I grab the nearest box of apple cinnamon donuts, trying not to fumble as I feel Benedict’s gaze on me. My heart’s doing that weird fluttery thing again, and I’m pretty sure it’s not from the sugar rush I’m anticipating.
As I push through the glass doors of the store, I can’t wipe the grin off my lips.
I pause on the sidewalk, watching Benedict through the window as he browses the aisles. There’s something about the way he moves, graceful yet unassuming, that tugs at something deep inside me.
“Get it together, Ivanov,” I mutter, shaking my head. “It’s barely been a week.”
But as I start the short walk back to the office, my mind keeps drifting to Benedict’s teasing smile, the warmth in his eyes. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this…alive? Excited? Terrified?
A couple passing by gives me an odd look, probably wondering why the guy in ill-fitting clothes is talking to himself and grinning like an idiot. I can’t bring myself to care.
As I wait at a crosswalk, I find myself wondering how long this can last when my last relationship crashed and burned. The light changes, and I step off the curb, my thoughts racing faster than my feet.
Maybe it doesn’t have to last forever. Maybe it’s enough to just enjoy it while it’s here.
I reach the office, pausing with my hand on the door. Through the glass, I can see my colleagues eagerly awaiting their sugary bribes.
I fucking love them, and as I walk into the sounds of more ribbing, I try not to think of the man on the other side of the wall who could so easily own my heart.
“So, are you finally going to tell me where we’re going?” Benedict asks, his voice a mix of curiosity and amusement. “Or is this the part where you reveal you’re actually a serial killer, and I’m your next victim?”
I snort, turning onto a narrow dirt path that winds through towering pines. “If I was a serial killer, I wouldn’t bring you here. It’s too exposed. I’d have my way with you at your place and then erase all traces of my presence.”
“Oh, so you’ve thought about this, have you?” he teases, eyes sparkling.
“Constantly,” I deadpan, then wink at him. “But today, I promise there’s no murder on the agenda. Just a little surprise.”
The trees part, revealing a secluded clearing nestled against a bubbling stream. I park and hop out, gesturing for Benedict to wait. “Give me two seconds.”
I pop the trunk, retrieving a wicker basket I’d hastily packed this morning. When I turn back, Benedict’s standing there, eyes wide as he takes in the scene.
“Zeke,” he breathes, “this is…wow.”
I shrug, suddenly feeling a bit self-conscious. “It’s not much. I just thought you might like to escape the city for a bit.”
Benedict’s smile is soft and genuine. “It’s perfect.”
We make our way to a grassy spot by the water’s edge, and I spread out a blanket. As Benedict settles down, I marvel at how he looks in this setting—the dappled sunlight playing across his features, the breeze ruffling his hair.
“I can’t believe you planned all this,” he says, helping me unpack the basket.
I laugh. “Planned might be a strong word. More like threw together in a panic this morning hoping it wouldn’t be a total disaster.”
Benedict’s hand finds mine, squeezing gently. “Well, consider me thoroughly impressed by your panicked throwing-together skills.”
As I look into his eyes, I’m struck by how easy this feels. How right. And for a moment, I let myself believe that maybe, just maybe, this could be the start of something real.
I pop a grape into Benedict’s mouth, savoring the way his lips brush against my fingertips. “So,” I say, aiming for casual but probably missing by a mile, “tell me more about the enigmatic Benedict Montgomery.”
He chews thoughtfully, his expression growing distant. “I’m…not sure how to answer that.”
“Hey, no pressure,” I assure him, though my curiosity is definitely piqued. “We could start with your favorite color if that’s easier.”
Benedict’s laugh is soft, almost sad. “It’s not that. It’s just… I’m on a break, I suppose. From being Benedict Montgomery.”
I raise an eyebrow. “A break from yourself? That’s some next-level vacation planning.”
He smiles, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “Sometimes it’s necessary, you know? To step away, figure out who you are without all the…expectations.”
