Chapter 18: Almost Perfect
By the time they finished half the puzzle, Ayla and Caden had fallen into an easy rhythm, filling in pieces while trading playful banter.
"See? Told you I'm a puzzle prodigy," Caden said, triumphantly slotting in a tricky corner piece.
Ayla rolled her eyes. "If being a prodigy means getting lucky three times, then sure."
Caden gave her a mock-offended look. "Three times? That was pure skill. You witnessed greatness tonight, and you're just jealous."
"Oh yeah, you're oozing greatness," Ayla teased. "Right along with your inability to sort the edges properly."
Caden grinned, enjoying the lightness of the moment. For the first time in days, things between them felt almost normal.
Almost.
He glanced at Ayla from the corner of his eye. She was biting her lip, lost in thought as she rotated a puzzle piece in her hand. He knew there were still things unsaid between them—conversations they were avoiding. But for now, he didn't want to ruin the peace.
"Okay, genius," Ayla said suddenly, holding up a piece. "Where does this go?"
Caden squinted at it like it held the secrets of the universe. "Uh…definitely not where you're trying to put it."
"Wow, brilliant deduction. You should be a detective."
"I know, right?" Caden said, smirking. "Sherlock Holmes could never."
Ayla laughed—genuinely this time—and Caden's chest warmed at the sound. I missed this, he thought, wishing the moment would stretch forever.
As the puzzle neared completion, Ayla glanced at the clock. "It's getting late."
Caden's smile faltered. He knew what that meant: his time here was running out. "Right. I should probably get going, huh?"
Ayla hesitated, as if she was debating something. Then, to his surprise, she said softly, "You don't have to leave… if you don't want to."
Caden's heart skipped. He blinked, caught between disbelief and hope. "You sure?"
Ayla nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "Yeah. It's… nice having you here."
His grin returned—so wide it almost hurt. "Nice, huh? That's the best compliment I've gotten all week."
Ayla rolled her eyes, though there was a hint of a smile tugging at her lips. "Don't push your luck."