Fragile

Chapter 2 - Number Swap

"No tea like the average English-woman?"

I huffed a quiet laugh, shifting in my seat. "It's not my favorite, but I should've played into the stereotype huh?."

She smirked, lifting her cup. "Well, I'm playing into mine, so I guess we're even."

I watched as she took a sip, her lips curling slightly at the taste, and had to force myself to look away, focusing instead on the swirling steam from my tea. God, why was I like this? It was just coffee. Just two people hanging out.

Then why did it feel like I was playing in the Euros final all over again?

"You okay?" Evelyn asked, tilting her head slightly.

I blinked. "What? Yeah. Yeah, I'm good."

Her smile widened, amused. "You sure? You look a little... tense."

I scoffed, hoping it sounded casual. "I'm fine."

She didn't look convinced, but thankfully, she let it slide. Instead, she leaned back in her seat, her fingers drumming lightly against her cup. "Wanna take a walk? There's a park a few blocks down."

"Yeah," I answered quickly, maybe too quickly. "That sounds good."

We left the Starbucks and stepped onto the pavement, falling into an easy pace as we made our way down the street. The air was warm, the sun hovering lazily in the sky, and yet, for some reason, I could feel a thin layer of sweat forming at the back of my neck.

I tried to ignore it. Failed.

After a few minutes, I discreetly wiped my palm against my pant leg, but Evelyn caught the movement, her eyes flicking down before she looked back up at me, an impish grin forming.

"Are you sweating?" she asked, far too entertained.

I groaned, pinching the bridge of my nose. "No."

She snorted. "It's almost 70º out."

"I run cold," I muttered.

Evelyn laughed, the sound light and teasing. "Uh-huh. Or—hear me out—you're just really nervous."

I exhaled sharply, shaking my head. "I'm not nervous."

"You sure?" She bumped her shoulder against mine playfully. "Because you seem nervous."

I turned my head to glare at her, but she was grinning, her eyes full of mischief. And, honestly, it was unfair how much fun she was having at my expense.

"Okay, fine," I admitted, exasperated. "Maybe I'm a little nervous."

Her smirk softened into something warmer. "Why?"

That was the real question, wasn't it? Why?

I could've played it off, made some joke, but instead, I swallowed and said, "Because I like you."

The words hung between us, weighty and real. Evelyn stopped walking for a second, looking up at me with something unreadable in her expression. Then, slowly, that smirk returned.

"You say that like it's a bad thing."

I rubbed the back of my neck, glancing away. "It's just... new. I don't really do this."

She nodded, as if she understood. "Well, for what it's worth... I like you too."

That made me look at her again, my heart kicking against my ribs. "Yeah?"

"Yeah." She took another sip of her coffee before adding, "But you're still kinda awkward."

I groaned, but she laughed, bumping me again, and I found myself smiling despite myself.