We walk in silence for a while, but I don't really care, mostly because I don't really know what to say. It feels normal; just holding hands and walking down the street. I know as soon as we actually start to talk about 'this,' things won't be as nice. It was out of line for him to just show up at my work, even though I know deep down I was really hoping I would see him today. My head and my heart keep clashing when it comes to the subject of Rhodes. It's so hard to think straight when he smiles at me and tells me what I want to hear, even if I feel deep down that it's all just a game, a ruse to make me feel like I should change to be what he wants me to be.
"Buy anything at the auction last night?" I ask him eventually as we turn the corner, the park now in sight. I look up at him as he nods his head.
"Yeah, I did. I was feeling charitable." I grin softly, like he needs an excuse to spend money. "I wish you had stayed." His tone becomes a little more serious, but there is still a softness there. Maybe I should have stayed, maybe I've been making too big of a deal out of all of this? No, I haven't, and I can't keep making excuses to make it all okay.
"It was weird seeing my photo in the paper." I smile a little. I'm not going to agree and say I should have stayed with him, but I'm trying to stay on the subject. He grins and strokes the back of my hand that he's holding with his thumb, back and forth and back and forth.
"I can imagine. Many people point it out to you?" he asks. I nod. On top of the people from work, others had definitely noticed. My mum called me while I was at work and then texted me back saying to call her tonight; she must have seen it.
"The people at work did; a couple of girls I went to high school with messaged me asking about it, my mum as well. Didn't realize that many people actually read the society pages," I reply as we enter the big black gates that open into the park. Bright yellow sunflowers circle around us as we start to walk down the path. I'm so glad they're back in season, even if it is for only a little while longer.
"Mhmm, what did our friend Ryan have to say about it?" Rhodes asks. I roll my eyes and smile up at him, trying to decide how much information I should give him about Ryan's opinion.
"Well, he now refers to you as Mr. Money Bags." Rhodes lets out a chuckle and shrugs his shoulders.