“No,” she responds quickly, her voice firm despite being edged with discomfort. “I’ve been looking forward to this walk. Don’t worry about me.”
Her resolve strengthens my own, and a smirk spreads across my face. “I’m glad,” I admit, feeling a surge of warmth I definitively shouldn’t. “I was excited for today too. And I think it will get better if you’re using those big muscles, warming them up a little.”
“Ha-ha,” she mocks, but the smile she returns is genuine now.
We enter the park, and the fresh morning air is filled with the subtle sounds of nature and the distant city. Amelia’s spirits seem lifted, and I feel a sense of relief.
As we walk along the pebble stone path, Peanut, who walks between us, seems to gravitate toward Amelia, nudging her from time to time, his tail wagging every time she speaks. Seeing their budding connection, I decide it’s time to hand over the leash. “He seems to prefer walking beside you.”
“Really?” Amelia beams, reaching out with the hand closest to me to take it, but Peanut remains between us, his joyful nudges continuing.
I place my hand on her hip to bring her to a stop, taking the leash back from her with my other hand.
With a click of my tongue and a “Right,” I command Peanut to switch sides.
He obediently trots around her, and I follow with the leash, then hand it to her again. With Peanut now on her other side, I step closer and reach out, taking her free hand and intertwining our fingers. She glances down at our hands, then up at me, a hint of surprise in her expression. “I should keep hold of you in casehe decides to run off and pull you with him,” I say, partially as an excuse to hold her hand.
Mostly as an excuse to hold her hand.
As we stroll along, a guy sitting in the grass strums a guitar, and Amelia slows her pace, her lips curling into a faint smile as she listens.
“Being out here, making music, it’s something magical,” she muses aloud.
“Is that what you wanna do with your life? Live from making music in parks?” I ask half-jokingly.
She furrows her brows at me, a silent question in her gaze. “Hell no.”
Technically, I shouldn’t even know that she’s playing an instrument, so I need to watch what I say. “What then? Planning to climb the ladder at Elysium?”
She shakes her head, chuckling lightly. “Elysium was mostly a way to get away from London. I’ll stay as long as it makes sense for me, but I’m not there because I love it or anything.”
Well, that’shonest.
I want to ask about London, about her mother, but it doesn’t feel right. I don’t want to spoil her mood.
“What about you?” she asks before I can dig any further.
“I think I’m pretty high up that ladder.” I shrug, but her sudden burst of laughter makes me realize how that might have sounded arrogant.
Misha always says I sound entitled.
But it’s just the fucking truth.
“Well, there’s still management above you, any plans to infiltrate them?” she teases playfully yet probingly.
“The short answer is no. The long answer is… fuck no,” I say, a smirk playing at the corner of my mouth.
She raises an eyebrow, intrigued. “How come? I bet they’d love to keep you guys.”
I scoff lightly, shaking my head. “They’re not as big of fans of us as you might think. Sure, they like what we do and how much money we bring them, so they kiss our asses. But they don’t likeus. And honestly, I can’t stand them,” I admit, my tone turning more serious.
“Why not?”
I glance at her, lowering my voice conspiratorially. “I don’t take criticism from people I wouldn’t take advice from. And they… let’s just say, have you ever looked at someone and known the wheel was turning, but the hamster was dead?”
Amelia stops walking as she bursts out laughing. She pulls her hand from mine to hold her side, wincing as if her sore muscles are protesting the sudden movement. “Ouch,” she manages through her giggles.
Peanut sits down in front of us, tilting his head as if he’s as confused by her laughter as amused by it.
