Criminal Love

24. Misunderstandings

It's been a week since they came back from Las Vegas.

Dylan has been distant, and Yue is uncomfortable about his attitude. She has no idea what is going on with him because she doesn't know he heard her that morning saying marrying him would be a mistake, even though he misinterpreted her reasons.

Sadly, Dylan agrees with her -he shouldn't have let his boozy feelings take over-, that is why he is trying desperately to act as nothing more than a friend. On top of that, how can he tell Yue that she's married again, and to a criminal? He is sure she will hate him for that. This is an awful mess.

Today is Friday once again. Dylan wakes up with his white shirt and boxer shorts on; he washes up, goes to the kitchen, and unexpectedly finds Yue sitting on the kitchen counter, her favorite place, evidently.

His heart skips a beat.

Yue didn't go for her morning run because the situation is tense between them, and she cannot bear it anymore. She needs to clear the air.

Dylan gives her a blank look and a nod. He doesn't even say good morning. Where is the adorable man that would brighten up her days with his ear to ear smile, who would make her breakfast almost every morning and couldn't sleep if he didn't hug her goodnight?

On the outside, he still appears the same. His hair is fluffy and shiny, his lips are pink and provocative, but his eyes have been dispirited all week. All Yue craves to do is hug him, choke him with her affection, make him happy again, as she used to. In her face there is apprehension and eagerness, and she chases his eyes desperately, searching for a sign or an answer.

What has happened between them?

Dylan, on the other hand, averts too much eye contact because Yue looks as pretty as always. Her hair is up on a ponytail, her cheeks are squeezable and kissable, she wears shorts and a t-shirt as well, and her exposed legs are alluring, as well as her delicious lips, although they are slanted down.

"Good morning. Did you sleep well?" she asks, trying to break the ice.

"Yes, thanks. You?" Dylan politely answers, opening a cabinet to get the things needed for the coffee machine.

"Can we talk?"

"We are talking..." he replies without even turning his face to her. He simply places the filter in the coffeemaker, fills it with water, takes a few spoonfuls of coffee and flips the ON button.

"What happened? You changed after that night in Las Vegas," Yue questions with a worried tone. "I don't like how things are between us," she tries.

It wasn't the night; it was the morning that changed me... "There is nothing between us..." he calmly replies, as if he honestly believed those words, and strides towards his bedroom to change while the house fills with the smell of fresh brewed java.

Yue sighs. How can he say there's nothing between them? True, she asked him to return the ring at some point, she remembers that, and he took it back, but what happened after the drinking games? Could it be that she told him she did not want to be with him, and she doesn't recall doing it? Why would she say that? What should she do now?

She waits for him for a few minutes, wiggling her legs nervously and exhaling loudly, crouching her shoulders.

Dylan appears like a ghost again. "Sit straight, Shen Yue. You're a lady..." and he speaks in the tone of a parent that instructs a child. He pours a cup of coffee and sips without making a sound, bare-chested, displaying his tattoos, and wearing his slim Calvin Klein blue jeans that his sexy rear-end fills to perfection.

Dammit.

Yue momentarily forgets how to swallow; she is paralyzed from the neck up, her eyes gazing intently at his lean and tall body, examining the ridges of his muscles, while her hands fidget anxiously, and her legs wiggle even faster.