LOGINClara and Alexander walked slowly. Weaving through carts, bicycles, and muddy children, Ice cream cones in their hands.Clara looked up at him, A small smile at the edge of her lips. "What about cake?" She asked.Alexander took a small breath. He looked down at the half-eaten ice cream in his hands. "What about it?" he understood what she was asking. She wanted to know what other pleasures he had deprived himself of all these years. "Please tell me you enjoy cake sometimes"Alexander tried to remember the last time he had a piece of cake. Instead, he thought about all the lonely nights he had spent working, lying to himself that it was necessary."Sorry to disappoint you, Clara," he said slowly. The years of self-isolation dawning on him. When last did he take a casual stroll?"I'm going to have to fix that," Clara finished the last bit of her ice cream and reached for his hands. She intertwined their fingers, and he squeezed them gently."You're going to have so many pastries, you'll
Clara stood by the side of the road, her eyes searching for Alexander's car.A warm smile spread across her face when she spotted him. He parked nearby, and Clara walked up to him."Hi!" She gave a small excited wave.Alexander smiled. She was adorable in her yellow sundress, her hair braided into two pigtails."Hi," he said, falling into step beside her."Are you sure you weren't busy?" she asked, biting her lower lip.Alexander nodded."I wasn't."The leasing agent, a short plump woman in a sharp blazer, stood in front of the building with a folder tucked under her arm.She wiped sweat off her forehead with a small towel."Mr. and Mrs. Ford, lovely to meet you." She extended a hand to each of them before pushing the door open."You're going to love it. High ceilings, a newly renovated kitchen, and foot traffic that's to die for."Clara stepped in first.She was right, it was beautiful. Exposed brick, a wall of windows letting in soft afternoon light, the kitchen gleaming with equipm
Clara's heart skipped a beat when she heard the sound of Alexander's car pull in.She rushed to her window, watching him from behind the curtains.He was back early today. Her lips curled into a wide smile.She had spent the entire day wondering if she should call him.Outside, he approached the front door. He paused as he held the doorknob and looked up at her window.Clara backed away immediately.Why was she nervous?She had literally woken up in his bed that morning.She thought about how he'd made her promise to come back, and her face flushed red. She wanted him to pull her into his arms.She would go to him. She pulled open her door and met him standing right outside, arms raised like he was about to knock."Hi," he said, putting his hands down.Clara smiled."You're back early today."He loosened his tie and exhaled sharply."Not much to do." He didn't mention that he had raced through everything he was supposed to do.She wrapped her arms around his neck while he wrapped his
Light filtered through the curtains, landing on Clara's face. She blinked repeatedly and sat up.She stretched and looked around, realizing she had slept in his room.She looked to the other side of the bed, but it was empty.She felt her heart drop. He had left her. Then Clara heard the shower turn on and let out a sigh of relief.She pushed herself off the bed and took slow steps toward the bathroom door.She stopped right in front of the door and placed her palm on it.She wanted to walk in and maybe they'd have a bath together.She stepped back, pinching her arm.What was she thinking? She was acting like an obsessed pervert.She was about to turn back to the bed when the bathroom door pulled open.Alexander was completely drenched, his towel wrapped around his waist."Clara, you pervert. Were you spying on me?" He smiled.Clara's face turned hot red."I was not!""Looks that way.""I wasn't spying on you, why would I?" she hissed, arms crossed against her chest.Alexander reached
Just as Clara stepped out of the kitchen with a tray in her hands, the lights in the house went out.She exhaled hard. The day just seemed to get worse.Alexander turned on his phone light and walked toward her."Must be a short circuit. Come on." He grabbed the tray and led her up the stairs and into his room.He placed the tray down on his desk and turned on his lamp. It lit up the entire room.Clara stood awkwardly beside the door, playing with her fingers."We can stay here until it's fixed. It won't take long." He looked up at her, and she finally stepped fully into his room and closed the door behind her."I'd like to change," she murmured.He walked into his closet and pulled out an oversized shirt.Clara should have declined. She should have gone to her room and worn her own clothes, but it smelled like him, and she loved how he smelled.She took the shirt and walked into his bathroom to change.When she came back, he sat on the floor, leaning against the bed, the tray beside
Alexander adjusted his shirt and then pulled the door open, his mother was the first to step in, she rubbed his cheeks and planted a kiss on them. "oh my darling, I've missed you" she beamed. his father stepped in next, he gave Alexander a soft nod and closed the door behind him "where's that lovely wife of yours" his mother asked, taking off the shawl wrapped around her shoulders. Alexander looked up at the stairs and then back at his mother "she'll be here soon." he led them to the dinning, pulling out a seat for his mother. "look at this spread, I didn't know Clara could cook" his mother smiled,her eyes going over the three course meal Clara had prepared Alexander felt a surge of pride build inside him. The air in the was house thick with the scent of thyme, garlic and butter. Clara gently opened her room door, she took several deep breaths and rubbed sweaty palms against her red dress. she took careful steps down the stairs, she had met his parents before, but f







