He had nearly forgotten. How the fuck had he done that? Well, if he pinned blame, he’d pin it on his business, and the fact that when he realized he was going to be late, he nearly went into a frenzy and excused himself from what he had been doing.
Not that he cared what they thought of him leaving so suddenly anyway.
By the time he reached the outskirts of Central Park, he was already out of breath, having to run numerous blocks, in-between people and traffic. Taking the time to walk, instead of run, Robert planted himself down on one of the benches, trying to catch his breath. Perhaps he should have just given Summer the address to where he was staying; that would have worked better, instead of chancing this encounter and hoping Summer happened to come around in the right place.
Probably should have gotten her phone number too. That would have worked equally as well.
Wouldn’t hurt to remain on the bench for now, he supposed.
The west side of Central Park. What had he been thinking? Well, he hadn’t been, really, Summer supposed. She huffed out a breath, looking up the length of the park, and decided to try to cheat. It couldn’t be that hard to find him, right, now that they’d met?
She treated it like wardriving, pedalling slowly along the paths with her mind half open, fumbling for a familiar sense. She hadn’t actually gone that far when he slid into her thoughts, like the first sprinkles of a rainshower. Following that feeling, she tracked it to a bench, and came to a stop in front of Robert.
“Hi.”
He hadn’t been sitting long when Summer showed up before him. Oddly enough, he hadn’t remembered the ability she possessed, merely thinking that, perhaps, he picked a good spot to be seen. Either way, at least Robert hadn’t made her trek her way through the entire park.
He hoped.
“Nice to see you again Summer. Hopefully I didn’t make you go all over looking for me. Should have been a bit more specific in where I’d be waiting. Least you found me, and I wasn’t left hanging because of my own stupidity.” Rising from the bench, he put on a smile and shoved his hands into his pockets. “I assume we’ll be staying here to talk?”
She laughed. “I cheated.” It was so good to see him. Swinging off her bike, she hit the kickstand and took a step closer, angling for a hug. “We can stay here or go somewhere else. I don’t actually care.” She could feel the blood rising into her face. “I … I assumed you would want more privacy, but I guess this is — ” She looked around, half-checking for other people, but also avoiding his gaze. Avoiding what he might be able to see in hers.
Which was silly, since she’d already confessed, but even so. Part of her was utterly convinced he’d come here just to let her down gently, and after today she’d never … be able to be in his presence again. She didn’t want him to see that fear, or the aching hope that lived beneath it.
“Um, I don’t — I mean — I said all the things I needed to say already,” she said at last. “I’d just be repeating myself. Why don’t you go ahead and, and say what you came here to say, then?”