Unexpected Encounters [B.H.M.]

6

Equipped with everything I needed I went to get Brian's medicine for him before I returned to the car. He seemed to have been dozing, because he was sleepily rubbing his eyes, giving me a small smile.

"Did you manage to get everything?" He asked softly and took everything from me so I could get into the car a bit easier.

"Yeah, they had everything," I told him and picked the receipt from the pile of things that were on his lap. "And you even get some change, here you go," I told him and got the money out from the pocket of my jacket before I gave it to him.

"Oh, thank you," he said, sounding a little surprised.

As if I would steal from him. Yes he was rich and he probably wouldn't miss a few pounds but that was just pathetic. And I was a tiny bit offended that he was surprised by me giving the money back.

"Hopefully you'll be set now for the next few days," I told him simply. "Now, do you want to go anywhere else? If you need to do some shopping we can just do that now while we're out anyway," I suggested, but Brian shook his head.

"No, it's fine, it's getting late and I'm getting hungry, I don't think I have the patience to cook, I think I'm just going to order something." He paused and looked at me. "Uhm.. This may be a little weird, so feel free to say no, but sort of as a thank you for everything you did today, for keeping me company and all, I'd like to invite you. It won't be anything fancy, just some take out dinner, but if you feel like it, if you're hungry and lazy then it would be my pleasure."

Again something that I hadn't expected, so I wasted a few seconds just creepily staring at him. "Dinner?"

Brian smiled a little and nodded. "Yeah... unless you're sick of me by now. I wouldn't blame you, it's been a few hours with me that you probably had planned to spend differently."

It took another few moments before I reacted. "Yeah," I agreed before I caught myself. "No uhm... I mean, I'm not sick of you. If you really want to invite me then I'll gladly accept that invitation. I did have the croissants earlier but I'm still hungry, and ... yeah.." I smiled at him, not sure how to tell him in a non-crazy way that I really enjoyed spending time with him and the prospect of getting yet another few hours was very exciting to the fangirl in me.

"We'll do something about that then. Do you know the way back from here?" Brian asked, making me chuckle and shake my head.

"No, I wouldn't want to try, I'd get us lost. It's easier if you just tell me where to go."

Brian smiled a little - a genuine smile again which was so wonderful to see. "I will. Turn left there," he instructed me, gesturing to the upcoming crossroad. "And then immediately left again."

I started the car and did as he told me, following the street we were on until Brian spoke up again. "This exit here," was all he said, but that was all that was necessary. I drove off what I assumed to be the A4 since he had mentioned that before and kept following his instructions.

Either he didn't want to talk to me, or he remembered the incident from the drive to the hospital, but in any case he stayed quiet apart from the occasional instruction to guide me through the streets until I recognised where we were and told him so proudly. He seemed a little amused, but I didn't care. I was a little more relaxed now, so I took the opportunity to actually pay attention to my surroundings.

"You live in such a nice area," I pointed out, noticing the huge green field surrounded by a small forest to our right. And not far from the river.

Brian hummed a little. "Yeah... yeah I do. We... we thought it would be perfect for the kids," he said, sighing a little as he looked down at his hands.