Alexis couldn't keep her gaze locked with him anymore, as she suddenly started feeling shy over whatever she uttered.
She was so frustrated and all over her emotions that she forgot how to control them. She just spelled it herself that she needed someone aside from herself. The last time she told someone something like this and that didn't bring her any good.
But what can she do? She was so tired of running away from her own needs for too long and it was just killing her from inside. How can she ever recover from her wounds if she keeps running from facing them? That's not even healing for her anymore.
Did she ask for too much? Maybe she did. But once in a while she wanted to be selfish, at least she felt like she could be selfish if it was Arthur.
"Look at me," Arthur looked a little displeased as she started averting her eyes from him.
Is he a big fan of eye contact games?
She returned her gaze to the rightful place. "I am."
His muscles relaxed a bit which was hardened a moment ago.
"You didn't cry back then. Never forget that, okay?" And then something unexpected happened. His voice was so soft and calming that she felt herself like the melting ice-cream on her hands. And just as his unexpected change in voice, his hands moved forward as he leaned towards her and cupped her face, rubbing off the trail of tears from it.
All the muscles of her body froze in reaction. She felt a wave of goosebumps on her skin and to her surprise he saw his lips move slowly. It was dangerously too close to her own.
Alexis never willingly dared to observe how handsome of a man he was. Because indulging herself in his bewitching composure and demeanor were already taking a great toll on her. He was indeed a genre himself, incredibly captivating.
She gulped in nervousness as her eyes tried their best to keep them from averting his gaze and looking at places she shouldn't. What was happening to her?
"Listen carefully. You're allowed to cry, allowed to nag, allowed to call me anytime you want. When you feel like you need me, when you feel like you don't need me. It doesn't really matter, but you have to remember you never cried for someone who wasn't worth your tears, so you are not allowed to do that in future too. You are allowed to do everything else apart from that, okay? And you don't have to ask me twice for anything. Never. My words are not going to change no matter what. Being friends or not, you shouldn't really give a fu*k about that."
Alexis quivered in his scrutiny. This guy just royally rejected her offer of friendship again but she didn't feel bad about it anymore. His words were just way more warmer than anything she can ever expect from a friend at this moment. He was supporting her in his own way despite not wanting to be friends with her.
He was a quiet man who loved his personal space and yet he came to her in her need without even asking for it. He didn't ask her what was the matter, maybe just saw the news online and decided to show up. Right now, that was so much more comforting and she felt like hugging that comfort humbly.
She wanted to hug him too, for saying all that despite being a man of few words.
A friendly hug, of course.
And about being friends, she can do something about that slowly later. It was really important because she didn't want to lose contact with him again. And friendship is all she can offer and get in return to keep him close. She had so much to ask him but restrained herself, waiting for the right time. The right time when he will finally consider a friendship with her.
Arthur released her from his hold and pointed to her to finish her almost ruined ice-cream as if he didn't do something so unlike himself just a moment ago.
"Do you know something funny? I like to have ice-cream when I'm sad. Anything sweet works well, honestly," she saved themselves from the awkward pause that followed after he released her cheeks.
Arthur looked at her for a few seconds, restraining himself to say that he already knew that. She was one who told that to him herself. She probably doesn't even remember anything about it anyway.
Only if she knew he had so many things to say and had no idea when was the right time to say those. It's just never the right time for him, because he himself didn't know if the right time ever existed in his chapter of life.
Just as he never got the right time to halt the time and let his desire play him for once.
"Now move from the driving seat. I'll drop you home," he stated, locking all his inner turmoils with his trained stoic look.
"I can manage."
"Lockwood-"
She didn't let him finish his sentence as she pretended to mimic him making her face look super serious.
"I insist, Lockwood."
Arthur's lips curved a bit in an almost smile as he stepped out of the car instantly to hide it. Alexis was almost forced to move to the copilot's seat much to his dominance.
"Thank you."
Alexis felt a lot better than she felt a few minutes ago and she couldn't help but give the whole credit to him, silently with a small thank you.
To her surprise Arthur responded to her.
"You're welcome," he replied, keeping his deep voice simple while focusing his eyes on the road.
Alexis was so sure she was going to miss this man on her next work trip. Definitely.
Time to add another person's name on her 'I'm going to miss them a lot' list after so long, Alexis thought.