Page 19 of The Artist
“Belle, wait up,” I called up and jogged across the grand foyer to catch her halfway up the stairs.
From the way her steps sped up, it wasn’t hard to figure out that I was the last person she wanted to see right now.
“Belle, wait!” I stopped three steps lower than her and waited for her to turn. For the first time we were eye to eye.
“I’m sorry.” My pride hated to say those words, but I forced them out in a gruff voice.
“It’s fine,” she said fast and started to turn again.
“No, stop.” My hand reached out to touch her elbow and I took another step so that I was now taller than her despite being two steps lower on the stairs.
“It’s not that you are inferior in any way and that comment about… you know… ehh… splitting you… it was stupid. I don’t know why I said it, I just…” I knew I was rambling and searched for better words. “I didn’t mean it, Belle.”
Her shoulders eased a bit and her gaze lifted to meet mine as if searching for the truth. “You mean that?”
“Yes.”
“I didn’t appreciate the way you made me sound like I’m a child. Where I come from, I’m above average height.” Her eyes ran up and down my body. “I might seem small to you but that’s because you’re so freakishly tall.”
“I know, I’m sorry.”
“Good, because I’m not a child, and I’m not a virgin either, so I’d appreciate if you’d treat me like a woman.”
It felt like all the color left my face. “Did you just say that you’re not a virgin?”
She angled her head slightly. “Yes, that’s exactly what I said. You people romanticize sex, but I suspect it’s because you’ve never had it.”
My brow furrowed in confusion. “What do you mean?”
“It’s not that big of a deal. Sort of overrated, really.”
“Sex?”
“Yes.” Her eyes darted to one side. “At least I think so.”
“Then maybe you haven’t been with the right man.”
Belle just stared at me. “And I suppose this is where you tell me that if I was with you, I’d enjoy it?”
“I… I…” My mouth fell open, in my surprise at her directness. “I don’t know.”
“Probably not, since you seem to believe your size would cause me significant pain.”
“Belle, I’m sorry, that was a dumb thing to say.”
“Please excuse me, I’m going to my room.” She turned and continued ascending the stairs.
“At least let me escort you. This is a big place.”
She didn’t protest when I fell into step next to her. For the first minute we didn’t speak, but then I said the first thing that came to mind and instantly regretted it. “You know that Jones really likes you, right?”
Giving me a brief sideways glance, she took the last five steps to the third floor and turned right. “I’ve only met him twice, but he seems nice.”
“You’re going in the wrong direction.” I pointed to the left. “Your room is this way.”
“Oh.”
We walked down the long corridor with me trying to think of something to say. “I’m sorry if I overreacted when he asked you to go for a walk. Jones isn’t a bad guy, but I…” My reaction to his words had been instinctual.
