If he hadn’t said anything stupid, they might have made it past that little accident unscathed – but when her voice shook he knew just how dire his mistake had been. So much for distracting her with easy lightness, then. Whatever had happened in the park that day was haunting her still.
Elias shook his head at her stammered answer, trying to be steady enough in turn to calm her down. “Irene,” he said reprovingly, as she fussed about his butterbeer-soaked sleeve, “don’t worry about that.” He tried a small smile, but his tone was firm – and, in case she protested, he covered her hand on his arm with his other, squeezing it in slightest comfort and attempting, simultaneously, to ease the towel out of her grip.
“And you don’t need to pretend to be fine.” She knew she wasn’t, and he knew she wasn’t – she had said as much before – and that was precisely why he was here. “If anyone should be looking after anyone, it should be me looking after you.”
Elias shook his head at her stammered answer, trying to be steady enough in turn to calm her down. “Irene,” he said reprovingly, as she fussed about his butterbeer-soaked sleeve, “don’t worry about that.” He tried a small smile, but his tone was firm – and, in case she protested, he covered her hand on his arm with his other, squeezing it in slightest comfort and attempting, simultaneously, to ease the towel out of her grip.
“And you don’t need to pretend to be fine.” She knew she wasn’t, and he knew she wasn’t – she had said as much before – and that was precisely why he was here. “If anyone should be looking after anyone, it should be me looking after you.”
look ANOTHER beautiful bee!set <3