Climb | ✔

Chapter 22 | Two Minutes

It should have come as no near surprise that Winter's mother had once again cancelled their plans to meet. Now, on a Friday night where all she should have tasted was a nice three course meal, Winter instead had the bitterness of familial rejection lingering on her tongue.

It really was no surprise, Winter thought. In fact, as far as she was concerned, it was class-A Maddison Levenson behavior. It physically pained her that she was dumb enough to expect anything less.

For that precise reason, she was presently huddled by the backdoor of Sharpton Rocks after her shift, fingers dancing across her forehead and temples soothingly. It offered no comfort.

The creaking din of the large metal door came loud in Winter's ear, only softened by the click of the lock as it shut. She saw Murdoch crouch beside her in her periphery.

"You okay?" he asked, concern rising from his scowling lips up to his pursed brows. He offered her a drink from his canister.

Winter was pleased to find it was plain old water. "Just a little headache," she said, swiping at the corner of her lip as she handed the drink back. "Thanks."

"No problem," he said before taking his own swig.

They sat in silence until Winter's phone buzzed. It was Rose, texting to let her know that she'd no longer be able to pick her up until later due to a rush-order she forgot to deliver. It was 8:13pm at the moment, and Rose wouldn't be available until at least 9:00pm. Thus marked her second desertion of the day.

Winter sighed before she realized it, prompting Murdoch to ask, "Something wrong?"

Winter looked at him with bewilderment, not privy to the fact that she let her inner turmoil leak out where it could be seen and dwelled upon. She was already working up an excuse when the gentle look in his eyes stopped her.

"Lost my ride," she said honestly, but tried to mask her feelings anyway with a lopsided smile.

Murdoch knew well enough when Winter was lying by now. He looked at her long and hard, past the soft smile of her lips and shining eyes and into the space between himself and her that she so desperately was trying to create.

"I'm off now," he offered, the brassiness of his voice coming off as tentative, warm, and inviting. His lips were curved into a smile Winter once would consider uncharacteristic of Murdoch, but more recently became the very image she associated with him.

"Oh, no. It's no big deal. It's only a fifteen minute walk."

Murdoch chuckled at her attempt to deny him, his broad shoulders shaking lightly as he looked up into the darkened sky. "It's dark out," was all he said.

They stared at each other, as if their gazes alone could force the other to give in. Winter blushed and broke eye contact first.

"Okay," she acquiesced, knowing there was no use fighting on the matter.

Murdoch went back in to collect his pack and keys and they strode out together into the parking lot. When his black SUV was in sight, Murdoch rounded over to the passenger side door, his fingers looping through the handle and tugging just short of actually opening the door for Winter.

He turned to look at her instead, a strange expression crossing his face as he did so. When Winter met his gaze, he looked as though he'd been caught, flinching away to instead look over the roof of his car and across the lot.

There was a beat of silence before he asked, or rather, said, "Nice night for a walk."

He looked back at Winter when she didn't reply, her round face illuminated by the clear night sky. She seemed as though she were searching for something deeper in his statement, and he stiffened at the thought.