Kasie couldn't shake the feeling that something was different. That kiss had been shocking, a breakthrough, a flash of insight, but also something new on top of their messy relationship dynamic. They had crossed an uncrossable line, a line which neither of them could cross once again, no matter how much they wished to go back. But in the wake, she couldn't help but wonder what it all meant for them.
She sat on the edge of her bed in her hotel room, staring out at the twinkling lights of the city. It was late, but she couldn't sleep. At the moment she shut her eyes, she imagined Jake's face, the intensity behind his gaze when he kissed her, the heat of his hands, the way he had drawn her to himself as if he did not want to be freed.
What now? She imagined, making a concerted effort to bring the thoughts running in her mind to a halt. The kiss on its own was good, but it held many questions to answer. They were still in Paris, after all. Their work together wasn't finished yet.
On the nightstand, her phone buzzed, taking her out of her reverie. She reached for it, expecting another update about work or a message from her team. However, when she got it unlocked she saw it was a text message from Jake.
"Hey, are you up?"
Kasie's heart jumped as her fingers hovered over the keyboard for a second before she responded.
"Yeah, can't sleep. You?"
"Same. Can we talk?"
Her pulse quickened. The casual tone of the text belied the weight of what was hanging between them. They hadn't discussed the kiss, hadn't talked about what it meant for them yet. Already Kasie had been running from it, and already Jake had done the same.
"Of course."
She didn't hesitate long before there was a gentle rapping sound at her door. It wasn't unexpected. Jake had been texting her more frequently over the past couple of days, their conversations increasingly personal, shifting away from work and into territory that felt unfamiliar, yet magnetic.
She opened the door to find him standing there, his hand shoved into the pockets of his jacket, looking a little lost, a little unsure. There was something about the way he stood there, leaning slightly against the doorframe, that made her feel a pang of affection. Jake was never unsure. Jake was always confident, self-assured. But now, he seemed... vulnerable.
Without saying a word, he stepped into the room, and they both stood there for a moment, as if neither knew exactly how to start.
"Kasie… Jake began, his voice softer than she'd ever heard it before. "I've been thinking about what happened. and I think we both know things can't stay the way they were.
Kasie's breath caught in her throat. This was it. The moment when they had to decide what came next. She sensed a booming beat of her own heart against her breast, like her body was readying for something momentous.
"I don't want to pretend like nothing's changed, Jake continued, his gaze meeting hers, steady but filled with uncertainty. However, I also don't hope to create a total disaster, do you know? I have too much esteem for you to jump in without really thinking about it. I don't want to ruin what we've built."
Kasie swallowed, her mind reeling. She had experienced the same resistence to speed, the same feeling to slow things down. However, she wasn't ready to drive Jake away and she didn't want to lose whatever it was that was between them.
"I don't want to rush into anything either, she said, her voice steady despite the fluttering inside her. "But... I don't want to shut out what's going on between us," etc.
Jake nodded, as though he understood exactly what she meant. He took a step closer, closing the distance between them. So what are we to do now? he whispered.
Kasie held her breath with her eyes locked on his. The question seemed vast, bigger the anything she had ever encountered. She couldn't ignore the pull she felt toward him, couldn't deny the growing connection between them. But she needed to make sure that they were on the same page, that this was something they both truly wanted and not just a fleeting moment of attraction.
"I think we take it one step at a time, she said finally, her words firm. "We're in this together, Jake. However I don't feel like it would be right to do anything that we're both not prepared for. No more games, no more pretending."
Jake's expression softened, a hint of relief in his eyes. "I think that's the right call, he said, his voice filled with sincerity. "We've got something good here, Kasie. I don't want to mess it up."
Kasie smiled, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. "Neither do I," she replied.
They stood in silence for a moment, just looking at each other. It wasn't an awkward silence, but rather a comfortable one, the kind that only came when two people understood each other in a way that went beyond words.
Finally Jake able to say anything more. "So… what happens next?"
Kasie didn't hesitate. Then, we return to Denmark, finish our task, and decide what we are going to do next. Together."
Jake's eyes glowed, and a tiny smile played upon the edges of his mouth. "I like that plan."
Kasie's heart fluttered. There was something about the sound of it that caused her to wonder whether, just maybe, it would all be right. They had begun, and their responsibility now was to build on that, to trust each other as they explored this new world together.
"I think I'd like to see where this goes, Kasie said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Jake didn't need any more encouragement. He moved toward the approach, and, without a word, he kissed her again. This time, it wasn't slow or hesitant. It was profound, to be sure, and rich with the potential of the next step forward.
When they finally broke apart, Kasie rested her forehead against his. "One step at a time," she murmured.
Jake smiled and embraced her, pinning her against his body. "One step at a time," he repeated.
And for the first time in a long while, Kasie felt like she was exactly where she was meant to be.