Page 56 of Heart of Stone

“You don’t get out much do you?” I joked, and then laughed again when he scowled. I tugged at his hand and led him towards a park bench. “Come over here. We can sit and people watch.”

“What’s to watch?” he asked, taking a seat beside me.

“Have you always lived in New York City?” I answered back with my own question.

“Yeah, why do you ask?”

“Because people who have lived here their entire life tend to be immune to the charm around them. See that kid over there?” I asked, pointing towards a young boy strumming a guitar under a tree. “Or that man just down the way with the puppets? You never know what you’re going to see here. That’s why it’s fun. You can just sit back and enjoy the show.”

We sat quietly and watched people come and go, a distant harmonica and the splash of the water fountain adding sound to the quiet evening.

After a while, a damp chill settled in the air, as the sun had completely set for the night. I reached down to rub my hands up and down my legs.

“You’re getting cold,” he observed. “Let’s get going.”

I nodded my agreement. Walking hand in hand, we started making our way back through the park.

I glanced down at our entwined fingers.

This is strange. He’s acting like we’re a couple.

Keeping in mind that we were very muchnota couple, I removed my hand from his. I put my hands in my sweater pockets and made a show of feigning a chill. Alexander didn’t seem to notice my withdrawal, but rather wrapped his arm around my shoulder as if he were trying to warm me. My attempt at keeping a bit of distance between us had clearly failed.

When we reached the Arch, he pulled his phone his from his pocket.

“Washington Square. Near the Arch,” he barked into the mouthpiece before pocketing the phone again.

“You should probably be a little nicer to Hale. If I end up working for you, I certainly wouldn’t want you to talk like that to me.”

“Notif, Krystina.Whenwould be more accurate,” he corrected.

“Confident, are we?”

“You start on Monday.”

“Monday? I can’t start that soon! I have to give Wally’s at least two weeks notice and –.”

“A week from Monday then. That’s more than sufficient,” he stated, as if what he was saying was completely sensible. When we reached the Arch, I stopped walking and turned to face him.

“Alex, I haven’t even accepted your offer yet!” I said, my exasperation clear. I all but stomped my foot like a two year old.

“There’s no need to keep going around and around about this, Krystina. I’ve already spoken to Walter Roberts. It’s a done deal. Now, are you going to ruin the night or are you going to get into the car.”

Speechless, I could only stare in shock at him for a moment before realizing that Hale had pulled up to the curb with our ride.

Rather than argue about it on the sidewalk, I conceded to Alexander’s point and begrudgingly turned to climb into the SUV.

The ride to Alexander’s was short, but the silent trip felt like forever. I could feel the waves of tension rolling off me. I didn’t want to fight, yet I couldn’t help but to be more than just a little bit vexed over the situation. I had planned to accept the job at Turning Stone, but would have preferred the opportunity to accept it on my own terms, rather than have it assumed for me.

I need to get over it. There’s no sense in letting a technicality spoil the evening. The end result is the same.

I focused my attention on my hurting feet instead, sore from walking too far in heels. Partially slipping off a shoe, I reached down to rub the ball of my foot. Comfort before fashion had always been my rule, and I was paying the price for my stupidity tonight.

“Dammit, Krystina. I knew I should have made you change your shoes,” Alexander swore, lips pursed in annoyance.

“Sorry, Jimmy Choo’s got the best of me today,” I said wryly. “Normally I know better, but I didn’t think we’d walk so much. I’m fine, really.”

“We’re almost to my place. You can put your feet up once we get inside,” he said irritably. He was evidently unhappy with my lack of practicality.

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