Whispers Turn to Whimpers: Could He Ever Change?

"Ha!" Sherilyn couldn't help it; she burst out laughing.

"Funny?" Gilbert didn't see what was so humorous.

"It's not that..."

Sherilyn tried to hold back her laughter, but the sparkle of amusement in her eyes didn't fade one bit. "Mr. Gilbert, you've just laid your cards on the table, you know?"

"What cards?" Gilbert was clueless.

"Oh, dear..."

With a soft sigh, Sherilyn wondered if she really had to spell it out for him.

Alright then.

She bit the bullet and said, "Going by your logic, you'd bend over backwards for Caroline, cater to her every whim. You're head over heels for..."

"Sherilyn!" Gilbert's face darkened, attempting to cut her off.

Sherilyn, feigning deafness, arched an eyebrow, "Getting defensive? Can't handle the truth?"

She reached up to adjust his tie.

He must have been in a rush leaving the house; his tie was a mess.

"Mr. Gilbert, because you can't marry the one you love, you think marriage is something you can just settle for?"

She said with a smile, carefully loosening his tie before straightening it again.

Gilbert looked down, suddenly grasping her delicate fingers, "Can you be serious for a moment? What's between us has nothing to do with Caroline. Why do you keep bringing her up?"

allowed to

lips curved into a wry smile as her laughter faded, "Fine, I'll be

narrowed, "Because you think I don't

Of course not.

her wasn't

she couldn't very well say

one who's unsure? Talking marriage under these circumstances is premature. What do I look

paused, "That's not what I meant, I

never

what it meant to

out? Then

his tie now neat, Sherilyn let no longer wanting to

the dance studio,

3tion. "It's getting I

"...Alright."

The drive was silent.

stopped in front of the dance studio,

leaned closer, embracing

backpack, smiled faintly. "Any longer and I'll be

some time..." Gilbert gently stroked her hair, saying, "I'll give you a

that, he released

"...Okay."

got out of

did he just say... what am I looking for? Did he even understand what he was saying?" she

it out and

was

was time

and necessary clinical