The Exhibit

Chapter 11 - Trying It Out

The rest of that day, the next, and the next few after that, Edward and Hannah gave one another little glances as they worked. The team noticed. When Edward was out of the workroom, one of the female team members working near Hannah commented slyly, "You two look at each other an awful lot."

Hannah looked closely at the little cat idol she was dusting off. "We work together—of course we would look at each other."

The team member who was about Hannah's age pulled up a stool next to her. She said in a quiet tone, "I mean you look at each other in a way that shows something is going on."

Hannah looked at the woman, whose name was Sarah. She was a pretty redhead that had her hair tied back. "There's nothing going on, at least in the way you're thinking."

"I beg to differ."

"Sarah, don't you have something you have to do right now?"

"You can't hide it, you know—I can see everything."

She left to do her work and Hannah let out a breath. She and Edward had only been giving glances to each other the past week, and when they talked, it was like that kiss didn't even happen. But she was okay with that. They need to be professional.

Something gripped her chest. Was she okay with it, though? She had been so worried about Dr. Asir and what he might do, and Edward always made her feel better whenever she felt worried. She loved being around him.

She knew what she needed to do. When they argued before, they would spend a day in total silence, and then would come together and talk about it. This was no different. Only, it had been a week.

Edward came back into the room and her heart jumped. His gaze immediately landed on her. He walked up to her. "Dr. Browning," he said and stood next to her, her eyes still on the little idol. She wasn't looking up at him to see if he was blushing.

"Yes?"

"I have to measure the exhibit so I can sketch the diagram. Will you assist me?"

She nodded, thinking this a good opportunity to talk with him. "Give me a few minutes. I'll meet you there."

"Alright."

He left, and she sighed in annoyance. She muttered, "Gosh... could this be any more awkward?"

She finished up and threw her latex gloves away. She made her way to the exhibit area and saw Edward there talking to Dr. Fisher. Dr. Fisher saw her first. "Hannah, it's about time."

Edward glanced at her, and her heart jumped again. "I'm sorry, I got caught up with what I was doing."

She looked at Edward, he looked at her back, and they both looked to the front again. Dr. Fisher noticed. "Anything going on between the two of you? You've been awkward like this all week."

"Nothing out of the ordinary, Henry," Hannah said hastily before Edward could say anything. Now she was noticing that blush on his olive cheeks.

"Alright," Dr. Fisher complied, not sounding convinced. "But whatever it is, make sure it doesn't impede your work."

"There's nothing impeding anything," she lied. "Now let's get started."

"I'll leave it to the two of you, then. And remember, I need those diagrams by tomorrow afternoon."

He walked away, and Hannah walked over to the left part of this empty area just off from the main Egypt exhibit. She felt Edward's gaze on her. "Dr. Browning," he began and came over to her. "I think we should talk about..."