Kiss me if you dare [ENGLISH]

Chapter 22

Fleur

It buzzed again as she pressed the doorbell once more. The frost that had formed on the window made it impossible to see inside and determine if anyone was home.

By this point, her shoes were thoroughly soaked from the snow that had melted during her journey, and she could almost smell the musty odor of her damp socks. Fortunately, it took no more than fifteen seconds before she noticed a shadow moving in the hallway.

Gabriel was clearly in a bad mood, that was evident. His brown eyes narrowed, and his lips turned downward in discontent. At this point, she might as well have been just another unfortunate salesperson struggling for commissions during the winter months.

"Can I come in?"

Fleur was no longer sure if she was welcome, not after she had abruptly left without warning. But Gabriel opened the door just enough to make room for her.

In front of the scratched mirror by the coat rack, she tousled her hair as much as she could. The snowstorm she had forced herself through just a short while ago was evident, as there were still plenty of snowflakes clinging to her dark locks.

"I thought about calling you, but my phone died."

"You could have borrowed someone's phone at the police station."

He was, of course, right, and even though Fleur refused to admit it, she constantly came up with new excuses to avoid the painful truth.

"I know I'm showing up unannounced, but I promise to leave tomorrow."

"Fleur..."

She dragged herself into the kitchen without checking if he was following. It was expected.

"After that, I won't bother you anymore."

She carelessly pulled out a chair and suddenly lost all strength in her body as she sank into the seat.

Gabriel leaned against the table, but he didn't sit down. "Fleur, now listen to me. I can only help you if you let me, but all this time you've been keeping things from me." He raised his voice. "Out of the blue, the police call from a completely different city and tell me you're in custody! I mean, who are you anymore?!"

A few blood vessels became visible just under his rolled-up sleeves, and his nostrils flared uncontrollably. Fleur bit her lip. There was no good answer to the question. She was too preoccupied with figuring it out herself.

"I don't know!" she blurted out and buried her face in her hands in frustration. Her legs were already trembling, and she drowned in lies.

"Here," he sighed and handed her a mandarin.

Both of them were equally tired of all these meaningless conflicts that had flared up recently.

"You can stay here tonight. Patricia is working the night shift."

Fleur nodded gratefully and started peeling the fruit.

"So..." He finally sat down and clasped his hands in front of him. The anger that had been present just a moment ago was gone now. "Do you feel like telling me what's going on?"

The juice from the wedge was tart and delightful as it spread inside her mouth. She could have come up with another twisted version of the truth, but it wouldn't serve any purpose.

"Okay." She took a deep breath and glanced at the candles on the windowsill. "I met her parents, in Dumfries. I talked to them." Fleur expected another moral lecture about how wrong it was, but all he did was urge her to continue.