“Family.” I answered and he sighed. There was a little silence and I appreciated it. I looked at the sky enjoying the view before me. The sun was beginning to set and it was so beautiful. 

I turned accidentally and got Bartholomew staring at me. My heart skipped a beat as I met his eyes. The contact was brief but I felt as if he was staring into my soul, and I wondered if I should be alarmed. He chuckled when he noticed the look of displeasure on my face.

“What?” He asked me, feigning ignorance.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” I asked him, looking above my shoulder since he rested his back on the bench and I was sitting on the edge. 

“Your eyes… They are captivating.” He complimented me. I looked away immediately and he moved closer, sitting on the edge of the bench too.

“They took away my breath the first time I saw you.” He continued. I was speechless and I hated it. I was out spoken hence I hated when I was put in situations that would make me speechless.

“You seem to have a way with words, Bartholomew. But I am sorry,” I apologized getting up. “I have to go now. Theo might need me.” I said, excusing myself.

“Summer,” he called getting up too. “I am not your boss, you can be free with me. I turned to him with a questioning look, “What I mean is, you can drop the protocol.” He rephrased his statement.