“This is him, yes.”
Biscuit started pulling Oliver toward one of the gates that led out of the square and into the city beyond.
“I hope you’re ready for that walk?”he asked, trying to hold steady as Biscuit tugged him ahead.
Aurelia laughed, then said, “I don’t think we have a choice.”
Once they were a few streets past the square, Biscuit began to settle down and they were able to go at a steadier pace.
“So: Biscuit.Name origin story, please,” Aurelia demanded.
“Ah… My ex-girlfriend surprised me with him a few months before we broke up.”
“Did she even know you?”Aurelia burst out with a laugh before remembering herself.“I’m so sorry, it’s just… No, I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s alright.The answer is apparently not.I never said I wanted a dog—I never did.I think it was a ‘let’s have a baby and see if that fixes our broken relationship’ type of decision.”
“Oh, those are terrible decisions.”
“Very.She brought him home, named him like he was a tiny show dog, and then insisted on keeping him after we broke up.But Biscuit was always sort ofmydog.I didn’t try to make him mine.He just… was.Is.Then last month she brought him over to my flat and said she was giving me ‘full custody’ because he was too depressed without me.”
“Poor Biscuit.”
Aurelia was trying not to laugh at the whole situation, but she saw Oliver was smiling.At least he was at a point where he could see the humor too.
“Hang on,” Oliver said.
He stopped to pick up the dog as they passed a woman dragging a wheeled suitcase.Biscuit whined and turned his head away from the woman until the sound of the wheels bumping over every crevice in the pavement had passed.Oliver put him down carefully—so carefully—and ruffled the fur behind his ears before continuing to walk.He looked over and caught Aurelia staring at him, waiting for an explanation.
“He doesn’t like rolling bags,” Oliver said sheepishly, as though she might laugh at him or Biscuit.
She didn’t want to laugh at all, though.Instead, she was working very hard to keep her face from melting into the soppiest of smiles.He hadn’t wanted a dog, didn’t get to pick the dog’s name, and now was stuck with the dog—but he clearly had a soft spot for him just the same.Aurelia had seen quite a few sides to Oliver by now, but this sweet side turned that all-too-familiar tugging sensation in her belly into a brand-new feeling.Like she was on one end of a line that was pulling her entire being toward him.As they walked, she wanted to lean into him, to be nearer to him, but she held herself back.They were colleagues now, and friends.She didn’t want to cross a line he’d already drawn, even if she was starting to wish he would erase it.
They walked for nearly an hour, until Oliver had to get back to work and Aurelia had to open the shop again.Biscuit flopped at their feet as they said goodbye, his little legs clearly tired from the dozen or so steps he’d taken for every one of theirs.
“We didn’t get to talk much about your book,” Oliver said.
“No, that’s right.”She tried to keep her tone light even though she felt disappointed at the reminder that this had been a work date, not a real one.
“Maybe we could walk again this weekend,” he suggested.“Have you been to Highgate?Dogs aren’t allowed, but I think it’d be too long of a walk for him anyway.”
Aurelia’s face fell at the name.Highgate was a beautiful nineteenth-century cemetery in the city, full of crumbling old tombs and giant trees.She used to love walking through it, writing down names from tombstones that she might use for characters, and basking in the quiet escape it offered from the hustle of city life.Her aunt and mother weren’t buried there, but the idea of going to a cemetery again felt too painful.
“Oh, Aurelia, I’m so sorry,” Oliver said, stepping closer before nearly tripping over Biscuit.He took a second to get his footing again before adding, “That was thoughtless of me—I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine!No need to apologize.Um, I don’t think I can go this weekend, but maybe another time, okay?”
“Sure.Or we could try the Embankment?Biscuit likes it there, and it’s not too far for either of us to get away during the week.”
She appreciated his quick thinking, but it just reminded her that he was all too aware of her constant grieving.
“The Embankment… That sounds good.We could go later this week, once you’ve had a chance to read my latest chapters?Then you can tell me what you think while we walk.”
“Right.Yes.We can work on your book.”
They waved goodbye and Aurelia watched as Oliver gently prodded Biscuit back to his feet for the short walk to his office.Work colleagues, she reminded herself.And friends.That’s it and that’s good enough.
50
