Invisible String

Chapter Five - Gave Me No Compasses, Gave Me No Signs

"It's nice to meet you," is all Stefani can think of to say. It's actually hilarious that she's at a loss for words because she can count the number of times on one hand when she was at a complete verbal deficit and this particular moment is top tier.

She'd always thought her love language was touch. A hand on a shoulder, an embrace, even the slight brushing of fingers...she responded positively to affection, both the giving and reception. Not only responded, but needed it to thrive like a plant relied on the sun.

The significance of that very first touch was something she had already known to be very powerful. It was the initial indicator of connection and she could almost always tell if someone was bound to be in her life or not.

But as Bradley's fingers slipped through hers and in turn, hers threaded through his, as if by design, she was taken aback. Floored by how much a simple gesture could be so entirely familiar.

Surprising, and even more so in the way it was so natural. No awkward fumbling, no cold, clammy skin that was so often the benchmark of the first handshake.

No, this was warm skin on warm skin and it was natural, as though they had held hands a thousand times before.

He isn't at all phased by her lack of poise in the situation; in fact, a blush has risen in the apples of his cheeks and he quickly drops their intertwined hands.

She recognizes that flicker of self-doubt, sees the question in his eyes that asks if he's held on too long or done something to make her uncomfortable and she wants to reassure him that he hasn't, but he's saying something that she forces herself to concentrate on.

"Bradley," is what she catches and it takes her a moment to determine he's introducing himself.

"I know," she nearly replies, purely as a reflex, but thankfully she manages to swallow it down.

"From Starbucks," he blurts, shaking his head as an immediate follow-up. "I'm sorry...this is just---"

"Insane," she smiles in acknowledgement, "a little, isn't it."

"You must know Jennifer then. That's why you look so familiar! We must've met before. Maybe at one of her parties?"

His desperation in trying to figure it out, coupled with the fact he's completely flustered, is adorable and as much as she's tempted to let him go on, she decides to cut him a break.

"We definitely have, but it wasn't at a party. You don't remember, do you?"

His gaze sweeps over her face. "I like to think I'd remember you."

It's the way that his eyes go through three moon phases of blue in the span of thirty seconds that sends little shockwaves into the lower part of her stomach. The sensation makes her clear her throat.

"We didn't talk, not really...so..."

Awkwardness wasn't generally a part of her personality; she prided herself on being comfortable around anyone and the stumbling was a real mind fuck; one she doesn't think she likes.

A quick buzz of her phone cuts through the tension and she digs it out of her pocket, frowning as she reads

"I actually have to go," she says hastily. Time has seem to have stood still in the little back garden and cutting through the spell seems almost wrong somehow.

Bradley blinks rapidly and she can tell he's on a similar wavelength. "Oh. Uh, yeah, yeah, of course. No problem. I'll see you at the rehearsal dinner later, then?"

She sees how he's making a mental note to ask Jennifer what the connection is, the way the wheels are turning in his head and this odd wave of affection sweeps over her.