Loveology
CHAPTER 10
"How... lonely that must be," you say instinctively. Irving's smile drops as he releases your hand, clearly startled by your response.
"How could I possibly be lonely?" Irving's smile is back in place, but it seems rather forced to you. "Everywhere I go, I meet new people, explore new places. No, this life is hardly lonely."
"I mean," you stammer to explain. "You must long for some place to call you own, don't you? Somewhere you can return to after your travels, somewhere to call home."
"The world is my home," he says elusively.
"Please," you scoff. "You can't possibly be happy living out of hotel rooms. Besides, there's a war going on right now. It's not exactly a safe time to be traveling."
"This isn't the first war I've seen, and it won't be the last." Irving's expression is growing more irritated by the second. "I'd hate to be tied down by a permanent home, or a, a family. I live for freedom, for new experiences. Surely you must have thought about running away and chasing your dreams at one point in your life."
"Well, yes," you concede. "I suppose we all have. But that doesn't mean we should all do it. I love my home and family. I'd never give that up to hop from kingdom to kingdom in the midst of a great war."
"Maybe you just aren't brave enough." You bristle at that.
"Maybe you're just not brave enough!" You cross your arms, glaring at the man standing before you. "It seems to me like any man who refuses to settle down is running from something." Irving's shocked expression is enough to tell you that you aren't far from the truth. You feel a twinge of guilt for your harsh words.
"I'm sorry." You lower your arms in surrender, realizing how ludicrous this situation is. "That was uncalled for."
"I apologize, as well, milady." Irving's expression softens. He extends his hand towards you. "Truce?"
"Truce," you agree with a laugh, shaking his hand. You release his hand, but he surprises you by grabbing your elbow and leading you to the hotel's adjacent restaurant.
"Now let be buy you lunch to prove our truce," he explains even as he guides you through the crowd.
"Irving-"
"No buts!" He grins widely at you. You can't help but smile back, nodding in appeasement.
"How... lonely that must be," you say instinctively. Irving's smile drops as he releases your hand, clearly startled by your response.
"How could I possibly be lonely?" Irving's smile is back in place, but it seems rather forced to you. "Everywhere I go, I meet new people, explore new places. No, this life is hardly lonely."
"I mean," you stammer to explain. "You must long for some place to call you own, don't you? Somewhere you can return to after your travels, somewhere to call home."
"The world is my home," he says elusively.
"Please," you scoff. "You can't possibly be happy living out of hotel rooms. Besides, there's a war going on right now. It's not exactly a safe time to be traveling."
"This isn't the first war I've seen, and it won't be the last." Irving's expression is growing more irritated by the second. "I'd hate to be tied down by a permanent home, or a, a family. I live for freedom, for new experiences. Surely you must have thought about running away and chasing your dreams at one point in your life."
"Well, yes," you concede. "I suppose we all have. But that doesn't mean we should all do it. I love my home and family. I'd never give that up to hop from kingdom to kingdom in the midst of a great war."
"Maybe you just aren't brave enough." You bristle at that.
"Maybe you're just not brave enough!" You cross your arms, glaring at the man standing before you. "It seems to me like any man who refuses to settle down is running from something." Irving's shocked expression is enough to tell you that you aren't far from the truth. You feel a twinge of guilt for your harsh words.
"I'm sorry." You lower your arms in surrender, realizing how ludicrous this situation is. "That was uncalled for."
"I apologize, as well, milady." Irving's expression softens. He extends his hand towards you. "Truce?"
"Truce," you agree with a laugh, shaking his hand. You release his hand, but he surprises you by grabbing your elbow and leading you to the hotel's adjacent restaurant.
"Now let be buy you lunch to prove our truce," he explains even as he guides you through the crowd.
"Irving-"
"No buts!" He grins widely at you. You can't help but smile back, nodding in appeasement.