Lin jogged slowly back to the apartment.
He felt so much better for some fresh air and was ready to get back to work.
He took his phone out of his pocket and realised he had a message from Gia.
'I'm sorry. I was going to wake you but you looked so peaceful. You've been working so hard I wanted to let you rest. I'll try and call you later. Things are a bit manic here though so may not get chance tonight x'
He frowned, feeling a mixture of relief and further confusion.
"She's working through the night as well? What's going on."
Shaking the thought off he undressed quickly and got in the shower.
"So tell all!"
Zuri was nearly bursting with excitement. Wanting to hear all about Lin.
Iris laughed as she wound down to a slow jog next to her friend.
"Not much to tell! They're both really normal."
"Oh come on Iris. Give me SOMETHING juicy!"
She stopped and drank from her bottle.
Iris looked thoughtful.
"Oh, well he does like to walk round with nothing on most nights, even when they have visitors, so I suppose there is that."
Zuri choked on her water spluttering it on the floor.
"WHAT?! NO WAY!"
Iris laughed.
"Of course not! Like I said they're both just normal people."
"Oh, well you're just hilarious aren't you."
"I try to be."
"Keep trying. Tell you what though. I would pay good money to see his naked ass walk round my living room.."
"Zu!! For God's sake!"
"Do NOT tell me you haven't noticed how hot he is. Just don't!"
Iris smiled coyly and looked at the floor.
"Of course I've noticed. I'm not blind. Gia is beautiful though and they're such an amazing couple. It feels wrong to even think of him that way."
"Wrong for you maybe. For me however..... he can occupy my thoughts as often as he wants doing all manner of things he shouldn't be doing."
"ZURI!"
"What! Don't pretend you've not even fleetingly thought about it."
"I haven't!"
Zuri stopped and stared at her friend.
"What?! I haven't! Ok!... maybe I have. Just for a moment."
Lin had been sitting down for so long he felt his whole body creaking as he stood up. He looked at the time and realised he had been working for a solid 5 hours without moving once. He stretched and walked to the kitchen to pour some water, blinking his eyes tightly to get rid of the music notes that seemed to be burned onto his eyelids.
He turned on the TV to catch up on world news and immediately wished he hadn't. Standing behind the couch he watched as visions of traumatised young children, innocent victims of a faraway war played out in front of him.
He didn't want to see but couldn't turn away.
A disasters fund link came across the bottom of the screen and he made a mental note to send some funds through. It didn't feel like it was enough, but he knew it was all he could do for now.
"Are you ok?"
He spun round, startled by the voice.
"Oh God I'm sorry! I didn't mean to make you jump."
Lin laughed quickly.
"I forgot you had a key."
He wiped the tears from his face.
"I'm fine. I was just watching this.. those poor kids..."
She walked towards him.
"It's shocking isn't it. Makes you feel so helpless."
They stood together watching the carnage of war play out.
The story ended and they looked at each other.
Lin laughed quietly.
"Well would you look at that. Someone who's as empathetic as I am."
He moved his hand to her face and wiped her tears away with his fingers.
Iris reddened. Her skin burning under his soft touch.
"Sorry."
"Hey! Don't ever apologise for feeling. Ever."
She looked into his eyes and for a second it felt like the world stood still.
She shook her head quickly.
"So, I thought you could have sea bass for dinner tonight? Does that sound ok?"
"What?"
"Sea bass. For dinner. To eat?"
He stood back quickly and nodded. "Yes! Sorry yes that sounds great."
He stood awkwardly for a moment.
"Better get back to it."
"Sure. Ok to eat about 6?"
"Yep. Perfect. Thanks"
He picked up his water and made his way quickly to his office shutting the door firmly behind himself.
