Chapter 24: Close
When the last of their meal was finished, Lara caught the attention of a waiter.
"Could we have the bill, please?"
"I'll pitch in," Reagan said, already reaching for his wallet.
Lara shook her head. "No, that won't be necessary. I said I'd treat you, so I'll be paying."
His gaze flickered with something unreadable, but he didn't argue. Instead, when the waiter returned with the bill, Lara quickly retrieved her card and handed it over before Reagan could make another attempt. He merely exhaled, shaking his head in amusement.
As they waited for the transaction to go through, Reagan glanced at her. "Will your husband be picking you up?"
Lara stilled. The question was simple, but the weight behind it made her chest tighten.
"No," she said after a brief pause. "I brought my car. I'll be driving myself home."
Reagan's gaze flickered to her glass of wine. "You sure you're good to drive?"
Lara let out a small chuckle. "I didn't even drink that much. I'll be fine."
Reagan didn't reply immediately. He seemed to consider something before speaking again. "Then, would you mind joining me for a walk?"
Lara blinked, slightly surprised. She hadn't expected the invitation, but when she glanced at her watch, she realized it was only 8:00 PM. And truthfully, she didn't want to go home yet.
She hesitated for only a second before nodding. "A walk sounds nice."
When her card was returned, they left the restaurant and stepped out onto the bustling city street. The evening air was cool, and the sound of the city filled the space around them; the distant hum of traffic, occasional laughter from people passing by, the rhythmic clicking of Lara's heels against the pavement.
Despite the silence between them, it wasn't uncomfortable. Reagan walked at a steady pace beside her, his hands in his pockets, his posture relaxed. After a few minutes, they arrived at a nearby park nestled between high-rise buildings. The lamplights cast a soft glow over the cobblestone paths, and a gentle breeze stirred the trees, rustling their leaves in a quiet symphony.
Lara shivered slightly, realizing too late that she had nothing to shield her from the cool air. Before she could react, she felt something warm drape over her shoulders. Startled, she glanced down and saw a familiar black coat.
She looked up at Reagan, eyes wide. "Oh. You don't have—"
"You looked cold," he said simply, as if that explained everything.
She held the coat tighter around herself and murmured, "Thank you."
Reagan simply nodded, shoving his hands back into his pockets as they continued walking at a slow pace, the silence between them occasionally broken by Lara's soft laughter as she shared stories about her students; how one of them had tried to convince her that two plus two equaled five because his older brother said so, or how another had proudly declared she wanted to marry her best friend because they both liked the same cartoon.
Reagan listened, his usual composed expression softening ever so slightly, the corner of his lips twitching in amusement. He wasn't much of a talker, but he was a good listener. And for once, it felt nice, to have someone genuinely paying attention to her ramblings instead of brushing them off.
Every so often, Lara would pause to take photos of the surroundings. The city lights reflected on the lake, the elegant sculpture wall at the center of the park, a couple of stray cats curled up near a bench. She was so absorbed in capturing the details that she didn't notice Reagan watching her with quiet amusement.
"Want me to take a picture of you?" he asked suddenly.
Lara lowered her phone and turned to him. "Me?"
He gave a small nod and gestured toward the sculpted wall she had been photographing. "It's a nice backdrop. You might as well have a picture with it."
She hesitated, feeling slightly embarrassed. "Are you sure?"
He chuckled. "I wouldn't have offered if I wasn't."
She pursed her lips, contemplating, then handed him her phone. "Alright, but don't make me look weird."
Reagan huffed a small laugh. "No promises."
Lara stepped in front of the wall. She awkwardly struck a pose, feeling foolish under his gaze. Reagan said nothing, merely adjusting the angle before snapping the picture. Once done, she walked over to check.
Reagan lowered the phone so she could see the screen. The photo had turned out surprisingly well. The lighting, the angle, even the way she was positioned.
Her lips curved into a smile. "Oh, that actually looks really nice."
She turned to him, intending to thank him, but her breath hitched when she realized just how close they were. The space between them had shrunk without her noticing. For a moment, she was aware of everything—the crisp scent of his cologne, the way his gaze briefly flickered down to her lips before moving back up to meet her eyes.
Heat crept up her neck. Quickly, she took a step back, clearing her throat. "You have a talent for photography."
Reagan merely chuckled, handing her phone back.
They continued walking, the night growing quieter around them. Eventually, they circled back toward the main road, making their way to the parking lot where their cars were parked. Lara expected them to part ways immediately, but Reagan followed her to her car, his hands tucked in his pockets.
She turned to him, offering a small smile. "Thanks for tonight. I really enjoyed it."
Reagan tilted his head slightly. "Hmm. It wasn't bad."
Lara let out a soft laugh. "I'll take that as a compliment."
He smirked but said nothing. Instead, he took a step back as she opened her car door. She slid inside, started the engine, and instinctively glanced out the window only to find him still standing there, watching her.
She rolled the window down. "Why are you still here?"
"Don't mind me," he said. "Drive safe."
Something about the way he said it made warmth bloom in her chest. But instead of dwelling on it, she smiled at him. "I will. Goodnight, Reagan."
Reagan gave her a slight nod. "Goodnight."
Lara nodded, giving him a final wave before rolling up the window and pulling out of the parking lot.
It wasn't until she caught her reflection in the rearview mirror that she noticed it, the black coat still draped over her shoulders.
She groaned, resisting the urge to facepalm. "Oh my God. I forgot to give it back."
Why didn't he remind her?
She sighed, gripping the steering wheel. Now she'd have to see him again just to give it back.
Her fingers absentmindedly brushed over the fabric.
And for some reason, the thought of seeing him again didn't seem like such a bad idea.
She blinked, shaking her head.
God, what am I thinking?!