Chapter 17: Piece by Piece
Caden's phone vibrated, and his heart jumped when he saw Ayla's name on the screen.
Ayla:
You'd better be good at puzzles. I'm holding you to that corner piece promise.
He grinned, tapping out a quick reply.
Caden:
I'm on my way. I charge a fee, though—at least one cup of coffee.
Ayla's response came almost instantly.
Ayla:
Deal.
It was a small victory, but it felt monumental. Caden grabbed his jacket, a spark of excitement lighting in his chest. Maybe, just maybe, things were starting to look up.
When he arrived at Ayla's apartment, she was already deep in puzzle mode, pieces scattered around her like tiny fragments of a larger picture.
"You weren't kidding about the coffee," she said, handing him a steaming mug without looking up.
"Hey, I have my priorities," Caden joked, settling down next to her on the floor.
For a while, they worked in comfortable silence, the rain pattering gently against the windows. It felt like old times—easy, familiar, and safe.
As they placed pieces together, Caden's hand brushed against Ayla's. He paused, glancing at her, heart pounding.
Ayla met his gaze, her eyes soft and uncertain. For a moment, neither of them moved.
Then, slowly, Ayla gave a small smile. "You're doing pretty well for someone who claims to miss corner pieces."
Caden chuckled, his tension easing. "Told you I was an expert."
Piece by piece, they worked together, rebuilding not just the puzzle but the fragile connection between them. And for the first time in a long while, Caden felt hopeful—like maybe, just maybe, they could fit together too.