Chapter 10: The Ask

What made her heart race? Um, him asking her that? Him staring into her eyes like it was the most normal thing in the world? No, but she couldn't tell him that, could she? She tried to remember Raphael and the way his confident smile made her heart race earlier that evening. But she also remembered how the arrival of his partner made it sink. "Um, deals, I guess."

He blinked. "What? Work again? Don't you have any hobbies?" The spell was broken.

"I actually haven't had a hobby since I joined Kelly Bank. It's just been busy. But it's a good kind of busy and I love it."

"Busy and love don't usually find themselves in the same sentence."

"Hey, there's a thrill to closing deals."

"People, Dell. It's people you should love. Not busyness."

He was right, of course. But people were difficult. No, actually, people she worked with were easy. People she loved were difficult. "Hey, you sure you don't want anything?" She asked in an attempt to change the topic. "You've gone through the trouble of making coffee for me. I can cook if you want anything."

"Really?" He beamed. "I'll take you up on that."

She stood up. "Sure! What would you like me to make?"

"Can you make soft boiled eggs?"

"Um, sure." She was expecting something a bit more than that, though. "You sure that's all you want?"

"I could never get it right." He took out a couple of eggs from the fridge.

Dell laughed as she accepted the eggs and proceeded to his stove to get to work.

"I'll make toast. Do you want marmalade with yours?"

"Yes, please."

"Wow, this has become a full-blown midnight snack."

"I know, right? Actually, this is just as well. The event had nothing but finger food."

"Aww, you poor thing. Should I heat the rice? It's brown, healthy."

"Nooo, let's not go there. I don't want to eat too much before sleeping."

"Two toasts for you, then." He popped another slice of bread in the toaster.

Dell smiled to herself as she stirred the eggs in the boiling water. Except when he gazed intently into her eyes, her heart didn't beat fast when she was with Sean. On the contrary, it felt like it slowed down near him. He was pleasant company, in a warm and fuzzy sort of way. A friend, right? She told herself. She knew he didn't like her romantically. And it wasn't like she wanted him, either. He was easy to be around with, that was all.

"Oh, looks like your coffee's ready." Just as he was about to go to the coffee maker, the toaster also gave a ring.

She laughed at his slight confusion. "Perfect. Soft boiled eggs are ready, too."

They re-converged on the dining table with everything. Sean handed her a mug. "Here you go."

"Thanks!" She took the mug as she handed him the bowl of eggs. "And these are yours."

"Wonderful! Thanks!"

And they both settled comfortably, him with his toast and eggs, and her with toast, marmalade, and the warm mug in her hands. She sipped the coffee and sighed in satisfaction.

"Good, right? I told you."

"It is! How're the eggs?"

Sean gulped one down and replied, "Perfect." Attacking a piece of toast, he asked, "So, did anything interesting happen at your party?"

"As a matter of fact, there was."

She paused, then decided she might as well do this now. "Hey, we're friends, right?"

He looked at her like what she was asking was funny. "Yeah, I'd think so."

"Can I ask you a favor, as a friend?"

"Sure. What is it?"

Dell took a deep breath, then said, "Will you be my boyfriend?"

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