Escapism (CL 16)

4. Round Two?

The car journey was as awkward as she had anticipated. Although thankfully the noisy engine of the car mostly filled the silence. Charles kept tapping his fingers against the steering wheel of the car, every now and then opening his mouth like he was going to say something and then changing his mind.

"Whatever you're going to say, just spit it out." She sighed as he pulled into the under ground parking garage when they reached his building.

"I..." he trailed off, face twisting in concentration as he slowly manoeuvred the car in to a parking space between some other incredibly expensive looking cars.

"Come on, come up and I'll find the ring." He said quietly, climbing out of the car.

She fumbled with the door on the Ferrari for a moment, and he eventually came to her aid with a smirk on his face.

"I'm not an idiot I'm just not used to these fancy cars and their stupid doors." She muttered as she climbed out. The way his hand grazed across the small of her back as he guided her out of the door, closing it behind her.

"I didn't even say anything." He laughed.

"You were thinking it." She rolled her eyes at him. "You've got a very expressive face. I bet you're terrible at poker."

"Shut up." He laughed, shaking his head at her as the two of them got in the elevator to go up from the parking garage.

She'd thought it was uncomfortable in the car, but the lack of space between them in the small elevator only amplified the problem. The smell of his cologne filled the small space, his arm against hers as the two of them stood in the small space for what felt like an eternity.

Every time she dared to look at him, his eyes were on her. Just as she was convinced he was about to reach out and touch her, the elevator doors pinged open. He cleared his throat awkwardly, gesturing for her to step out of the elevator.

She looked around awkwardly as she stood in the hallway, completely unable to remember which door was his.

"It's this one." He pointed to the door at the end, already walking towards it.

"Right." She followed after him awkwardly.

He held the door open after he unlocked it, waiting for her to follow him inside.

"I uh... I'll just go get it. Hang on." He told her, leaving her stood alone in the kitchen as he disappeared.

"Thanks." She said quietly, leaning against the kitchen counter.

"Okay, here you go." He announced, coming back into the kitchen. He dropped the ring into her outstretched palm.

"Thanks." She mumbled. "I should uh..."

She went to stand up straight to leave, but he didn't move away, leaving the two of them standing just a little bit too close to her. The ring was clenched in her palm still. She didn't really know what to do with it. Putting it back on felt wrong, but she didn't have anywhere else to put it.

"Can I ask you something?" He asked hesitantly, eyes boring into hers.

"I don't know, can you?" She raised an eyebrow at him.

He was quiet for a minute, considering his words. "If you're so not over what happened with him, and don't tell me that you're over it. You want the ring back because you think there's a chance you'll get back together... if you're still that in love with him, what were you doing in the club flirting like that? Why come back here with me if you were only going to end up regretting it?"

"I don't think you know me well enough to be asking me questions like that." She laughed nervously, twisting her engagement ring between her fingers.

"I just don't think you want to answer it."