Theo ordered a hot chocolate, deciding it was safer not to start drinking so early in the evening, in case one drink led to another and he saw anyone else and got roped into staying out. Or, you know, started actually letting his guard down here. He could pretend he hadn’t noticed Gemma’s eyebrow quirk and that knowing look, but he had, and he knew that meant there was more on her mind, questions she could be asking – but, thankfully, she left it there.
“Yeah, and it’s a new year, so,” Theo said wryly, making the effort to agree with her sentiment, even if he was skeptical about the festivities and also doubtful about Greengrass’ advice about a clean start, about every year being a little better than the last. Never mind, anyway; because just after he’d said that, he felt the touch of her foot under the table. Theo almost pulled his leg back in automatically, sure she’d kicked him accidentally... but when she didn’t flinch and didn’t pull her foot back, he didn’t want to make out that he was uncomfortable by it so, confused, he didn’t move either.
And in a moment or two, he had relaxed into that casual leaning like it was nothing, like it was natural. Or maybe it was just that they were talking about her, now, and a fun, faraway topic like South America. Theo smiled at her description, feeling warmer already without touching the hot chocolate. “But you’re going to freeze to death now you’re here again, aren’t you?” he said, like that was a matter of fact; and she had been moaning about needing a warm up already, so he bet she would never see Scottish weather the same way again. “And I can believe the plants,” he answered, leaning forwards with a little more animation, “– the only thing I can’t believe is that you came back with all your limbs intact.” With a grin, he nudged her foot slightly, and shot a narrowed-eye look at her hands as if expecting to see a few chomped-off fingers.
“Yeah, and it’s a new year, so,” Theo said wryly, making the effort to agree with her sentiment, even if he was skeptical about the festivities and also doubtful about Greengrass’ advice about a clean start, about every year being a little better than the last. Never mind, anyway; because just after he’d said that, he felt the touch of her foot under the table. Theo almost pulled his leg back in automatically, sure she’d kicked him accidentally... but when she didn’t flinch and didn’t pull her foot back, he didn’t want to make out that he was uncomfortable by it so, confused, he didn’t move either.
And in a moment or two, he had relaxed into that casual leaning like it was nothing, like it was natural. Or maybe it was just that they were talking about her, now, and a fun, faraway topic like South America. Theo smiled at her description, feeling warmer already without touching the hot chocolate. “But you’re going to freeze to death now you’re here again, aren’t you?” he said, like that was a matter of fact; and she had been moaning about needing a warm up already, so he bet she would never see Scottish weather the same way again. “And I can believe the plants,” he answered, leaning forwards with a little more animation, “– the only thing I can’t believe is that you came back with all your limbs intact.” With a grin, he nudged her foot slightly, and shot a narrowed-eye look at her hands as if expecting to see a few chomped-off fingers.
