The tension in the room eased, but the moment felt heavier than ever. We'd just confessed everything—years of friendship and unspoken feelings out in the open—and now the question hung between us: what next?
Max still hadn't let go of my hand, his thumb gently tracing over my skin. He looked at me like he was searching for something, maybe some kind of reassurance that this wasn't a mistake. I could see the uncertainty in his eyes, but beneath it, there was hope. And I knew, without a doubt, that I wanted this—wanted *us.*
"I've been thinking about this for so long," I said softly, breaking the silence. "Wondering if you felt the same or if I was just imagining it. But now, knowing you do... I don't want to wait anymore. I don't want to be scared."
Max let out a quiet laugh, more of a nervous exhale, and he nodded. "Me neither. I just… I guess I didn't expect it to happen like this. I always thought if this ever came up, I'd have some big plan, you know? Something perfect."
I smiled, squeezing his hand. "It doesn't need to be perfect. It just needs to be real."
He looked at me then, really looked at me, and I felt a wave of something stronger than anything I'd ever felt before. Slowly, he shifted closer on the couch, his other hand brushing my cheek, his touch tentative, like he was still unsure if this was okay. I leaned into it, my heart racing but steady at the same time, because I knew this was right.
"I've thought about this a lot, too," Max whispered, his face now inches from mine. "About being more than just… friends." His voice trailed off as his gaze dropped to my lips, his breath catching slightly.
My heart pounded in my chest, and without overthinking it this time, I leaned in. The kiss was soft at first, hesitant, like we were both testing the waters. But as soon as our lips met, everything clicked into place. It felt so natural, so *right.* All the years of friendship, all the moments of tension and wondering, came rushing back to me, and I realized this was exactly where we were meant to be.
When we pulled back, Max rested his forehead against mine, his breath warm against my skin. "That was better than I imagined," he said quietly, his voice a little breathless.
I laughed softly, feeling a sense of calm wash over me. "Me too."
For a few moments, we just stayed like that, wrapped up in each other, neither of us wanting to let go. The nervous energy that had been hanging between us for so long was gone, replaced by something softer, something that felt like home.
"So," Max said, finally pulling back just enough to look at me, "are we officially a thing now? Because I gotta be honest, I've been waiting a long time to call you mine."
I smiled, my heart swelling at his words. "Yeah, Max. We're officially a thing."
His grin was wide, that familiar, easy smile that had always been my favorite, but this time it was different—because now I knew it was meant for me in a way it never had been before.
"Good," he said, leaning in for another quick kiss. "Because I don't plan on going anywhere."
And just like that, everything shifted. Max and I had always been close, but now? Now we were something more. We were finally where we were meant to be—together. And it felt perfect.