Chapter 16

"Come on, I want to show you something," Henry tells me, and I notice the backpack he carries.

Our bike ride was two weeks ago and after visiting Beatrix Potter's House, we had made couple of different stops which included the Gallery and Wray Castle. All of them have a connection with literature and history. I am still deeply touched by it, because he knew that I would not only like but love it. The whole time I was walking around with a smile plastered on my lips and we took the occasional selfie together.

In the past two weeks I tried to stay away from him but not that obvious anymore. I have tried to understand my sudden feelings for him, but I can't. Whenever we are together only a touch makes my heart beat faster. When he smiles at me, I need to smile as well. When I lay in bed at night, all the fantasies that I once had, come back.

"But they will start to film a scene soon. Maybe they need my help," I say and try to get out of it. But he shakes his head and has this determined look on his face. I have come to know it very well and there probably isn't anything that could get me out of this situation except from a catastrophe.

"I think they are very capable of doing that on their own. You have already given them a lot of input. And as I know, it is only a scene where Sophia is riding her horse. I believe they can't do any wrong there," he tries to persuade me, and I sigh knowing that he won't let go of it.

"Okay, you might be right. And maybe a little breather will do me some good."

"Probably. I hope you don't mind if Kal joins us."

"How could I? He is my fluffy ball," I say, and Henry laughs at the nickname I gave his dog, who has kept me company from time to time. Especially when I had a bad day and didn't feel well. I squat down to scratch him behind his ears, and he licks over my jaw.

"I love you too, fluffy," I tell him and take his face between my hand to put a peck onto his face.

"Do I need to get changed or do I need to grab anything?" I ask Henry as I get up and look down onto my sundress and sneakers. Maybe I have got adjusted to the temperatures in the UK or maybe it's just a warm day, but today I felt like wearing a dress.

Henry shakes his head, and a bright smile is on his lips.

"No, I have everything we need. Let's go so we can make it before the golden hours starts," he tells me and wraps an arm around my shoulders. Immediately I can feel my heart picking up its pace and my stomach flutters, by this simple touch that is purely meant as a nice gesture as a friend. A take a deep breath and push these feelings away.

"Are you excited that we'll be done with production in the UK soon?" I ask him as we walk out of the camp that the crew created with all the trailers.

"Yes. Please don't understand me wrong, I love to portrait Kilian, but I'm glad when I can go back to a more casual schedule and spent time with my family for about a month. I think I haven't told you, that Charles and Heather with their children are going to visit me in London after we are done filming here, have I?"

"No, you haven't, neither has she when I talked to her this morning."

"What did she want? I know my sister-in-law. She usually calls when she needs something."

"She just wanted to know, if I want to join her and some of her friends when they fly down to Las Vegas to see one of their favorite performers."

"Sounds like fun. You should consider it."

"I already accepted her offer," I tell him, and he nods. A pleased smile is on his lips, and I can feel him squeezing my shoulder while we walk through a patch of the forest. "Can you tell me where we are going this time?"

"A few more minutes and you will see."

"Seriously Henry," I groan and roll my eyes.

"Charlotte," he gives back amusedly.

"Stop being this..."

"This what? Don't you hold a master's degree in English and therefore shouldn't you have a diversified vocabulary?" he mocks me, and I hit him playfully against his abs.

"Annoying. You are being annoying."

"Wow, I expected everything but this. I thought something like considerate, empathetic or trustworthy, but annoying stings a bit, I must admit." I turn my head to look directly at him and even though I want to be mad at him, I can't. His smile is just too contagious.

"And you are being stupid."

"Now you are attacking my intellect. That's bold," he chuckles, and I notice that the trees around us get more scattered and the sun comes more and more through the leaves of the trees. When we get out of the forest, a field with dandelions is in front of me.

"Is this for real?" I ask him completely amazed.

"Yes. I remembered that dandelions are your favorite flower. I passed this field when I was out for a run this morning. I thought that I would show it to you."

"Thank you!" I tell him and hug him. Immediately he wraps his arms around me. Being this close to him makes my heart race in my chest again and I quickly let go of him. He loves another woman.

"I thought that we could have a picknick for dinner. I have everything we need in my backpack, if you want to." I think that my smile tells him enough to know, that I want to stay here and enjoy this surprisingly warm day.

"I have never asked you, but why dandelions?" Henry asks me after putting the blanket onto the ground. I am laying on my back on it and Henry sits next to me. Kal's head is on my stomach, and I mindlessly pet him.

"Because most people think about them as weeds and not flowers. They symbolize healing, growth and happiness. Two things I am doing and one that I want to achieve. Well and the fact you can make a wish when you pick them and blow the Dandelion seeds away. Who doesn't need a wish from time to time in their lives?"

"That's true. I could need one right now," he says, and I turn my head to the side and look at him with my eyebrows drawn together.

"Why is that?" I ask him and lift my torso up with the help of my elbows which makes Kal get up.

"Because I start to believe, that the woman who I care for, doesn't reciprocate my feelings."

I am surprised because of couple of reasons. First, because he told me about it without me having to ask about her. Second, what woman in her right mind, wouldn't want to date him? He has all the character traits that he listed before.

He is considerate, because even though his schedule is packed, he makes time for what is important to him. He went out of his way to take care of me on my birthday and when Luke and I broke up. He even offered to sleep on the couch when I was drunk.

He is empathetic, because he listens to whatever I tell him even if it is something stupid and then shares his opinion with me about it. He tries to help me find solutions to my problems and doesn't leave me alone with them.

He is trustworthy, because I know that whatever I tell him, will stay between the two of us. I know that my secrets and fears are save with him.

And he is so much more.

"What makes you think that?" I ask him when he lays down next to me.

"I was able to spend time with her. We had a lot of fun. We laughed. We joked. But whenever I touch her, she either gets stiff or flinches away."

"Have you tried to talk to her about it?"

"That's not so easy."

"I don't know her story, nor am I asking you to tell me about it, but maybe she needs to hear it. Maybe that's what she is waiting for. I would be, because even though I am healing from everything that happened, I would want to make sure that the person I like, likes me as well, before I completely open myself up to him."

"But what if she is still not ready? What if she just wants to be friends and if I tell her, our friendship might end. I don't want to lose her, Charlotte." I have never seen him like this. Unsure, afraid and in self-doubt.

"If you don't ask her questions, then you won't know. You will stay this miserable. And maybe the chance of being together with her might pass."

"Yeah, maybe I should.", he sighs and turns his head to me. "What about you? Do you feel ready?"

"Don't make this about me now!" I scold him and hit his upper arm gently. "But yeah, I think I am ready to date again and feel something for someone again."

"I'm glad to hear that," he tells me and smiles.

"Me too. I have an idea." I sit up and notice that he follows my every movement with a curious look. Quickly I pick two dandelions and give one to him. "Make a wish," I tell him and then close my eyes. While I blow away the seeds from the dandelion, I make my wish that I will meet someone like him, and that this person will love me unconditionally.

"What did you wish for?" he asks me when I open my eyelids again.

"If I tell you, it won't come true."

"I see. Did you know that dandelions have other meanings as well?"

"Really and what would they be?" I ask him surprised and watch him as he sits up and blows on his own dandelion.

"Affection, romantic interest and gentleness."

"Did you read up on them?"

"Perhaps."

"Why?"

"Because you like them, and I wanted to know what the reason for that could be." This sentence makes my stomach flutter. Why does he have to say these things to me? Why am I so stupid and developed feelings for him? Huffing, because I am angry at myself, I close my eyes and lay back down.

"Did I say something wrong?"

"No, your words were perfect," I let him know and open my eyes to watch the scattered clouds wander over the sky.

"Then tell my what I apparently did that made your mood change that drastically."

"Henry, it's nothing."

"Clearly there is something or it wouldn't have upset you," he tells me with a stern voice.

"Please let's not talk about it anymore. I want to enjoy this day and not ruin it," I say, and he sighs loudly.

"You can't always push the conversations away, that you don't want to have."

"I am not," I give back and turn my head to him.

"You are." Even though I want to be mad at him, I can't. I want to say something, but he is quicker. "What are your plans for the month after we are done in the UK?"

"I thought that I would stay in London for another week or so. There is still so much to see."

"Such as?"

"Camden Market, Harry Potter Studios and I want to see a musical in West End."

"So you have found more tourist attractions that you can visit," he laughs and starts to unpack his backpack. I notice couple of my favorite dishes as well as some of his.

"Yes, and Sofia and some other members of the crew might have told me about a few hidden gems that I might want to explore. Maybe a week is not enough, and I want to go back to Grace's pub to try other things on the menu."

"I think she will be ecstatic when she sees you again."

"Well I hope so. I like her. And maybe one of your friends has time to join me and explain soccer to me again." He looks at me with his eyebrows drawn together and I notice his jaw begin tense. What a weird reaction.

"Sure," he starts with an undertone that I can't decipher and a smile that doesn't reach his eyes is on his lips, before he continues, "I told you that I would introduce you to some of my best mates, didn't I?"

"If you don't want to, you don't need to do it. I just want to go out with someone again and test the waters." And hopefully I will be able to forget all the feelings I have for you, I add in my mind, because he doesn't need to know how I really feel about him.