Love At First Text ✔️

Her

No texts for this one as it is a straight continuum. So I'll let you get straight to it.

———

Sebastian's presence in her home was so overwhelming, Eden struggled to drawn breath. It shouldn't have been, for he had been here before, twice now, and never before had he seemed so overbearing.

Perhaps it was because she hadn't expected him – and despite the fact she managed to play it cool at the door (she hoped), her nerves were sparking through her like electricity. He followed her into the kitchen as she tried to busy herself with the flowers. They would survive on the countertop for the duration of this conversation, but she needed a minute – more than a minute – to gather herself. And so, she was taking her sweet time finding a vase and filling it with water. Then the flower feed taped to the cellophane that wrapped the flowers. Then she spread them gently until they looked pretty. They already were pretty, but she was looking for any excuse.

She took the vase in her shaky hands and carried it into the living room, Sebastian still tailing her. Eden sat it on the windowsill, breathing deeply, and then when she could do little more than face the music, she turned around.

"Thank you." She managed to say, the words riding on little more than a breath. "They're very beautiful."

"That's why they made me think of you." He replied without missing a beat. That smile grew across her lips. He always knew how to make it show itself, even when she didn't want to.

"So," she began, sitting herself on the sofa. There was room beside her for Sebastian, but he ignored it, crouching on the floor opposite her. Her brows shot up at the action.

"I'm not going to say sorry." Her jaw dropped somewhat. Was he serious? "Not because I'm not, but because that word means fuck all unless I support it with actions." Oh.

"Alright." She nodded.

He sighed. Reached for her hand. She let him take it into his. "As much as I've hated this space, it's helped me think. Take the time to understand what made you so upset. Not that I didn't understand before, but it's..." his words fell short as he tried to explain. Pain flashed across his features as he struggled to explain. She hated that.

"I know what you mean. It's okay." She understood what he was trying to say. She wasn't going to force him to stumble on his words until he found the right one. "You've reflected." She aided.

"Yes! Yes, I've reflected. And upon that reflection," that smile again. He smiled too. "I really get it. The list seemed less like something thoughtful, and more like it charity. It made you feel as though I was trying to do you a favour by taking you out, and not because I wanted to. Am I right? I don't want to mansplain your feelings to you."

She huffed a half sort of laugh. "Yes. You're right." He nodded, squeezing her hand.

"The fact I made you feel like that has broken me, Eden. I am beyond gutted, because I promise you, it was never my intention. Clearly, past me doesn't consider the grand scheme of things. Two days ago, I can honestly say I had forgotten all about that list. It didn't matter to me anymore. All that mattered was that we were spending time together, and I just wanted to make you happy, and laugh, and when I was the reason for it, that was my purpose." She thought, then, she had never seen him look quite so sincere. "You are my purpose, for everything. You hold my heart in your hands in a way that no one else ever has, and the thought of you walking out of my door on Wednesday and that being it – it ruined me."

Tears were rolling over her cheeks. Her bottom lip was wobbling. Sebastian delicately wiped her face with the tips of his fingers. "Please don't cry." He said softly.