The rain suddenly increases in force, battering against the umbrella and jumping right off the ground with how hard it collides. “I’m not scheduled today.”
“Me neither!” She looks up at me with a wide smile. “Who would ever imagine two people from the same floor getting the same day off. Unheard of.”
“Indeed. Jen must be incredibly unhappy.”
Snow snorts and huddles closer as the worsening rain keeps her firmly under my large umbrella. “Honestly, she deserves it.”
“How are you after yesterday?” Perhaps none of my business, but I’d be lying if I said the scolding didn’t play on my mind.
Berating someone for any reason rarely gives desired results.
“It’s whatever.” Snow sighs. “I just have to work out a few things at home and then Jen will never be on my case again.”
I want to press further just to hear her speak but before I can, she looks up at me with that brief, hesitant smile once more. “What about you? Do you always eat there?”
“At the cafe?”
“Mhm.”
“Sometimes. I like the atmosphere, and the table at the back is quiet enough for me to get on with things. I like the quiet.”
“Ahh, you like the company but not the people. I understand.”
My heart skips faintly. In one conversation, she picked up on something that Thea had taken months to understand.
I lost track of how often I explained the difference between enjoying the atmosphere of people without the pressure of interaction.
In her eyes, I was just being aloof until she finally realized that I like to keep to myself.
“Yes.” I glance back at Snow who’s looking straight ahead now. “That’s right.”
“I thought so. I’ve never seen you at a department party but you’re always around in the corridors and stuff. Everyone says you’re quiet and shy, but I don’t think that’s true.”
“Is that what they say about me?”
Snow’s grip tightens on my arm suddenly, and her head jerks up. “Not that people talk about you! I just mean that like, in passing and stuff, y’know? Back when you first started. Not now.”
“Of course.” Amusement curls at my lips. “Not now.”
“Sorry,” she says sheepishly. “It sounds so bad.”
“People talk, it can’t be helped. What the patients say is more important to me than gossip.”
Snow nods and huddles closer as we walk around a large puddle.
The rain begins to ease off by the time we reach the top of the hill, panting a little, but I keep the umbrella up and Snow remains attached to my arm.
“If it makes you feel better…” Snow chuckles. “The next time someone says something, I will tell them you’re a perfect gentleman who saved me from getting absolutely drenched in an icy November rain.”
“Sounds like I’ll need to start taking bookings.”
She glances at me with wide eyes, then bursts out laughing and moves into me briefly. “I knew you had a sense of humor.” She giggles. “I could manage it for you. I’m excellent at schedules.”
“So everyone will be two hours later than expected, got it.”
“Hey!” she shoves at me again and we stumble slightly around another puddle. “That’s not fair.”
“But true.”
