Brynn leapt up as she heard a set of keys jangling, relaxing as she realised it was just Ichiro heading out. She hadn’t expected to be quite so nervous, but the more time that passed, the jumpier she became.
Brynn: Ohh, hi!
Ichiro smiled brightly as he craned his neck over the fence; uttering a string of words that Brynn didn’t understand. She held up her hands apologetically.
Brynn: Uhm…
Ichiro: Kaito?
Brynn nodded, pointing toward Wyatt’s house and offering a shrug; he wasn’t in.
Ichiro: Hm, erh-…
Ichiro paused for a moment before swinging his arms back and forth whilst panting, almost as though he were jogging on the spot.
Brynn: Ah, he is running?
Ichiro: Again.
Ichiro nodded excitedly, glad that she’d understood. His accent was thick, clumsy and full of warmth; he was so cute, Brynn wanted to give him a cuddle.
Brynn: [laughs] Again?!
Ichiro: Again!
Without much to say to one another, Brynn and Ichiro fell silent, both smiling awkwardly. He expressed his dislike of the chilly weather by rubbing his arms exaggeratedly and frowning, showing her how his plants were suffering with a shake of his head. Eventually, he lifted his sleeve and tapped his watch, bidding her an apologetic farewell; he clearly had somewhere to be.
Wyatt had slowed upon nearing home, squinting in the fading sunlight. Who was Ichiro wittering to now? It wasn’t until he got closer that he sped up again, realising that the woman was Brynn; and wanting her to himself for a while, he couldn’t help but smile as Ichiro retreated.
He’d decided a while ago that if Brynn ever returned, he wouldn’t hide or diminish how much he’d missed her-.. doing so in front of his neighbour’s grinning gaze was a step too far, however. Ichiro was well aware of Wyatt’s soft spot for her by now, but that was beside the point.
Wyatt nodded a quick greeting, running straight past Ichiro.
Ichiro: You don’t usually run so fast.
Wyatt: Ha-ha.
Ichiro: Didn’t I tell you to be patient?
Wyatt: Don’t you have somewhere to be?
Ichiro: [snickers] She is very sweet-.. sprint!
Brynn’s stomach flipflopped as Wyatt approached, her greeting interrupted as he practically crashed into her.
Wyatt: You came back.
Brynn: I did!
Wyatt: You look exhausted…
Brynn: [laughs] I am!
Wyatt: I missed you-.. so much.
Brynn: I miss you too.
Wyatt felt odd being honest and sappy, but it was true. He hadn’t ever imagined missing someone quite so painfully, and part of him had begun to worry she wouldn’t come back at all-.. he was beyond glad that she had.
Brynn: Ough-.. you are all sweaty!
Wyatt: That’s never bothered you before.
Brynn returned Wyatt’s smirk with a nervous giggle, thankful for an excuse to keep her distance and pull away. She wanted nothing more than to hold him close, sweaty or not, though she had something rather momentous to reveal first.
Wyatt: Your hands are freezing-.. come inside.
Brynn: I not mind the cold!
Wyatt: I know, but I’d rather not greet you properly out here.
Brynn tittered, heart beating a hundred miles an hour as Wyatt took her hand and led her inside. What the hell was she going to say-.. what the hell would he say?