forum “I can’t love you...” Reposting this here (O/O|Romance|Closed|)

Started August 10, 2019 by @Toxic_Persephone group

tune

He laughed softly. "Mm. Fine. If I must." He smiled at her, and didn't speed as he drove towards his work.

She sighed softly and leaned back in the seat, playing with her hair as she watched buildings and other cars go by. “What is it like? Your company?”

He hesitated, then shrugged. "It's okay. I don't actually interact with a lot of the employees on a daily basis. But from what I've seen they're all pretty friendly."

“Really?” She asked softly, tilting her head. “Do you like it?” She added soon after, slightly hesitant.

He shrugged. "Yeah, i guess so." He replied, still driving towards their destination. "It's what I was raised for." Even if i would rather be playing piano.

Arabella gave him a stern look. “Just because it’s what you were raised for doesn’t mean it’s what you want.” She reminded him, a little more harshly than she meant to. “I was raised to be a perfect trophy wife. But I’m gunna be what type of wife I want to be!”

He shrugged, and gave her a small smile. "What? I thought I married a good girl!" He teased with a laugh. He smiled at her as he drove.

Arabella pouted at him. “I am a good girl.” She whined, gently tugging on his sleeve. “I’m just not a trophy wife. I’m me.”

He grinned. "I know, i know. And I'm glad that you're you, instead of a cookie cutter trophy." He chuckled softly, and turned into a parking lot.

“I wouldn’t dare become one. I defied my father for years and years. I will continue to defy him.” She growled, folding her arms. “But I like being me too… thanks for letting me be me.”

Asher nodded. He smiled as he parked the car. "You're welcome." He replied with a smile. He opened her door for her.

She hopped out and grinned, offering her hand. “Shall we?” She asked him with a soft sigh.

He took her hand. "We shall." He kissed her cheek and led her into the building, smiling.

She blushed lightly and sighed softly. She felt so much better today but she couldn’t get his words out of her head… Give him time. Give yourself time. You don’t have a crush on him, you don’t like him… it’s just the circumstances you’re in… she told herself and lifted her chin.

Asher led her into the building, introducing her to the receptionist as his wife.
The receptionist, a young woman probably still in college, smiled. "Oh, i see. Have fun!" She waved.
Asher smiled, and led her to the elevator, and waited for it to arrive.

Arabella smiled as she was introduced, giggling softly at the receptionist’s words. “Thank you, have a good day!” She waved goodbye and let Asher lead her to the elevators. She glanced around as they waited, blushing a bit as she caught a few eyes. “You’d think they’ve never seen me around here with you…”

Asher chuckled. "That's because most of them haven't." He replied, kissing her cheek. The elevator pinged as the doors opened, and he led her in, putting in the number for a higher floor. The doors slowly closed, and they waited as it started ascending.

She giggled softly and gently pushed his face away playfully when he kissed her cheek. “They must have seen our wedding. It was huge.” She murmured, growing a little sad. It was large and extravagant… it was everything she had ever wanted but it still felt empty….

He nodded. "Yes, some of them probably did. But this is different." He looked at her worriedly. "Are you alright?" He asked. "Is something wrong? You look…upset."

“Different?” She asked softly, looking away and sighing deeply. His gentle words were soothing. “I-I’m Alright. Just thinking of our wedding. Thank you for making it so… extravagant. It was beautiful.” But so empty…

(hey, im gonna head to bed now, i will answer again in the morning)

Asher nodded. "Ah. You're welcome." The elevator dinged as the doors slid open, and he held her hand gently, leading her out into the hallway, with doors to offices leading off it.

(hey, im gonna head to bed now, i will answer again in the morning)

Asher nodded. "Ah. You're welcome." The elevator dinged as the doors slid open, and he held her hand gently, leading her out into the hallway, with doors to offices leading off it.

(Ok! Thanks for telling me! Have a good night!)

She gave his hand a soft squeeze, zoning out as they wandered through the hallways on the way to his office. She leaned into him slightly, humming.

(np! I did lol)

He glanced at her with a small smile, and opened the door to his office. It was a medium sized one, with a large desk facing the door, a black rolling chair pulled to the desk. A laptop and a desktop computer both sat side by side.

(Oh good!)

Arabella looked around the second the door was opened, taking her hand back so she could explore. She moved to sit on the edge of his desk, grinning from ear to ear. “Nice office. But no pictures?”

He sighed. "Pictures are near the computer." He pointed to a selection of about four frames. One had a picture of Peri, another a picture of his parents. One was a picture of their wedding. The fourth was still empty.

She tilted her head and picked up the photo of their wedding, biting her lip. “You have this here?” She asked him softly.

Asher blinked, and nodded. "Of course." He replied, sitting down in the rolling chair. "Why?"

She ran her thumb over the form of herself, eyes softening. Her wedding dress had been exactly what she had dreamed of as a child. Her father had hired someone to work one on one with her to create it. She let her eyes trail over to the sharply-dressed man that stood next to her in the photograph - Asher. “I just- I didn’t think you would have this here. It’s not like you and I… yeah.” she murmured softly, setting down the photo and glancing at Peri’s photo. “He was so handsome… I’m glad you two were together.”

He shrugged. "Why wouldn't i have a picture of our wedding in my office? Its…a good reminder." He looked at the picture of Peri, and nodded. "Yeah, he was." He closed his eyes for a moment. "I'm glad too. My parents…not so much." He shrugged slightly.