Chapter 8 No.8

It was afternoon. The room was golden.

Clive was on a Zoom call. He had his AirPods in, murmuring about quarterly projections.

Dahlia was bored. She was listening to an audiobook, but her mind wandered.

She could hear Clive breathing. She could hear the rustle of his papers.

She moved to reach for her water. Her hand knocked the remote off the table.

Clive stopped talking mid-sentence.

Hold on, he said to the board of directors.

He took the AirPods out. He walked over, picked up the remote, and placed it in her hand.

You're a hazard, he said. But his tone was gentle.

Clive?

Hmm?

What do you look like?

Clive paused. I look like a man.

Dahlia rolled her eyes behind the bandages. Helpful. I mean... I saw you at the wedding, but you were far away. And scary.

Scary?

Intimidating. I want to know.

Clive sighed. He sat down.

Well, I have two eyes. A nose. A mouth.

Dahlia reached out. Can I?

Clive stared at her hand hovering in the air.

He knew he should say no. This was crossing a line. This was Clause 34B being shredded.

But he leaned forward.

Fine. But don't poke me in the eye.

Dahlia's fingertips touched his jaw.

Stubborn, she muttered. He hadn't shaved since yesterday. The stubble was rough against her soft skin. It sent a zing of electricity through his nerves.

She traced his jawline. Strong. Square.

She moved up. High cheekbones.

Your nose is straight, she whispered. Like a Roman statue.

She moved to his eyes. He closed them. Her fingers fluttered over his eyelids.

You look tired, she said. Even your eyes feel heavy.

She moved down.

Her thumb brushed his lower lip.

Clive stopped breathing.

Her finger traced the shape of his mouth. It was a stern mouth. But under her touch, it softened.

He had the sudden, insane urge to bite her finger. To taste her skin.

Dahlia pulled her hand back.

You're handsome, she decided. But you look mean.

Clive opened his eyes. He grabbed her hand before she could pull it all the way back.

I am mean, he whispered.

No, you're not. Not really.

Clive looked at her. She was blind, but she saw him better than anyone else ever had.

He let go of her hand. He stood up abruptly.

I have to get back to the meeting.

He put his AirPods back in.

But for the rest of the call, he couldn't concentrate on the profit margins. He could only feel the ghost of her fingers on his lips.