Chapter 291: the walk back

Chapter 291: Chapter 291: the walk back

Then she remembered Christopher.

He was still inside.

Waiting for her.

Vivienne glanced toward the restaurant.

"I should go back."

Anthony nodded.

"Of course."

She gave him a small smile.

"I’ll see you later."

"All right."

Vivienne turned and walked back toward the restaurant.

The moment she stepped inside, her eyes immediately searched for their table.

She found Christopher.

He was still there, sitting casually in his chair.

When he noticed her, his eyes lifted.

Their gazes met.

For a moment, neither of them moved.

Then Christopher smiled.

It was small.

Simple.

But Vivienne felt an unexpected wave of relief.

She smiled back.

And suddenly, she was conscious of herself again.

Of the fact that she’d been gone longer than she intended.

Of the fact that she’d left him alone at their dinner.

Of the fact that she had absolutely no idea what she was supposed to say now.

She had barely taken a step toward the table when the restaurant door opened behind her.

Vivienne glanced back.

Anthony had stepped inside.

Their eyes met.

For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Anthony gave her a small nod.

Vivienne returned it.

He turned and walked toward his own table, where his teammates were still gathered.

Vivienne’s eyes followed him.

And then she saw her.

Evelyn.

She was still sitting at the table, waiting beside the empty chair.

Anthony reached the table and took his seat beside her.

Vivienne stared for a second.

Just moments ago, Anthony had stood outside and told her that he wanted her.

And now he was sitting beside Evelyn as though nothing had happened.

Her lips parted slightly.

Well...

That was certainly something.

Vivienne quickly looked away.

She didn’t know what to make of it.

She didn’t have time to.

Christopher was still waiting for her.

She walked back to the table.

"I’m sorry."

Christopher shook his head.

"It’s all right."

Vivienne sat down.

For a moment, she simply looked at him.

"I..."

She stopped.

She didn’t know where to begin.

Christopher waited.

"I didn’t mean to disappear for so long."

"It’s all right."

His voice was easy.

He didn’t sound upset.

But he didn’t sound quite as warm as he had earlier either.

Vivienne noticed.

Of course she noticed.

She lowered her gaze.

"Anthony wanted to speak with me."

Christopher nodded.

"I figured."

She waited.

He didn’t ask anything else.

Vivienne fidgeted slightly with her napkin.

He wasn’t going to ask.

She wasn’t sure whether she was relieved or disappointed.

After a moment, she spoke anyway.

"He asked me to reconsider our engagement."

Christopher looked at her.

"I see."

That was all.

Vivienne waited another second.

Then another.

Nothing.

She swallowed.

"And..."

She looked down at the table.

"I told him that I like someone."

Christopher’s expression remained calm.

Vivienne’s cheeks warmed.

"And that I want to see where things go with that person first."

A brief silence followed.

Christopher nodded.

"All right."

Vivienne looked at him.

That was it?

She couldn’t tell whether she wanted him to ask more or whether she was simply nervous because he hadn’t.

She rushed to fill the silence.

"I mean, I don’t know what’s going to happen."

Christopher nodded again.

"I understand."

"And because of everything..."

She hesitated.

"I just need some time to think."

He remained quiet.

There was no judgment in his expression.

No disappointment.

No attempt to convince her otherwise.

He simply accepted what she had said.

Vivienne’s fingers tightened slightly around the napkin.

She didn’t like that.

Not at all.

She had expected him to ask.

To be curious.

Perhaps even to look a little bothered.

Instead, he seemed perfectly willing to let her make her choice and step aside.

And suddenly, the thought of him actually doing that frightened her.

She looked down at the table.

The food had gone cold.

Christopher glanced at the plates.

"The food’s cold."

Vivienne blinked.

"Oh."

She hadn’t even noticed.

"I’m sorry."

"It’s fine."

He looked toward the plates.

"Just leave it."

Vivienne nodded.

Christopher looked at her.

"Do you want anything for dessert?"

She shook her head.

"Not really."

A small pause.

"I’m full."

"All right."

He stood.

"Then I’ll walk you back."

Vivienne looked up at him.

For some reason, her heart sank.

"Okay."

She started to reach for her coat, then paused.

"Oh, um... the bill?"

Christopher glanced toward the table.

"Already taken care of."

"Oh."

She nodded.

"Okay."

He waited a moment for her to put on her coat before leading the way.

Vivienne followed him outside.

--

The walk back to the dormitory was quiet.

Not awkward.

Not exactly.

Just...

Different.

Christopher still walked beside her.

Still matched his pace to hers.

Still held the door when they reached the residence path.

But something had changed.

He wasn’t trying to fill the silence anymore.

He wasn’t teasing her.

He wasn’t asking questions.

He wasn’t finding excuses to keep the evening going.

He was simply walking her home.

Vivienne glanced at him. ℴ

She wanted to say something.

Anything.

She wanted to tell him that she wasn’t choosing Anthony.

That she wasn’t suddenly going back to him.

That what Christopher and she had wasn’t something she wanted to lose.

But she couldn’t bring herself to say it.

Because what if he didn’t want it either?

The thought made her stomach tighten.

She had been so certain earlier.

She liked Christopher.

She wanted to know where this could go.

She had thought that was enough.

But now that he was quietly stepping back...

She wasn’t sure anymore.

No.

She didn’t like this.

Not one bit.

She wanted him to look at her again the way he had before she’d walked away from their table.

She wanted that easy smile.

Their easy conversations.

She wanted him to want to keep seeing her.

And the more Christopher seemed willing to let her go...

The more desperately she wanted him not to.

Vivienne lowered her gaze.

Oh, no.

What was happening to her?

--

When they reached the dormitory, Christopher stopped.

"This is you."

Vivienne nodded.

"Yes."

Neither moved for a moment.

Then Christopher smiled.

"I’ll see you around."

Her heart gave a small, unpleasant twist.

"Yeah."

She forced a smile.

"I’ll see you around."

"Goodnight, Vivienne."

"Goodnight."

Christopher turned and walked away.

Vivienne remained where she was.

She watched him disappear down the path.

Only then did she turn toward her dorm.

--

Tbc