Chapter 24: Unplanned Discoveries
Ayla woke up to her phone buzzing non-stop. Groaning, she reached out and squinted at the screen, only to see Caden's name repeatedly flashing. She finally answered, barely awake.
"Ayla! You have to meet me at the new cafe downtown. I'm already here. Get ready!" Caden's voice was excited, a little too excited for her comfort.
"Caden, it's barely morning," she mumbled, hoping he'd get the hint.
"Come on! You'll love this place, I swear. Besides, I have something… interesting to tell you."
That perked her up. The last time he said something like that, she'd ended up crashing a wedding with him. Begrudgingly, she got dressed and made her way to the cafe, her curiosity winning out over her grogginess.
When she entered, she found Caden at a table by the window, eagerly waving her over. She slid into the seat across from him and eyed him suspiciously. He looked suspiciously cheerful.
"Alright, spill it," she said, crossing her arms.
Caden grinned, leaning forward with a conspiratorial look. "Remember our fake relationship? I may have accidentally signed us up for a couple's trivia night."
Ayla blinked, unsure if she heard him right. "Trivia night… as a couple?"
"Yup. And guess what? There's a prize if we win! Free dinner vouchers for the month. Think about all the food, Ayla. We can't let this opportunity slip."
She rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling. "Only you could turn a fake relationship into a chance for free food."
Caden shrugged, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "What can I say? I'm an opportunist."
They spent the next few hours in the cafe, going over random trivia about each other. Caden threw out bizarre questions, and Ayla struggled not to laugh at some of his outlandish answers. At one point, he asked her what her favorite childhood snack was, and when she told him, he made a face of mock horror.
"Peanut butter with pickles? Ayla, I thought I knew you," he teased.
"Hey! It was a phase," she retorted, stifling her laughter. "And besides, didn't you used to eat cereal with soda instead of milk?"
He grimaced at the memory. "Desperate times, alright?"
By the time they left, Ayla was feeling lighter than she had in weeks. It was easy to pretend, to laugh, to be wrapped up in their own little world. But beneath the laughter and teasing, there was a growing tension—a warmth she couldn't ignore.
Later that evening, they arrived at the trivia night. The room was packed with couples, each eagerly waiting for the event to begin. Ayla suddenly felt a pang of nervousness. She glanced over at Caden, who gave her a reassuring smile.
"You ready to show everyone we're the ultimate couple?" he whispered, winking.
She bit back a laugh. "Don't jinx it."
As the trivia rounds began, Ayla found herself relaxing, swept up in the thrill of answering questions and the camaraderie they shared. They aced questions about each other's favorite movies, weird habits, and even pet peeves. The other couples shot them envious glances, clearly impressed by their 'connection.'
It was easy to pretend… maybe a little too easy.
When they finally won first place, Caden cheered, pulling Ayla into an impulsive hug. She felt her heart skip, her breath catching as they stayed in each other's arms a little longer than necessary.
As they left, carrying their prize, Caden was unusually quiet. She glanced over at him, her stomach twisting as she caught a glimpse of something vulnerable in his expression. It was rare to see him so unguarded.
"Caden… are we still just pretending?" she asked softly.
He stopped, looking down at her with a faint smile, but the playfulness was gone from his eyes. For the first time, he seemed hesitant, as if weighing his answer carefully.
"Ayla," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "Maybe we don't have to pretend anymore."
The words lingered between them, heavy and charged. Ayla's heart raced, caught between hope and fear. This was new territory, and neither of them knew where to step next.