Arabella was not a fan of being called a nerd, she had a kind of trauma from hearing the word. Although her reaction was always physical and not anything mentally or psychological she did not like being associated with the word because she always had a bad experience being called that.The people who called her nerds always turned out to be bullies who wanted nothing much with her aside from bullying her for being smart. "I am sorry" Kieran went straight into defence.He could tell from her face that she was not pleased with being called a nerd. "I did not mean it in any way you took it, I just meant that you have always been smart and a fan of books," he said quickly. He watched her his eyes never wavering from her face as her tensed expression lightened up a bit and her mouth which was in a straight line turned into a curve."I did not know that the word was a bad thing now," he said and she shook her head."It's not a bad thing I just do not like being addressed by that word" she

Kieran stopped in his tracks and his eyes fell on Arabella. His gaze was questioning if he was permitted to spend a little time with his mother. Arabella knew what that gaze meant and she did not want him running through her mind so the best thing to do was to give them some privacy."I am also so very exhausted and I think resting would be best for me since I have work tomorrow" Arabella stood up and forced a yawn out of her mouth."Oh, you are, of course you are, silly me," Everly said all at once. "Yes of course go and rest" "We can pick it up tomorrow night, since you leave the next day I can stay up all night to help you with your luggage and that way I can keep you entertained with my fun tales" Arabella offered.She knew that she might notice that she was escaping from being in the same room with her son but what option did she have? She hurriedly crossed the kitchen and let out a breath she did not know she was holding when she got out of the kitchen.She climbed the stairs w

"Come sit" he said tapping the sofa beside him. She looked around like she was searching for something there, she rubbed her hands on her dress nervously as she walked toward him silently.She dropped to the sofa beside him keeping a reasonable distance between them. "Your feet“ he said pointing them."What?" she asked folding her toes into themselves."I need to see them be able to know what is wrong and how to treat them," he said and she nodded.He was correct but how could she expose her legs to him? Since she got there she had not gone out for a pedicure and she was not sure about the state of her legs."Since the box is here I can do it myself" she said slipping her feet out of the slippers that had been covering the damage and lifting her legs and trying to put them in a weird position on her lap."That seems difficult and almost impossible," he said as he held her ankle. He pulled her legs gently toward himself and dropped them to his lap."It would only take a minute" he said

After chatting a bit more Arabella decided to call it a night. She was glad he had come forward and suggested that they had the talk or else she might toss and turn all night. Although she was now aware that he did not say it in error she still felt at ease as if she was given a warm bath that was going to knock her right into bed. The remaining conversation with Kieran was not as awkward as the conversations she had with him when she first knew him. They flowed like they had been long-time acquaintances who were catching up after a long time of disconnection. She could not even pinpoint the exact thing they spoke about but she knew the conversation gave her a warm feeling in her chest and she loved it.She entered her room and picked up her phone from the table where she sat to do her work before he came knocking. She dropped her robe on the chair before moving to the bed. She needed to get a little shut-eye before the next morning or else she might oversleep again.She checked her

She tried her best to act normal and that her mind was not constantly wandering to Kieran all through the day. She buried herself in work and then the end of the day was there.Since Mark had said he would be picking her up she knew she had to wait till he was near to step out so she decided to stay back and do some more research for the upcoming work they were preparing for.The office lights were off and she was left alone at her desk with a small reading light illuminating the table. She jumped up in fear when a tap was heard at her table. She did not hear him walking to her which was what gave her the extreme fear she had just experienced.She was alone in the office so the possibility of another person being with her was what gave her the extreme fear she just experienced. She wanted to talk but her hand over her mouth and widened eyes somehow could not return to normal."What are you doing here?" she asked when she finally regained herself."I was passing by and I saw the light,