Two more weeks passed. The silence between Lila and Ethan lingered like a quiet storm, full of unspoken words and unresolved emotions. For Lila, the distance was both a relief and a growing ache. She thought of Ethan constantly—his voice, his presence, his unwavering patience. But every time she picked up her phone to call him, doubt would creep in, and she'd hesitate.
Tonight, she wasn't alone. Amanda and Mia had decided to crash her apartment for an impromptu girls' night. The three of them lounged on Lila's oversized couch, surrounded by half-eaten pizza, open bottles of wine, and a playlist of their favorite old songs humming in the background.
"You've been quiet," Amanda said, eyeing Lila over the rim of her glass. "Still overthinking everything?"
Lila sighed, setting her slice of pizza down. "I don't know if it's overthinking or just being realistic. What if it doesn't work? What if I end up hurting him—or myself?"
Mia, perched cross-legged on the other end of the couch, shook her head. "You're not going to get anywhere with 'what ifs,' Lila. Relationships aren't spreadsheets. You can't calculate the outcome before you invest."
"I know," Lila murmured. "But it's not just about me. Ethan's been through a lot. His brother, his old job… I feel like I'm walking into a minefield."
"Then talk to him," Amanda said firmly. "Find out what he's thinking. You're making assumptions about what he wants without even asking him."
Lila looked down at her hands. She hated how right Amanda was. The past month had been nothing but assumptions and avoidance.
"Fine," Lila said finally, picking up her wineglass. "I'll talk to him. But not tonight. Tonight, we're doing this." She gestured to the pizza, the wine, and the cozy chaos of their evening.
Mia grinned. "That's the spirit."
The rest of the night passed in a blur of laughter and nostalgia. For a few hours, Lila let herself forget about her tangled emotions and enjoy the simple comfort of her friends.
---
The next morning, Lila woke up feeling both clearer and more restless. She couldn't avoid Ethan any longer. It wasn't fair to him—or to herself.
Her phone was sitting on her nightstand, Ethan's message still unanswered. She stared at the screen for what felt like an eternity before finally typing:
Lila: Can we talk? I'm ready.
His response came almost immediately:
Ethan: Of course. When and where?
A wave of relief washed over her, though it was quickly followed by nervous energy. They agreed to meet at a quiet café near the park later that afternoon.
---
The café was warm and inviting, with soft lighting and the faint aroma of coffee and baked goods. Lila arrived a few minutes early, her nerves jangling as she sat at a small table by the window. She had barely taken a sip of her tea when Ethan walked in.
He looked tired but determined, his usual confident demeanor slightly subdued. When their eyes met, he gave her a small, hesitant smile and walked over.
"Hey," he said softly, taking the seat across from her.
"Hey," she replied, setting her cup down.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The noise of the café filled the silence between them, but it wasn't uncomfortable.
"I've missed you," Ethan said finally, breaking the quiet.
Lila's heart clenched at his words. "I've missed you too," she admitted. "I just… I needed time to think."
"I know," he said, his gaze steady. "And I wanted to give you that. But I also need to know where we stand, Lila. I don't want to pressure you, but I can't keep pretending I'm okay with the distance."
She nodded, her fingers tracing the edge of her cup. "I don't want the distance either. But I've been scared, Ethan. Of what this means, of how it might change things. I've never been good at letting people in, and with you, it feels so… big."
"It is big," he said, leaning forward. "But that doesn't mean it has to be terrifying. Lila, I'm not asking you to have all the answers right now. I just want to know if we're in this together. If you want this as much as I do."
Lila took a deep breath, her heart pounding. "I do," she said finally. "I want this. I want us. But I need you to promise me something."
"Anything," Ethan said without hesitation.
"Be patient with me," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm going to mess up. I'm going to overthink. But I'll try, Ethan. I'll try to make this work."
Ethan reached across the table, taking her hand in his. His touch was warm, grounding her. "That's all I've ever wanted, Lila. Just for you to try."
In that moment, the uncertainty that had hung between them for weeks seemed to lift. They weren't perfect, and the road ahead wouldn't be easy. But for the first time, Lila felt like they were on the same page—two people willing to face the challenges together, no matter what.
"Okay," she said, squeezing his hand. "Let's do this."
Ethan smiled, and for the first time in weeks, it felt like everything might actually be okay.