me trying to court you for real. ”
“I forgive you,” I say, steeling my expression so he knows I’m serious.
“But I don’t appreciate being misled. I’ve known and trusted you since before I can remember, so the fact that you had these feelings and weren’t open about them is really hurtful.
You’re a good guy, Mitch, and one day, you’ll find someone who complements you and your lifestyle perfectly.
But that will never be me. Going forward, we’re friends, and that’s it. Okay?”
“Yeah,” he rasps, his shoulders slumping in defeat.
I feel bad, but I know that if I hadn’t addressed this, it would’ve made things weirder between us.
We may need some time to get back to the way things used to be, but at least the weight is off my shoulders, and I don’t have to worry about leading him on.
He looks up, his gaze finally connecting with mine.
I can tell he’s sad, and maybe a little embarrassed, but he manages a smile as he stands from the couch.
I follow, waiting to see if he has anything else to add, so nothing is left unsaid.
But he just wipes his hands on his pants before tossing a thumb over his shoulder.
“I should probably get back to work. If you need anything at all, you know where to find me.”
“Thank you, Mitch.”
Without another word, he turns and walks toward the exit, stopping beneath the archway and facing me once more. “I hope he’s good to you. You deserve the best, Sydney.”
He leaves me alone in the room, my jaw going slack as the sentiment sinks in.
I don’t know if he saw me leave with Steele, or if we’re not hiding our emotions very well in front of others, but clearly, he knows what’s going on.
It’s been getting harder and harder not to smile every time Steele is near, and after the other night, all I want to do is hold his hand and walk as close to him as I can.
But we need to remain professional, at least when we’re in public.
His career is too fragile right now to rock the boat in any way.
Until Steele proves to my dad that he’s a valuable part of the team and community, we have to keep whatever is happening between us under wraps, no matter what.