A Step Closer to Love

“Did you wait long?” Arabella asked coming down the stairs into the sitting room.

“I did not and I was the one who arrived an hour earlier” Mark said standing up to meet her. “Moreover Kieran here kept me entertained and your mom was really cosy too”

“He did?” Arabella asked raising her eyebrow at Kieran. He barely spoke so how was he supposed to keep another person entertained?

“Yeah”

Kieran stood up as if they were not just talking about him. “We will get going now” Arabella announced to the man who decided it was nice to just walk away without saying anything.

“Be back early” Kieran said turning to face them.

“What?” Arabella asked shocked at what he was trying to say.

“Be back early, you don’t want to spend your night out in the city” Kieran said.

“Oh don’t worry about that I will make sure she is back safe and sound” Mark said.

“I was not talking to you” Kieran’s voice sounded as if he was at the edge of snapping at them.

“I thought that since I was an adult I could stay out till any time I deem fit?” Arabella put her hand on her waist and stared deep into the soul of Kieran wondering what he was trying to do.

“These are the rules for those who would be icing here from now going forward,” Kieran said and gulped. He felt the words sprouting out of his mouth as if he had no control and he wondered why he was being that way to this man and Arabella.

“Since when?” Arabella asked stepping forward so she could be closer to him.

There had never been anything such as rules since she lived there so where was this coming from even though he wanted rules why was he telling her when she had a visitor over? It was like he was intentionally trying to ruin her mood before she went out.

“Since today” he said stepping forward as if he was ready to go head-on-head with her.

“Now you are just making up ridiculous sentences,” Arabella said almost in a yell.

She could agree with her he was definitely making up things that he would not do and it was as if his mouth was moving so much faster than his mind could comprehend. His mouth was saying the words even before his brain could process them.

“Just be home before ten” Kieran said and felt a light slap on his back.

“Don’t mind his shenanigans” Everly said bowing her head to them both. “I wonder why he is being like this” she added with a nervous laugh.

“Enjoy your time and be back at whatever time you wish” Everly said pulling her son away.

“Thank you ma’am” Mark called after her.

“Bye,” Arabella called as they walked out of the house.

“Your brother must be really protective of you,” Mark said as he started the engine.

“My brother? who? Kieran?” she said and shook her head.

“He is not my brother”

“That’s really strange” Mark said as he put his car into motion.

“What is?” Arabella asked putting on her seatbelt.

“That he isn’t your brother, he is acting like how a big brother would act when someone comes to date his sister”

“Oh please,” Arabella said with an eye roll. “He has no capability of acting like a normal human” she added.

“But he was acting just the same way. It was as if he was born to act that way as if he saw me as a threat to you” he said and she shook her head.

“You must have gotten it wrong, he only cares about himself,” Arabella said leaning in.

She wondered why she was thinking of bailing out on this date when he made her feel so comfortable like this. The initial weariness and fear she felt about going out with someone gradually wore off when she saw how considerate and kind he was.

“He was not that way when you were at the hospital” Mark commented and Arabella shook her head.

“Really Kieran is what you call an introverted introvert. He is kind of self-centered as well”

“Maybe he likes you?” Mark asked.

“What? don’t say something so absurd” she said with a small laugh.

“How is that absurd? You are a fine woman and any man would like you” Mark commented.

His statement made her stomach fireflies get into action. He was being sweet and it made her feel good. Who would not want to hear compliments once in a while?

“Oh come on, he has not liked a woman in years and unfortunately I happen not to be his type,” Arabella told him.

“How do you know what his type is?”

“Older women I presume,” she said with a shrug.

“He was so on your case when you were at the hospital. He gave us such a hard time all night” Mark said. “So I assumed that you were related”

“He was being so extra that day because he was the one who caused me to have the injury?”

“I would really like to hear that story, what happened?”This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

“It’s a long story and.. ”

“You don’t want to share?” he said and sent a sad small smile his way.

“Don’t take it that way”

“It’s fine you have a lot more history with him than with me so it’s fine,” Mark said raising his hands from the steering wheel.

“Thank you for understanding”

“Of course”

Suddenly the comfortable car became so tense that one could use a scissor to cut through it. Neither of them said anything as they both looked straight ahead at the windscreen.

“Well, maybe our moms can say they are related because they have been joined by the hips for as long as I can remember,” Arabella told him trying her best to break the sudden silence.

“Let’s change the topic and talk about something else,” Arabella said before he could respond. She did not feel all that comfortable talking about Kieran considering his actions from when she began to live there.

“What do you want to talk about?” Mark asked.

“I don’t know maybe the weather?” she said as they both burst into laughter.

“Here we are,”

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