Catch me when I fall (Rúben Dias)

Chapter 24

"I don't want to talk".

"Well, we are talking so deal with it".

He's never spoken to me like that, but even if his tone is serious, he's not being mean. He sounds...hurt.

"Luna is going to get out if you keep the door open, Grace".

He's right. I can see her getting closer. "Ok, come in".

Even though I'm giving him a cold welcome, Luna is the complete opposite. She keeps walking around his feet, begging for some attention. And for a second he seems to forget I'm there and he indulges the little cat. The traitor.

"You wanted to talk?", I say after a couple of minutes.

"Grace, have I ever given you the impression that you can't tell me things?"

"What do you mean?", he's making no sense.

"I've always listened to you. I've always let you know you can talk to me. But now you stop talking to me completely because of what you think you heard?"

"I know what I heard, Rúben. There is no need to lie. It's fine. I get it. You don't have to want to be with me just because I like you".

He laughs at that. "What you heard was me asking my teammate, who doesn't understand boundaries, to stop teasing me. And to not tease you because I get you need time to process what's happening between us. I know I have to go slow and be patient. And I don't mind. But I also knew his comments were going to make you hide from me. I mean, you thought you heard the complete opposite and look what happened".

You thought you heard the complete opposite...

"Spell it out for me then", I say, somehow feeling the need to act defensively.

"I like you too. But it's not that easy. I got that clearly when we met at the party. You need time to trust people and that's ok. I was fine being your friend for now and I thought everything was going well. But I can't have you running away because of something like this, Grace. You need to communicate with me".

"It just...it hurt to hear those words you said to John".

"I get it", he says, touching my face so I'm looking at him. "If they meant what you thought they did, I'd get it. But they don't. Let me show you they don't. Trust me enough to show you".

"How do I do that?"

"Let me take you out for dinner. As a date. Let me show you I want this like I should have done already".

"Did you finally become a celebrity worthy of getting a table at that Italian restaurant?", I try to joke. And I can see it has worked because some of the tension on his face disappears.

"No, but I'll be able to find another place for us to go to".

**

"I'm still mad at you for talking to him behind my back", I tell Bella when she's helping me get ready for the date.

"I can live with that if it means my friend is happy and not crying because of a misunderstanding".

"Bells, what does it say about me that despite all he's told me, I still don't really believe this is happening? That I still think he's tricking me somehow?"

I can see the fury on her face, but it's not directed at me. "It says that if I ever meet your ex, I'll make him a eunuch".

"Bella!", I say, choking on a laugh.

"I'm not joking. Imagine having someone as beautiful as you and treating her like that. And by that I don't just mean looks. I mean how beautiful you are on the inside. How kind".