"Wait... I am coming..." Astrid's loud voice echoed inside the hall. The door opened with a soft click, and she stood in front of the entrance door wearing a loose white nightdress with half-wet hair clinging to her shoulders.
"You're Book..." Ewan murmured, his words slurred, watching Astrid's bright, shiny face. "You left it in my car...."
Before he finishes his sentences, "Thank you so much, Ewan.... If you didn't bring it, I'd just be a blank page tomorrow." Astrid thanked him, reaching out to grab the thick, weighted book from his hand. Her fingers brushed his.
'Sneeze, sneeze...' Ewan thought, without taking his eyes off Astrid. "Achh!!!" He sneezed louder, rubbing his nose dramatically and pretending not to be okay, a small, calculated smirk playing on his lips, hidden by his hand.
"Oh god!!! Save me... This is not my fault... Now you'll catch a cold... Don't blame me, bro..." Astrid murmured, a hint of concern in her voice, as she waved him to get inside.
"It's okay, Astrid... It seems just a sneeze... I'll be home within half an hour." Ewan said and sneezed again in the freezing breeze and minus temperature. "I-- I don't want to bother you, anyway..."
I'd feel bad if you left like this... You helped me.... Just get inside!" Astrid ordered, her tone containing no drama as she grabbed his hands and pulled him inside. "Follow me..." She walked towards her dad's room and opened the wooden door, turning on the light in the dim room. "Sit on the bed... I get my dad's dress for you...." She murmured as she scanned the room, then went to the corner side and brought a small stool from the nearby cupboard.
"Your house seems cool and neat...." Ewan complimented, his gaze sweeping over the old, polished wooden furniture, old photographs, and other personal stuff arranged neatly, like stepping inside a historical period.
"Don't judge by its cover... It's my papa's room. Just wait till you see my room; you'll be surprised!" Astrid roasted herself, with an innocent, childish smile on her face. She stood above the stool, and her fingers struggled to grab his dad's old shirt and trousers, but they were inches above her height.
Ewan was still drying his wet hair with a towel, while his gaze lifted above and landed on Astrid's struggle. Whenever she tried to reach up to grab the clothes hanger, her blouse became short, and her tiny, curvy waist became visible, glowing in the dim light like moonlight in the room's shadows.
Ewan froze as his pupil opened like a grey eye turned into black. Fuck! Control Ewan... He took a deep, shaky breath. But why is she cute at the same time she is hot now? Even she is making my cold body hot... He thought as his cold fingers ran over his neck. His breath became warm, and he coughed again, trying to make himself feel normal. "Hey, can I help you?" he asked, his voice rougher than intended.
Astrid let out a deep, exhausted, and relieved breath after his words. "Yeah!..." she whispered in a low tone, stepping down disappointingly from the stool, giving up her try. "Go ahead..." she nodded and took his place and watched him.
Ewan, without any try or any stool, casually grabbed the shirt and trousers in one try. "Look ... That's it...." He proudly flipped the shirt hanger forth and back in a friendly, nonchalant way.
Astrid rolled her eyes, not accepting her defeat and teasing him back. "Excuse me... You're just a few inches taller than me...so don't flatter yourself," she teased back, her tone playful but firmly bossy.
"Really!!!! Are you sure?" Ewan teased, a mocking glint in his eye, and stood near her, placing his hand above her head and showing the height difference, "Look... This is a few inches? And mocking her back, a smile widened. Then he unbuttoned his shirt and ripped the wet shirt from his fit body. Astrid's eyes widened as her gaze fixed on his sculptured body and his abs. She literally forgot to breathe as her mouth slightly opened, and her heart was hammering against her ribs rapidly.
"Are you enjoying the view?" Ewan's voice broke the tense moment, raising his brows like a teasing rainbowas he slid his hand inside the sleeves with a casual smile.
"What?... No! I am not looking at your body... I was just thinking about whether any hot drink is allowed in my kitchen or not... I mean, I was just thinking," Astrid turned back and closed her eyes in acute embarrassment, struggling to manage the situation and normalise her suddenly trembling, broken words, her cheeks burning hot.
Ewan placed a hand over his mouth and managed not to laugh louder. "Okay, okay... Turn around... Your parents didn't teach you that having a guest means you have to give them a drink, right?" He roasted again, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
"It's embarrassing....." Astrid whispered, biting her inner tongue as she nodded in acceptance. "Sorry, sir... what do you prefer, hot or cold?" she asked politely, holding her hands like a servant, making the scene funnier.
Ewan buttoned the shirt and fluffed the big sleeves, casually looking up. "Anything you like, but it must be good for this weather..." He ordered, his tone commanding like a main character in this show.
Astrid let out an annoying exhale, a huff of air, as she walked like a zombie towards the kitchen. Ewan's smile never faded on his face. "She's cute when she gets mad... Probably I even fell harder this time..." he whispered, then he followed back to the hall and sat on a huge, comfortable sofa. His eyes noticed the old architecture, and he enjoyed the present moment.
Her dad's like old things.... He thought as his gaze shifted to the photo frame. Astrid stood proudly, a wide smile on her face, while her dad, a strong, kind-faced man, hugged her from behind.
Astrid placed a coffee on the table. After noticing Astrid's presence, he grabbed a ceramic coffee cup, a curling stream of waves above the coffee. He sipped his first sip; immediately his eyes closed over the bitterness of strong coffee powder and swelled hard. She is bad at cooking.... He thought and hardly managed to sip the remaining coffee.
"Is it good?" Astrid asked, her eyes wide with a mixture of hope and curiosity about her first time cooking.
Ewan nodded his head quickly and forced a casual, excited smile not to show his true reaction. "Perfect?" He said and laughed as he quickly sipped the remaining coffee, trying to get it over with.
"Really!!!!" Astrid exclaimed, a sudden happiness brightening her smile as she sat on the opposite side of the sofa and watched and admired Ewan drinking. "I thought I would mess up, but finally I did it..."
Shit! Ewan screamed inside and placed the empty cup on the table.
Astrid's phone beeped with a notification sound, and a sudden excitement burst inside her face. She immediately opened the app and noticed a Wyatt message. Without delay, her finger was flying over the keypad, and the background, Ewan's presence, and everything blurred to her as she sank into the phone.
Ewan's brows narrowed in confusion, and he silently watched her curiosity in her green eyes; her finger movements were quick across the keypad. Who is that? Does she have a boyfriend...? But I have never seen her get along with any man.... Then who might that person be...? An inner jealous question and tension erupted in his mind like an uncontrolled volcano. "Okay, Astrid... Can I get going?" He asked, interrupting the silenced rigidity moment between them.
But Astrid shook her head without moving her eyes, and her gaze was glued to the screen.
"Okay...have a good evening...." Ewan said, his voice flat, his smile faded. He stood absently, absorbing Astrid excitedly on the phone. He moved slowly towards the main door.
"Hey... Stop..." Astrid called out, her head snapping up, and immediately ran over towards Ewan. "Can we do a project tonight? Are you free?" She asked excitedly and early, hoping for a positive reply.