Chapter 28: Unexpected Confessions and Mixed Feelings
The morning after her charged encounter with Caden, Ayla found herself replaying his words in her head. "If it's not a game, Ayla, then I need to know." She wasn't sure why she hadn't been able to give him an answer. Maybe it was fear, or maybe she was just as confused as he was.
To distract herself, Ayla threw herself into work. She spent the day at the office, managing meetings, emails, and avoiding thoughts of Caden. But her resolve crumbled when she got a text from Mia.
"We need a girls' night. Stat. Meet me at 7?"
A girls' night sounded perfect. Mia always had a way of grounding Ayla and helping her see things clearly. So, she agreed, hoping that some time with her friend would give her a fresh perspective on this confusing mess.
Later that evening, Ayla met Mia at their favorite wine bar. They ordered a bottle of red, and Mia wasted no time diving into the real reason they were there.
"So," Mia said, leaning forward with a smirk. "What's going on with you and Caden?"
Ayla sighed, swirling her wine glass. "I don't know, Mia. One minute, we're just having fun, and the next, he's looking at me like… like he wants more."
"Well, do you want more?" Mia asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I… don't know," Ayla admitted, her cheeks flushing. "It's complicated."
Mia rolled her eyes. "Girl, everything is complicated with you two. Have you ever just thought about being honest with him? No games, no mixed signals, just… tell him how you feel."
Ayla laughed, though it was tinged with nervousness. "You make it sound so easy."
"Maybe because it is," Mia replied, shrugging. "The worst he can say is that he doesn't feel the same way. But honestly, from what you've told me, I don't think that's the case."
They continued talking, with Mia pushing Ayla to think about what she really wanted. Ayla felt the tension slowly ease as the wine worked its magic and Mia's words began to sink in.
As Ayla walked home, her mind was spinning. She couldn't deny that her feelings for Caden had shifted. Somewhere along the line, he'd gone from a playful partner-in-crime to someone she genuinely cared about. But just as she was beginning to gather the courage to confront her emotions, her phone buzzed.
It was a message from Caden.
"Hey, Ayla. Got time to talk?"
Her heart skipped a beat. It wasn't like Caden to send such a straightforward message. She took a deep breath and replied, "Yeah, I'm free. What's up?"
"Mind if I come over? Need to talk in person."
She hesitated for a moment, but curiosity—and maybe a hint of excitement—won out. "Sure. See you in a bit."
A few minutes later, there was a knock on her door. Ayla opened it to find Caden standing there, looking uncharacteristically serious.
"Hey," he greeted, giving her a small smile. "Mind if I come in?"
"Of course." She stepped aside, and he walked into her apartment. The tension in the air was palpable as they sat down on the couch, and Ayla felt her nerves start to bubble up.
"So, what's on your mind?" she asked, trying to sound casual.
Caden took a deep breath, rubbing the back of his neck. "Look, Ayla… I've been doing a lot of thinking lately. About us."
"Us?" she echoed, her heart pounding.
"Yeah. I know we started off as… whatever this is. Fun, casual, no strings attached. But somewhere along the way, it started feeling… different."
Ayla held her breath, waiting for him to continue.
"I guess what I'm trying to say is, I don't want to play games with you anymore," he admitted, his gaze unwavering. "I want to know if there's something real here. Because if there is, then I want to give it a shot."
Ayla felt a mixture of relief and panic. Here he was, laying his heart on the line, and she couldn't deny that it was exactly what she wanted to hear. But at the same time, the vulnerability terrified her.
"Caden…" she began, her voice barely a whisper. "I think… I feel the same way."
He exhaled, looking as though a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. "So, does that mean…?"
She nodded, a small smile creeping onto her face. "Yeah. I think it does."
They sat there in silence, the reality of their mutual confession settling between them. It felt like they'd crossed a line they could never go back from, and strangely, that realization brought a sense of comfort.
But before they could bask in the warmth of the moment, Ayla's phone buzzed again. She glanced at it, frowning when she saw the name on the screen.
It was Josh.
"Hey Ayla, just thinking about last night. Want to catch up again soon?"
Caden noticed her expression shift, and his brows furrowed. "Who's that?"
"Uh… it's just Josh," she said, feeling an unexpected pang of guilt. "He's… just a friend."
"Just a friend, huh?" Caden's tone was light, but Ayla could sense a hint of uncertainty in his eyes.
She quickly put her phone down, shaking her head. "Caden, you're the one I'm here with. You're the one I chose."
His expression softened, and he reached for her hand. "Good. Because I'm not planning on going anywhere."
They shared a quiet laugh, the tension melting away as they looked at each other with newfound clarity. But even as they sat there, Ayla couldn't shake the feeling that their journey was far from over. They'd taken a big step forward, but something told her that there were more twists and turns waiting for them.
And as they spent the rest of the evening together, Ayla couldn't help but wonder what other unexpected challenges and confessions were yet to come.