Whispers Turn

Hand it over Gilbert said, clearly pleased with himself. 

“What?” 

The towel. What else?” 

Gibert shot her a look as if she had just asked the most absurd question. “What do you expect me to dry off with? Just air myself out?” 

“Oh! Right, I’ll grab it!” Sherilyn dashed into the bathroom, fetching a clean towel and handing it to him. “Here you go. Freshly laundered and sun–dried.” 

Gilbert frowned, giving her a piercing look. 

“What?” Sherilyn was puzzled, wondering what she had done now to upset Gilbert. 

He clicked his tongue in annoyance. “You expect me to do it myself?” 

He raised his hands for her to see. “Look at me, all dusty from moving stuff around. Am I supposed to rub more dirt on my face?” Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

“So, um…” Sherilyn hesitated, “Should I… do it for you?” 

The words slipped out before she could stop them, and she instantly regretted it. Mr. Johnson hated having her fuss over him. 

“Would you just…?” 

“Hurry up!” 

To her surprise, Gilbert merely glanced at her, urging her on. “Go on, then! What a dump, not even an elevator in sight!” 

Sherilyn hadn’t moved, which seemed to irritate him further. “Well? What are you waiting 

for?” 

“Oh, okay.” Sherilyn nodded, stepping closer. 

There was a noticeable height difference between them; without her heels, she was more than a head shorter than him. 

Realizing the height difference, Gilbert bent down as Sherilyn reached up on her toes, asking,“Can you reach?” 

“Yeah.” She nodded, gently dabbing his forehead with the towel. 

The towel carried a faint, pleasant scent, much like her own. 

Gilbert found himself momentarily distracted, being this close allowed him a clear view of her delicate features, flawless and soft as if one could squeeze water from them. 

10:32 

His Adam’s apple bobbed, his throat itching slightly… 

Sherilyn, though, avoided his gaze, concentrating on wiping off his sweat, quiet and compliant. 

He hadn’t seen this side of her before. 

Usually, she was all fire and brimstone, constantly nagging him. 

“Gilbert, did you meet up with Darlene today?” 

“Gilbert, what time will you be home?” 

“Gilbert, who was that girl you were talking to today? Tell me!” 

“Gilbert, you better not be looking at other girls, don’t even think about smiling at them, got it?” 

Would things between them have gone differently if she’d been this gentle before? 

“All done.” 

Sherilyn stepped back, and Gilbert suddenly snapped back to reality, feeling a bit lost. without her close by. 

“Want some water?” Sherilyn asked, seemingly oblivious as she went to fetch him a drink. “I’ve only got tap water, I’m afraid.” 

“Yeah, that’ll be fine.” 

Gilbert watched her move. “Mind if I use your restroom?” 

“Left side.” 

After using the bathroom, Gilbert came out, removing his jacket and tossing it on the 

couch. 

He then noticed Sherilyn looking apologetic. “Sorry, I don’t have an extra glass. Should I run down and buy you a bottle of water?” 

No extra glass? 

Gilbert pointed to a lemon–yellow mug on the table. “What about that?” 

“That’s, um…“…Mine! 

Before she could finish, Gilbert had already picked up the mug and started drinking. 

Sherilyn was at a loss for words but then shrugged it off. It was done; she could just wash it afterward. 

After finishing his water, Gilbert set the mug down, looking at Sherilyn’s round face, belatedly realizing, “Yours?”