Page 64 of Lucky In Love
The space between us is charged with a myriad of unspoken emotions. But I close the distance between us.
I lean in, and just then she turns her face away from me. I don’t move though. I can’t. I frozen in this moment of rejection.
“I think I’m going to turn in for the night.” She scoots up from the floor to the couch.
I offered to take the floor on the first night. To be perfectly honest, I wish we were sharing a bed.
“Good night, Felicity.”
I lie down, watching the fire dwindle to embers, its warmth enveloping us in a comforting cocoon. The quiet of the cabin is punctuated only by Lissy's soft, rhythmic breathing, a sound that offers an unexpected comfort.
Closing my eyes, I'm haunted by the image of her smile, the sound of her laughter. There's a connection here, something deep and genuine, born out of an unexpected circumstance.
Chapter 7
Lissy
Iwake up to find Erik already up, his back to me as he stares out the window. The storm has lessened, but the tension in the cabin feels thicker. I rub my eyes, the scent of the pine trees wafting in. “Morning,” I mutter, but he barely acknowledges me, his mind clearly elsewhere. The silence is unnerving, a stark contrast to the easy banter of the past few days.
I can't shake off the feeling that I've somehow upset him. The cabin feels colder, despite the fire. I catch him looking at me with a frown, and I quickly look away, my heart racing with a mix of confusion and something akin to hurt.
I sit wrapped in a blanket, feeling more alone than I've ever been. “Is everything okay?” I finally ask, my voice small. He hesitates, then nods, but his eyes don’t meet mine. I sigh, a sense of loss washing over me.
The atmosphere is strained. I try to engage Erik in conversation about anything – the books on the shelf, the pattern of the snow outside – but his responses are brief, his attention seemingly elsewhere. I find myself watching the snowflakes drift lazily past the window, feeling a pang of longing for the easy camaraderie we had just yesterday. The cabin, once a haven from the storm, now feels like a cage, trapping us in this uncomfortable silence.
I decide to make some tea, the sound of the kettle a welcome distraction.
“Need any help with that?”Erik offers a half-hearted hand, but it's clear his mind is miles away.
“No, thank you. It’s almost done anyway.”
I get two mugs and put two of the sugar cubes from the wooden box that had everything to make English tea inside. By the time I have everything set, the little whistle is just starting to flutter.
The steam from the tea rises, mixing with the lingering scent of pine, creating a homely aroma that under different circumstances, would have been comforting.
I hand Erik a mug, our fingers brushing momentarily, but the spark that once was there seems to have dimmed. I retreat to my corner of the cabin, sipping my tea, the warmth doing little to ease the chill in my heart.
As the evening sets in, I find myself reflecting on our time together, wondering where things went wrong. Erik remains quiet, his gaze often lingering on the dying embers of the fire. I want to reach out, to bridge the gap that has formed between us, but uncertainty holds me back.
The cabin is filled with the sound of the wind outside, a mournful howl that seems to echo my own feelings. Wrapped in my blanket, I watch Erik from across the room, longing for a return to the connection we'd started to build.
Chapter 8
Erik
I'm chopping wood outside, each swing releasing a bit of the frustration boiling inside me. I'm confused, unsure of what Lissy thinks of me. The cold bites at my skin, but it's nothing compared to the chill in my heart. I stop, leaning on the axe, and take a deep breath, the crisp air filling my lungs.
I can’t seem to make heads or tails of her. One minute she’s looking at me like she wants to jump my bones, and the next she’s this shy little kitten, blushing and looking away. I could’ve sworn I read the signs. She wanted me to kiss her. She leaned in too…didn’t she?
My spiraling thoughts carried me through the rest of the chore, and I find myself stacking the split wood next to the fire.
“I think I judged you too quickly,” Lissy says softly, breaking the silence. I look at her, surprised.
“We all make mistakes,” I reply, trying to keep my voice even. She smiles, a genuine, warm smile that reaches her eyes.
The warmth from the fire seems to fill the entire cabin, and I feel a connection to Lissy that goes beyond anything I've felt before. I realize I'm seeing her in a completely new light.
As the afternoon wears on, I find myself opening up more about my life outside soccer – my family, my dreams, the pressures I face. Lissy listens intently, her eyes reflecting a sincerity that makes me feel truly seen.