The Heart Thief

the heart thief - |12|

Millie

══════⊹⊱≼≽⊰⊹══════

           I heard a knock at the door and made my way over to answer it. As I pulled it open, I was surprised to see Roman standing there, offering me a friendly wave. His unexpected visit caught me off guard, but I couldn't help but feel a little lighter as I took in his warm smile. I took a deep breath, allowing some of the tension to release from my body, and tried to relax.

           Roman greeted me with a small wave, slightly out of breath just like me. He scratched the back of his head and then let his hand fall in front of him, interlocking it with the other. "I'm sorry for coming here unannounced," he said, chuckling softly as he exhaled. I couldn't help but smile a little, even though I didn't really want to.

           His gaze was fixed on me with a curious expression, and I couldn't quite decipher what he was thinking. Despite his casual attire of a hoodie, sweatpants, and sneakers, he still managed to look breathtakingly handsome. The light from the hallway cast a glow on his face, accentuating the chiseled contours of his features and making them even more striking.

           I held onto the edge of the door, my fingers tightening around it. "It's fine," I responded, my voice tinged with confusion that I couldn't seem to shake off. "Is everything okay?" I asked, concerned about what could have brought him here unexpectedly.

           "Absolutely, everything's fine," he replied, nodding his head vigorously and bouncing on his feet slightly. "You won't believe what happened. I was just about to go for a walk when I thought of asking you to join me," he said, his statement sounding more like a question as if he wasn't sure himself why he had driven fifteen minutes from his house to mine to ask me out for a walk. It was a decision that had caught him off guard, and he seemed perplexed by it.

           I opened my mouth to say something, but before any words could escape, he placed his fingers against my lips, silencing me. He withdrew his hand almost as quickly as he had touched me, but it left a lingering sensation that sent shivers down my spine. I tried to ignore the heat that rose to my cheeks, sparked by the mere touch of his fingers against my skin.

           "I know what you're thinking," he started, letting out another short chuckle that echoed around the hallway. My eyebrows lifted in curiosity. "You're probably thinking I'm crazy for coming all the way here just to ask you to go for a walk. Why didn't I use my car instead of an Uber?" He stumbled over his words, running his hands through his hair in a gesture I recognized as a sign of nervousness and confusion.

           Roman gazed at me, appearing almost incredulous. "I don't know, Millie. I just..." He ran his fingers through his hair and took a deep breath before continuing. "I just really wanted to go for a walk," he finished breathlessly, as though the fate of the world rested on that decision. He seemed fearful that I might inquire further, knowing that there was no real answer to give and that the decision had been made impulsively, without any real thought.

           "Sure," I declared, grinning in response. "Let's go for a walk, Roman."

           His broad smile sent a shiver down my spine, causing goosebumps to rise on my skin.

           The cool night air was refreshing as we strolled through my neighborhood. Roman and I walked side by side, our shoulders occasionally brushing against each other, but neither of us felt the need to create space. I gazed straight ahead, tucking my hands inside my coat pockets. Wanting to keep things casual like him, I opted for a simple outfit consisting of a cashmere shirt and pants under my coat.