The air between them hummed with an unspoken pull, thick with something neither of them could quite name. Both seemed unsure of how to navigate the sudden tension.
A blur of motion broke the stillness—a small figure dashed across their path, a young boy running far too quickly for the grassy space. He stumbled, tripping over his own feet and landing with a soft thud—straight into him.
Before either could react, instinct took over. Both reached down at the same time, their hands brushing as they steadied the boy. Her fingers barely grazed his, but the touch sent an unexpected jolt up her spine. Her heart thudded louder in her chest.
He, however, didn't pull away. His hand gently held hers for a moment longer, keeping it there, the warmth of his touch sinking deeper into her skin. With a quiet chuckle, he leaned towards the boy, a playful twinkle in his eyes as he whispered, "Slow down, buddy."
The boy scrambled to his feet, nodding vigorously, and dashed off again without a second thought. He turned back to her, his fingers tightening around her hand, as if the moment wasn't finished.
Without breaking eye contact, he rose, tall in front of her now, still holding her hand. Then, his next move made her pulse race. He lowered himself to a kneel and looked up at her.
"Walk with me?" he asked, his voice soft, almost like a secret between them.
Mia felt a slight shiver run through her at the sudden intimacy of it all. She couldn't quite believe it—he was right in front of her, kneeling like he was asking for something more than just a casual walk. She tilted her head back to meet his gaze, feeling an overwhelming rush of emotion. Every inch of him seemed captivating, his gaze steady yet layered with something more—something vulnerable, yet bold.
Words failed her. The world seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them in this shared, fragile moment. Slowly, she nodded.
At that, he smiled—a smile that ignited the air, like the moon breaking free from a cloud, its light spilling over everything in its path, soft yet powerful, lighting up her heart. In an instant, he reached up, taking her other hand, and pulled her to her feet.
As Mia stood, with him supporting her weight, she couldn't take her eyes off him.
What was he doing? And why did she like it so much?
She grabbed her bag, stealing a glance around—and caught sight of Sarah. Her heart sank. Sarah, her little devil of a friend, was watching.
Sarah mouthed, "I approve 100%," making a circle around her face with her hand, then followed it up with a "That face," turning her gesture into a thumbs-up.
Mia rolled her eyes, biting back a laugh. Of course, Sarah would be enjoying this. But a part of her was too caught up in the moment to care.
He began leading her away. They moved in rhythm, their steps in sync without either of them having to think about it. The world around them faded to background noise, her attention consumed by the pull of his hand in hers.
"So," he said, breaking the silence, his voice low but teasing, "You're more interested in guiding movie characters than talking to me?"
Mia blinked, her mind racing to catch up. "I—no, I'm just a bit distracted" she stammered, her gaze still locked on him. His eyes had shifted to something more playful now, a small smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth, but he didn't look away. Neither of them did.
"Distracted?" he repeated, leaning in just slightly, his eyes glinting with curiosity. "By what?"
Mia hesitated, trying to keep her voice steady. "Nothing. Just... the walk."
YOU ARE READING
You, Me and a Shoe Lace
Romance"He tied a shoe lace, and she tied him to her thoughts." A stranger, a simple act of kindness-a man helping a woman with her shoe. But for Mia, it was something more. The moment was brief, fleeting. He helped, then vanished, as quickly as he'd appea...
