You, Again

The Long Walk Home

As they stepped into the cool night air, Devin shivered. Christian was a few steps ahead of her waiting not so patiently. She noticed he was bouncing on the soles of his feet, eager to get moving.

"I'm coming, I'm coming..." She closed the gap between them, dragging her tired body across the pavement. Everything about her was exhausted. From head to toe she felt like she had been through the ringer.

"You look like you're going to sleep like a rock tonight." Christian observed as he scanned her. She figured she must look rough if he was saying something. Oh well, what did it matter? He would have to see this side of her some time.

"I am, but first, the long walk home." She pointed towards the Eiffel Tower still glistening.

"It's not the bad, I'll carry you if you get too tired." He playfully bumped into her. She gave me a delicate shove back using all the energy she had left.

When she ricocheted off of him she was surprised to feel his hand grab hers and pull her in close. She held her breath waiting to see what would happen.

But nothing happened. She looked down. He was indeed holding her hand. They were walking in tandem heading towards their hostel. But he hadn't made another move.

Devin wasn't used to this. She was used to being swept off her feet. Every rom com she had ever seen prompted her to wonder why she hadn't been kissed. She wasn't even sure if she liked Christian like that. But they were in Paris. This is what people did in Paris. They took romantic strolls home. They held hands and gazed lovingly into each other's eyes before falling into one another in a kiss that would leave them breathless.

Currently Devin felt breathless but not because she had been kissed. Moreso because she was struggling to keep up with Christian's long strides. His height had many pros but one con was that Devin practically had to take three steps for every one of his. At the rate he was walking, she'd been in a full on sprint in no time.

"Hey can you slow down a little bit?" She was struggling to keep up as the alcohol and exhaustion hit her all at once.

"Shoto sorry ya, I forget I'm a fast walker."

"More like a tall walker." Christian looked at her with confusion as she gestured to the difference in their hip height. His hip started at her torso, a solid two week above where hers were. The difference meant easily an extra few feet of all legs for him and stunted ones for her.

"Ha yea sorry. I forgot. I can slow down." They settled into an easy stroll as they headed towards the Eiffel Tower. Devin has seen its glittery light show approximately five times tonight but it was no less magical.

"Are you having fun?" Christian asked out of the blue. They had fallen into companionable silence so Devin shook as she was brought out of it.

"Wait did I just scare you?" His brows furrowed in concern as he concerned the possibility.

"No, not at all. Just startled me. It's a me thing."

"You're easily startled?"

"Unfortunately yes, so please don't jump out from behind a door when I'm around. I won't recover."

Christian laughed lightheartedly if halfheartedly. She knew what his real laugh sounded like. She had subconsciously memorized it during their time together before he went home. It seemed that she was attuned to him in such a way that she could now tell if and when he was being genuine or trying his best to appear so.

She was about to ask him how things had been since he got back when she felt his hand squeeze around hers gently. She had forgotten it was there. Holding his hand was simple, easy. It felt as though she was being tethered to the ground in a way that was safe not constricting.