• Rose In The Dark • (GxG)

Chapter Nineteen

Noah

Eight in the evening couldn't arrive fast enough, for I'd been anxious about this conversation with my fiancé all day.

I should've told her. And now, I'm afraid I'm doing it too late.

This reason was one of many why I preferred to be alone, especially after my divorce. Because not only did I want to protect myself, but I couldn't risk the safety of anyone that became close to me. I couldn't forgive myself if anything happened to them. Again...

Getting home just after the sun had closed out for the day- welcoming the night in a peaceful calm even for the busyness of Chicago's streets- I entered the empty garage with a sigh.

She wasn't home yet. And so, my anxiety prolongs.

In many ways, Milan can be unpredictable. It's one of the multiple things that I endlessly adore about her, but it also makes the woman pretty difficult to read at times.

Some things she feels deeply about, and others she couldn't care less. The simplest scene in a lighthearted movie will have her in sobbing tears, meanwhile she'll watch a horror film with a straight face. Hell, she'll even break out laughing from time to time. All while my heart will be beating out of my chest as I watch through the peek of my hand over my eyes and my head glued to her shoulder.

I didn't want her to worry about Blair, or for her to think there was anything going on between us.

We work together and see one another often in passing, but that was it. My heart belongs solely to Milan, and I was beginning to fear just how well she knew and understood that. I knew that she trusted me, but I was afraid of today giving her a reason to doubt me. Especially considering what I now have to tell her.

Tonight I was cooking, for take-out had occupied most of our busy week when it came to dinner, or any meal really.

Not that it was either of our fault, it just happens from time to time. Our off days, however, have always done an excellent job at making up for it. Although with tomorrow in mind, I wanted to kick things off a little early, in hopes of getting her to relax and possibly cool her down if she's pissed at me right now.

That part probably stressed me more than the talk ahead.

Not that it's often, or ever really, but I hate it more than anything when she's upset with me. I just wanted to make sure that we were okay.

Making rice bowls with honey sriracha chicken and sauteed vegetables, I was in the middle of tossing the veggies in the frying pan with a spritz of teriyaki sauce when I felt the hardwood floor rumble a bit. It made me bite my lip upon the subtle increase of my heartrate now as I pretended that my thoughts weren't beginning to spin.

Earlier, I'd tried talking to her when meeting her in the car after having words with Blair.

I couldn't tell how she was feeling, and the second she said we'd talk about it later made things no better. The entire ride, she was calm and quiet in a way that let me know she had retreated to her head, possibly assessing through her initial emotions to find a reasonable reaction and response.

It was what she did when she felt as though something shouldn't bother her. But that right there only told me everything I needed to know. That it did in fact bother her...

Keys rattled outside the garage door entrance just a few steps away from the kitchen, where I stood at the stovetop. Seconds later, in she walked, wearing her same outfit from this morning and looking beautiful as always.