Chapter 283: walk to the Rowe

Chapter 283: Chapter 283: walk to the Rowe

At exactly six-thirty, Vivienne’s phone vibrated.

She looked down.

I’m outside.

Her heart immediately fluttered.

"He’s here."

Claire looked up.

"Already?"

"Exactly on time."

Amelia smiled.

"Go."

Vivienne gave herself one last look in the mirror.

She was wearing the deep wine-red halter dress she’d settled on earlier. The neckline left her shoulders bare, while the fitted bodice followed the line of her waist before falling into a softly flowing skirt just above her knees.

It was elegant without being too formal for The Rowe. 𝘧𝓇ℯℴ𝓂

She had paired it with simple heels and delicate jewelry, then slipped a light black coat over the dress against the cool October evening.

Her hair had been styled into soft curls, swept away from her face and falling loosely over her shoulders.

Claire gave her an approving look.

"You look good."

"Really?"

"Really."

Amelia nodded.

"Definitely."

Vivienne smiled.

"Okay."

She picked up her handbag.

"I’ll see you later."

"Have fun."

Vivienne headed downstairs.

The moment she stepped outside the ladies’ residence hall, she saw him.

Christopher was waiting a short distance away.

He had clearly made some effort for the evening, though not an excessive amount.

He wore a navy-blue Oxford shirt with the sleeves neatly rolled to his forearms, paired with dark trousers and polished shoes.

His platinum-blond hair was neatly arranged, though a few strands had fallen naturally across his forehead.

He looked freshly showered, and there was a faint, clean scent of cologne about him.

His silver-gray eyes found hers.

Vivienne’s steps slowed.

For a moment, she simply looked at him.

The strong bridge of his nose.

The shape of his lips.

The slight cleft in his chin.

His broad shoulders beneath the simple Oxford shirt.

He looked effortlessly polished.

Like someone who could walk into a boardroom and belong there.

Oh my God.

Christopher smiled.

"Hi."

Vivienne smiled back.

"Hi."

Her voice came out slightly softer than she’d intended.

His gaze briefly moved over her.

"You look lovely."

Her cheeks warmed.

"Thank you."

She tucked a curl behind her ear.

"You look..."

She stopped.

Handsome? Good? Very, very good?

"Nice," she finished.

Christopher chuckled.

"Thank you."

Vivienne immediately wanted to kick herself.

Nice?

That was what she’d come up with?

Christopher didn’t seem to mind.

He simply smiled.

"Ready?"

"Yes."

She nodded quickly.

"Yes. I’m ready."

They started walking.

The Rowe was within easy walking distance of the university, and the streets around the campus were still lively with students returning from the day’s events.

For the first few moments, Vivienne was unusually quiet.

Her heart seemed to be sitting in her throat.

She was very aware of him walking beside her.

They had talked so much through messages and calls.

Vivienne was usually quite comfortable with him that way. She could remind him to eat, ask whether he’d gotten enough rest, tease him about forgetting meals, and carry on a conversation without thinking twice about it.

But walking beside him now was different.

Every word seemed to require conscious effort.

Christopher glanced toward her.

"So, how was the equestrian event after you went back?"

Vivienne blinked.

"Oh."

She smiled.

"It was... fine."

"Fine?"

"Yes."

She nodded.

"I watched a few more matches."

Christopher looked at her.

"Did you enjoy them?"

Vivienne hesitated.

"They were interesting."

There was a faint amusement in his expression.

"That’s not exactly an enthusiastic answer."

Vivienne laughed softly.

"Well, I’m part of the equestrian club."

"I know."

"So I should at least pay attention."

Christopher nodded.

"Fair enough."

Vivienne smiled.

"Exactly."

He glanced at her again.

"Though you don’t sound particularly passionate about it."

Vivienne laughed.

"I’m working on it."

Christopher chuckled.

"All right."

They continued walking.

After a moment, Christopher glanced toward her.

"Why did you choose The Rowe?"

Vivienne looked at him.

"The Rowe?"

"Yes."

There was a faint note of surprise in his voice.

Vivienne’s cheeks warmed.

"Why?"

"I just didn’t expect you to choose it."

She looked at him curiously.

"Why not?"

Christopher smiled.

"I suppose you don’t exactly strike me as someone who would spend an evening there."

Vivienne blinked.

"What does that mean?"

He gave a small laugh.

"Nothing bad."

He glanced ahead.

"The Rowe is a little more relaxed. It’s lively, sometimes a bit loud. A lot of students go there after classes. Some stay for drinks."

Then he looked back at her.

"You seem..."

He paused, searching for the right word.

"More refined."

Vivienne raised an eyebrow.

"Refined?"

Christopher smiled.

"In a good way."

"I wasn’t sure."

He glanced at her.

"You’re very proper. Sweet. Thoughtful."

Vivienne’s cheeks warmed.

"Is that how you see me?"

"A little."

There was something almost amused in his expression.

"You just seem like the sort of person who would prefer somewhere a little quieter."

Vivienne laughed softly.

"And yet I chose The Rowe."

"Exactly."

He smiled.

"That’s what surprised me."

"Eleanor suggested it."

"Ah."

Christopher nodded.

"I’ve been there a few times. It’s actually quite good."

Vivienne smiled.

"I’m glad."

She hesitated.

"I wasn’t sure what you’d like."

Christopher looked at her for a moment.

"You’ve been thinking about that?"

"A little."

He gave her an amused look.

"A little?"

Vivienne looked away.

"Maybe more than a little."

Christopher chuckled.

"I appreciate the thought."

Vivienne smiled.

"I wanted you to enjoy it."

"I will."

He glanced at her.

"Besides, anywhere would have been fine."

Vivienne looked at him.

"Really?"

"Really."

His gaze returned to the road ahead.

"I was more interested in the company."

Vivienne’s heart skipped.

"Oh."

She immediately looked away, her cheeks warming.

Christopher noticed the faint color rising in her cheeks and smiled to himself.

She was surprisingly shy tonight.

It was different from the Vivienne he knew through their messages.

There, she was warm and attentive, always reminding him to eat or asking whether he’d gotten enough rest. She could tease him quite easily when there was a screen between them.

But now?

She seemed almost hesitant over every little thing.

And Christopher found it rather charming.

Vivienne, meanwhile, was trying very hard not to smile.

She had spent half the afternoon deciding where to take him, wondering whether he would like the restaurant and changing her mind about her dress more times than she cared to admit.

And now he was telling her that the restaurant hardly mattered.

What mattered was the company.

Her company.

She looked ahead as The Rowe came into view.

Her heart fluttered again.

This was only dinner.

Just dinner.

So why did it feel like something much bigger?

–

Tbc