Loring Park really isn't a bad place to walk around.

Even better when you have some incentive for a quick visit.

Since I was heading to Rome, I figured it would be a good idea to leave my car with Elli. That way, she could pick me up from the airport with it and I could drive back to the vineyard from there. William protested, of course, but he had his hands full as it was, and wouldn't be available to pick me up. And I didn't really want to trouble my brothers with the trip. They had their own lives, after all.

But Elli was more than happy to volunteer. All I needed to do was slip the keys into the mail slot on the door, and she'd take care of my car.

And so that is how I wound up standing in front of her door once again. The keys were in an envelope labeled "Dio's Car." I would've written "Road Roller," but I didn't think she'd get the joke.

Just as I bent over to slip the envelope through the flap, the door swung open, and looking up, I saw Jacob ready for a jog, while Elli was standing behind him, sleepy-eyed but chipper as always. It seemed like they didn't even notice I was at the door.

The quick peck on the lips from Jacob confirmed as much. "Back in a bit; love you!" he said.

"Love y-oh," Elli, having realized I was standing back up straight, sheepishly retreated further into her apartment.

"Oh...hey, Dean," Jacob acknowledged.

"Dio," I corrected, waving awkwardly. "Just here to, uhh...drop off my keys." I handed Jacob the envelope, who in turn handed them off to Elli inside.

"Thanks, I'll...just keep an eye on it," She replied. From what I could see, Elli was just wearing a large, baggy t-shirt, and while she held the envelope she nervously rubbed her free hand along her arm.

Even though the air was hot and muggy, the awkwardness was much more dense. "Well, I'll be the first to say it; this is just an awkward situation," I joked, attempting to break the tension. At least Jacob and Elli were receptive to my quip. After a light chuckle, I checked my watch, remarking, "I really should get going; gotta catch my flight and the light rail's a pretty long walk from here-"

"Say, I'll come with you," Jacob offered, stretching his hamstring. "Been a hot minute since I jogged around the warehouse district."

"Oh, I don't want to impose-"

"Nah, it'll be fine, man," Jacob assured. "Besides, I wanna get to know you better."

There was a part of me that still felt uncomfortable about his intentions, but it seemed like he wasn't going to take no for an answer. "Well I guess I can't say no now, can I?" I turned to look at Elli, giving a polite wave and saying, "Take good care of the car; can't really spring for another one right now."

"What, you don't trust me?" She asked sarcastically. Elli then stuck her tongue out and waved back, saying, "Have a safe trip, and let me know when you get in! Don't want anyone beating you up before your big match or anything!"

"Will do," I said, returning her warm smile with one of my own.

There was a moment, just a split second, where I thought I could see a twinkle in her eyes. And for that moment, it seemed like nothing else mattered. I shuddered slightly, shaking myself out of the stupor, then turning to Jacob and saying, "Shall we?"

I was just a few short steps from the light rail station.

But Jacob had to go ahead and drop a bombshell of a question right before I needed to leave.

"Well?" Jacob asked accusingly.

"Well what?" I replied nonchalantly. I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of playing this game with him. I had a long flight ahead of me and I wasn't about to dwell on this the entire time I was in the air.

"Dee-Oh," I pronounced clearly. "Its literally only two letters, you simpleton. If you're going to just antagonize me at least get the name right."

"Fine. Dio. Answer my question," Jacob repeated. "Do you love her or not?"

Even though the question was spat at me in disgust, it was a question I had thought a lot about. Elli and I shared the same interests, we could make each other laugh, and we trust each other when we need to say anything in confidence. But was that enough to be in love? I hadn't really been in love before, so I didn't have a clear answer to that question.

...But why was he interested in asking me that question? It didn't seem like the question he wanted to know the answer to at all. Maybe Elbrook's analytical thinking was rubbing off on me. "What do you think?"

"Huh?" Jacob asked, taken aback.

"It doesn't seem like you want to know if I love her. Whether or not I do doesn't matter here." I started walked toward the ticket kiosk. "No, what you want to know...is if she loves you." I turned my head slightly to look out the side of my eye. "Isn't that right?"

Jacob wasn't expecting that answer to come out of my mouth. I guess he thought I would confess right then and there and maybe...I don't know; beat me up with his incredible jogger's endurance or something? But instead I flipped the question back into his lap. "Well...I mean...of course she does! You heard us at the door, right? We said it to each other!"

There was a pause as the ticket for the train dispensed. I picked it up and put it in my pocket. "I, uhh...well..." Jacob began to stammer.

"Look," I said pointedly. "I don't really know where this insecurity in your relationship with her is coming from. But you really need to pull yourself together if you think every guy in her life is out to 'steal yo girl,' or whatever." I gestured toward him. "You're a total package on your own; stable job, career aspirations, healthy habits. You guys didn't hit it off for nothing, you know."

"Yeah, but," Jacob finally regained his footing, "You don't know what its like when we're together!"

"I really don't need you to put those images in my-"

"That's not what I mean; don't be an ass!" he snapped. "I mean that even in our relationship, I feel like a third wheel!"

"...What the devil do you mean?" I asked, understandably confused.

Jacob sighed, seemingly like this was a problem he had been trying to deal with on his own. And from our conversation, he wasn't dealing with it well at all. "I mean...that every time we go anywhere, I can tell she has her mind on someone else. She gets excited when you send her a message. She brings you up in conversations with some of my other friends. Do you know how often she watches that show you're on?" He didn't even give me a chance to respond. "Its on every single Monday, waiting for you to come on the screen! Its like she's completely obsessed with you! That has to mean something is going on. You said or did something to get her complete and undivided attention, and I'm sick of it!"

"Have you thought to consider," I asked, "that maybe she's interested in me because I'm a friend of hers in a somewhat dangerous job and seeing that I'm alright gives her comfort?"

Another long, awkward pause. "Well, I...I just-" A sigh. "...No. I didn't think about that."

"Exactly. You know as well as I do Elli is a caring and supportive person. She doesn't like seeing people getting hurt, and she'll do everything she can to figure out what the problem is. Its an annoying, if endearing, trait about her. She's also not a great fan of people who are insecure about themselves. She's told me as much herself." I was interrupted by the arrival of the light rail train pulling into the station. "I'd love to stay and work this out with you more. Believe me, I would. But I have a flight to catch, so let me be blunt; I can't say I appreciate being ambushed by you like this, but you have nothing to worry about with me. I told her as such myself. And as much as I think you are a walking red flag with an attitude as shitty as your teenager's-first-try mustache, She clearly sees something in you. Whether or not that's love...I can't really say."

He slowly raised a hand to touch his mustache, dejected, as I walked onto the light rail train. "WAIT!" I heard Jacob shout. I turned to face him. "I got it all backwards...You don't love her. She loves you."

I shook my head. "But she wants you. And that's the problem."

Before he could say anything else, the doors to the train closed. I stared at his slackjawed expression as the train continued on its path, only grabbing onto the support rail when Jacob was out of sight. I let out a sigh, thankful that no one saw that high school worthy dramatic performance. I can tell a not-so-fun conversation was going to happen between the two of them later on today. I'll really need to check in on her once I land.

In that moment, I also realized that he'll have ample time to mess with my car in some way...if he were the type.

I pulled out my phone, making sure I could cover all my bases.

"..."

"..."

"..."