I'm Just Curious Too: Reconciliation

Chapter 3

The office was noisy with the sound of printing, chatter on telephones and disarray as it reached the end of a month. Shaun had made it a point to plug in his earphones during these times so that he could focus on completing his load. Today was a day that he needed to gather his nerves. Fabien and his coworker were going to arrive in the office shortly and Dean – his coworker- was going to show them around. Shaun wanted to join just to avoid looking like he was evading Fabien, but the circumstances had worked against him at this time. Three days had elapsed since the meeting and the Marketing Manager had decided to go with Neon Solutions. It was a smidge of dread on Shaun as he would have to spend some time with Fabien, but the larger portion of his heart ate up the excuse of using work to face Fabien. There would be no peace until he got what he wanted, but for the first time, Shaun wasn't sure if his curious persistence would pay off.

The speck of blonde in Shauns' peripheral vision broke his focus and made him turn his head. It was Fabien, holding a clipboard and a pen while trailing behind Dean with Royce. Today he had his hair in a tight bun atop his head and a white button-up shirt with the leaves rolled up to his elbows. His light brown denim jeans attracted a few workers' attention but for Shaun, it was the focused stare Fabien had while listening to Dean explain the placement of what was needed. The intense darting of those blue orbs made Shauns' chest tighten. Fabien had looked way better than when they were together and Shaun was feeling his gut warm with longing... until a pat on the shoulder returned the subtle dread.

"Hey Shaun, do you have the report for Xolo's company? I need a copy of it."

"I'll forward it to you. The bosses have sent a response as well can I forward that?" Shaun asked as he refocused on his machine and opened his emails, sorting through to the desired information.

"That will be super, thanks! I'll copy you in the amendments and the completion of the audit."

Shaun nodded at his coworker and moved on to a different batch of reports.

It was now Fabien that was staring at him. Shaun wasn't too far off from the trio and was clearly under a lot of pressure- which Fabien assumed by the number of files that surrounded his little desk. Shaun had worn a blue button shirt up today and his hair was held all back by gel. He looked worn out but absorbed in whatever he was doing and Fabien had liked the full commitment that Shaun had to important things. A part of Fabien wanted to walk over for a brief greeting but this was work and he was not going to serve as a distraction to either project. After all, Shaun was taken. Fabien did a subconscious scan of Shauns' fingers for a ring and felt slightly relieved in the absence of it. He shook his head slightly upon realizing what he did, and moved when he noticed Royce walking away. They were heading to another department. The two may not interact today. Oh, so both thought before they locked eyes across the room. Shaun blinked as he stared at Fabien who stood by the door with the clipboard lowered to his left side. Fabien smiled and nodded his head, not waiting for a response as he turned to leave. Shaun sat still for a moment and closed his eyes, his mind scattering at the acknowledgment. He had to make a choice and he felt the need to decide sooner rather than later. He wanted Fabien.

....

The day came to a close and Shaun stood in the parking lot by his car with a cigarette pinched between his thumb and forefinger. Halfway smoked, he stared at the building across, daydreaming about the day's events while noticing the paint chipping horribly on the building insight. The cigarette met his lips for another draw before Royce interrupted.

"The point of leaving the office on time is to go home or out at least. What are you looking at?" he asked, turning to look at the building Shaun was intently staring at.

Shaun chuckled and turned his head to blow the smoke away from Royce. "I'm gonna head out. Just taking a moment before I return home."

"Oh, avoiding someone?" Royce looked at Shaun with a wide grin, his eyebrows bobbing up and down to insinuate a partner.

"Yeah, my non-smoking mother," Shaun answered with the last deep pull of the cigarette before he dropped it and stepped on it.

"Ah! I keep forgetting that. Jeez, you need to move out."

"It's not a bad thing. And I am only there temporarily," Shaun explained as he checked his pockets to ensure that he had his wallet, phone, and car keys in place before moving to his door.

Only then did he blow out the smoke he had inhaled, visibly impressing Royce that he held it in through the two sentences.

"Free food, fewer bills – what more could I ask for?" Shaun added as he opened the door.

Royce burst out laughing and shooed Shaun off, turning to walk further to his vehicle.

"Go home, Shaun! And good work today."

Shaun chuckled and waved his bye, slamming the car door shut and turning the key in the ignition. His car came alive and the radio immediately played "I've got you babe" by UB40 at low volume. That caused the smile to crawl onto his face. This coincidentally was the same song from the road trip he had taken with Fabien years back. He couldn't forget that day. He couldn't forget Fabien.

He didn't want to.