Sherry’s hand reaches out and takes his arm, gripping tightly as they make their way through the park. Roman can’t help the smile that slips over his features as he pulls her in closer, enjoying the closeness.
“If you wanted to get closer, all you had to do was ask.”
Sherry glances back to him before rolling her eyes and swatting her hand against his shoulder. “That’s not what I meant. I could have sworn I saw something.”
“Don’t worry,” he teases. “There’s no one else out here but us.”
“You don’t know that. They always tell us not to go into the park at night.”
“They do. And in my personal experience, I have never seen any kind of murderous bandit or vagabond creeping around looking for trouble. We’ll be fine.”
Sherry still looks uncertain, not knowing what to trust, but eventually she straightens, lifting her chin, and waving a hand. “You’re right. It’s likely just a story they tell kids to keep them out of trouble.”
“There you go,” Roman smiles before draping an arm around her shoulders. “In fact, I think we’re so alone that we could probably get up to a little mischief.”
“Roman.” She can tell the mischief he means from the way his eyes wander over her, and she shakes her head. “You flirt.”
“You knew what I was when you agreed to go out with me, darling.”
He pulls her gently off the path and towards a nearby shaded area, far from the view of prying eyes. When she reaches the edge of the path, she hesitates, unsure if she should step into the unknown. Roman waits for her on the other side, keeping her hand in his gently.
“Come now,” he murmurs. “What do you have to lose?”
Almost as though charmed by the ease of the sentence, she steps out of the light and allows him to draw her into the shadows.
Twenty minutes later, only Roman emerges from the brush, straightening the front of his suit. As he rounds the corner to the entrance of the park, a boisterous voice calls from the corner. “Roman, good man. What are you doing in the park this late? You never know what could float round in there.”
“Oh, only passing through on my way home, Henrik,” he smiles, sliding his hands into his pockets. “Nothing to be concerned about.”
Henrik shakes his head. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were courting trouble.” He then peers closer at Roman as the man crosses into the spotlight. Henrik frowns as he reaches to pull out his handkerchief. “Forgive me, but you seem to have something there.” He gestures to the corner of his mouth before handing off the small patch of cotton.
“Thank you,” Roman takes it, swiping as indicated and frowning at the reddish-brown substance against the white linen. He then smiles before handing it back to him. “Forgive me. It must have been left over from dinner.”
6/22/21 | five minute challenge | original | 503 | COMPLETE
Sherry’s hand reaches out and takes his arm, gripping tightly as they make their way through the park. Roman can’t help the smile that slips over his features as he pulls her in closer, enjoying the closeness.
“If you wanted to get closer, all you had to do was ask.”
Sherry glances back to him before rolling her eyes and swatting her hand against his shoulder. “That’s not what I meant. I could have sworn I saw something.”
“Don’t worry,” he teases. “There’s no one else out here but us.”
“You don’t know that. They always tell us not to go into the park at night.”
“They do. And in my personal experience, I have never seen any kind of murderous bandit or vagabond creeping around looking for trouble. We’ll be fine.”
Sherry still looks uncertain, not knowing what to trust, but eventually she straightens, lifting her chin, and waving a hand. “You’re right. It’s likely just a story they tell kids to keep them out of trouble.”
“There you go,” Roman smiles before draping an arm around her shoulders. “In fact, I think we’re so alone that we could probably get up to a little mischief.”
“Roman.” She can tell the mischief he means from the way his eyes wander over her, and she shakes her head. “You flirt.”
“You knew what I was when you agreed to go out with me, darling.”
He pulls her gently off the path and towards a nearby shaded area, far from the view of prying eyes. When she reaches the edge of the path, she hesitates, unsure if she should step into the unknown. Roman waits for her on the other side, keeping her hand in his gently.
“Come now,” he murmurs. “What do you have to lose?”
Almost as though charmed by the ease of the sentence, she steps out of the light and allows him to draw her into the shadows.
Twenty minutes later, only Roman emerges from the brush, straightening the front of his suit. As he rounds the corner to the entrance of the park, a boisterous voice calls from the corner. “Roman, good man. What are you doing in the park this late? You never know what could float round in there.”
“Oh, only passing through on my way home, Henrik,” he smiles, sliding his hands into his pockets. “Nothing to be concerned about.”
Henrik shakes his head. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were courting trouble.” He then peers closer at Roman as the man crosses into the spotlight. Henrik frowns as he reaches to pull out his handkerchief. “Forgive me, but you seem to have something there.” He gestures to the corner of his mouth before handing off the small patch of cotton.
“Thank you,” Roman takes it, swiping as indicated and frowning at the reddish-brown substance against the white linen. He then smiles before handing it back to him. “Forgive me. It must have been left over from dinner.”