Page 38 of Lost Times

“Thank you for your help with this. With your and the others’ aid, we should be finished with the work in time for dinner.”

He didn’t specify about that, but I knew what he meant. That was his way of saying he was making it toour housefor dinner. I beamed, nodding.

“We help each other all the time here; why shouldn’t that extend to you?” I asked, not really expecting an answer. He nodded, then stiffly moved back to his office, but just as he was going to disappear into it, he added on. “Can I talk with you briefly?”

I got up in answer, following him into his office. Once the door shut, he started. “You seem…okay with how things are–my distance while here–but I wanted to make sure you were actually okay with it.”

Oh. Bubbles of happiness floated through me and I nodded, crossing my arms to stop myself from reaching for him.

“I appreciate that, thank you, and I’m fine. I know that work is work; it’s not the place for relationship things, so I didn’t expect you to act differently. Besides, as long as you go back to being how you were before when we’re alone, then I’m happy. Okay?”

He relaxed, nodding. “Of course. There’s no need to be professional when we’re alone, so you have nothing to fear on that front.” Then he shook his head. “That’s all I had to ask.”

Humming, I went to leave, only to pull up short and throw over my shoulder. “By the way, I’m proud of you for delegating that work. I know it goes against what you’re used to, what you were taught, and that it took effort for you to do that.”

The light flush from before darkened, and he nodded. “Thank you. I had the option of delegating some of it, or staying until nearly dawn to get it done. I could have brought my computer with me and left to have dinner with you, but Iwouldlike to have some nights without the stacks of papers.”

“More than understandable. You know I’m always ready to help when I’m able, and the others are too. You’ve never made us work late because it was bad for our health. You should show yourself the same courtesy.”

Realizing that I was lecturing him, I winced. “Sorry, you’re my boss so I really shouldn’t be saying things like that.” Before I could leave though, he cut in with a shake of his head.

“No, you’re not wrong, and I encourage all of my employees to speak their minds. Just like I take their advice into account, I’ll take yours too.”

Then he gestured for me to leave and I did, still soaking in the warmth from before.

He may be colder at work, but that right there proved that he was still the Ludwig I liked under the ice mask. He didn’t have to pull me to the side to check if I was okay with this, but he did, because he cared.

As long as that stayed true, I could deal with the professional mask at work.

Sitting back down at my computer, I dove into the papers with renewed vigor. The extra stack he’d added would make me a bit later than normal to finish, but that was fine, I always made sure to have thirty extra minutes before I had to pick up Jasmine just for that reason.

Hours passed easily and in what felt like a blink, I’d finished the last of the paperwork. Most of the others had already gone home, the building having an almost haunted vibe as I stood. Moving to the main office, I knocked on the door frame and smiled when Ludwig glanced up.

His desk was mostly clear too, and when he saw me, he smiled though not with his usual freeness.

I didn’t dwell on it, instead, I offered. “I’m about to head out and pick up Jasmine. If you’d like to come with?”

He’d all but jumped on any opportunities so far to see her until this point, and now was no different. His smile eased and he nodded, putting the last paper in its appropriate file before making his way toward me.

“I would enjoy that, thank you.”

It was only after we were out of the building with all its security systems in place that he took my hand. I watched as the mask fell away, his shoulders relaxed, and his smile finally shifted into the full one I’d seen more and more often lately.

Leaning against him, I stopped at our cars and just soaked in the atmosphere. When my watch beeped, alerting me that I needed to get moving, I sighed and separated.

“You can follow behind me,” I said, and at his hum of agreement, I got into my car. Once I was sure he was following, I drove to Jasmine’s school, giddiness squirming in my chest. She’d be so excited he showed up, I couldn’t wait to see her face.

When we pulled up outside, it was just in time for the bell to ring and I got out, looking through the crowds for Jasmine. It took a minute, Ludwig coming to stand next to me as he waited, but the second I saw her I waved.

She waved back, her smile firmly in place, but when she looked to the side and saw Ludwig, she froze. He tensed, uncertainty drifting to the surface as he cleared his throat. “Is she not happy I came with you?”

I patted his arm. “Breathe, she’s just surprised. She should be snapping out of it in three, two-.”

Just as I hit one, Jasmine jerked, her mouth stretching into the widest smile I’d seen all week before she rocketed through the crowd. Ludwig barely had time to blink before she slammed into his waist, both her arms winding around him as she cuddled in.

A soft ‘oof’ pushed from him, then he shook his head with an amused snort. “Guess that answers that question.”

He patted her back, his smile melting into the one that was specifically for Jasmine. After a minute, she pulled away and bounced around us.

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