Page 121 of Don't Be in Love
“God no,” he laughed. “He was too nervous to ask her on a date. She wanted to make it up to him, but he refused. Instead, they ended up trading class notes in the library after. It ended up getting so late that he offered to walk her home from campus. Every night after that, he’d walk her to her flat just to spend more time with her. That was until she took a liking to him too and asked him out herself.”
The visualizations I had been creating of young Mr. and Mrs. Blackwood screeched to an echoing stop.
“What?” I stared at him.
“I know. He walked her home every night for like three months until she caught on that he liked her. The only reason I know all of this is because he tells it every year during our Italy trip. He swears that if he didn’t walk her home all those nights, that she would’ve never gotten to know him.”
I flexed my hand over his shoulder needing something to focus on that wasn’t the film reel of Dorian walking me home every night for the past four months.
The music felt louder. It was plucking sharp chords through my eardrums and making my eyes water. Where was Dorian? I didn’t see him. Was he dancing with Victoria now? Was she here? Had he walked her home too?
James’s voice calmed the noise. “You know, Adelaide, I’ve been meaning to tell you something—ask you something really, but this is much harder now that I’m standing in front of you …”
I curled and uncurled my hand. My nail beds were even clammy. “Yes?”
He opened and then closed his mouth. When he started again, it was so quick I almost missed it. “The dress looks perfect on you, I’m happy it fits.”
My feet stuck to the floor, bringing us to an abrupt stop in the crowd. “You sent me the dress?”
“I—uh—let’s talk outside.” He stumbled over the words, but his hand was firm in mine as he guided us out of the dance, through one of the many glass doors, and into the snow-dusted gardens. I held onto my skirts tightly as we fled into one of the few lit areas where the back of the museum was covered in dead vines and lights.
His palm was my heat source. The January air was biting down my arms and chest. I rubbed my skin to make the goosebumps disappear and the thoughts wipe away.
Of course, Dorian didn’t buy you the dress you fool, you’re no different than the rest of them.
“Please, have this,” James said, taking off his coat jacket.
“Oh,no that’s alright—”
“Adelaide, just let me give you the jacket. You’re cold and I’m the one that dragged you out here,” he said desperately.
I nodded. Draping the jacket over my shoulders, it ended at the middle of my thigh.
Taking a step back, he started, “You really had no idea that I sent the dress?”
“Why would I?” I asked, just as confused. This entire development didn’t make any sense. Dorian bought me the purse that I had spent years looking for, for my birthday, and gave it to meafterhe saw Victoria. And James bought me a dress to wear tonight.
“Gods,” he sighed, brushing a hand over his face in frustration, pacing.
I stepped forward, holding onto his suit jacket. “I didn’t mean to make you upset or offend you. We’ve never exchanged gifts before. If I had known I would’ve gotten you something.”
He waved his hand. The intricate lighting strung through the vines bounced off his jaw. “That’s not the point,” he exhaled. “I didn’t expect anything in return. It wasn’t supposed to be just some Christmas gift. I just—I—I don’t know.”
“Was I not supposed to wear it tonight?”
“No, no,” he shook his head. “I was hoping you would.”
I stepped forward again. Close enough to brush his arm. “James, just tell me what’s wrong.”
I touched his hand. It was surprisingly warm. But he pulled away, dropping it at his side.
“Because I love you, Adelaide,” he said weakly.
My heart dropped to the grass like a stone.
“You what?”
“I love you. I bought you the dress, hoping you’d wear it knowing it was from me, and that’d mean, that maybe, some part of you would feel something too because I couldn’t find the confidence to tell you how I was feeling face to face. But here we are,” his laugh dripped with sadness.
