A Night of Confession & a One-Month Promise
It had been weeks since the attack. Since then, Carlos had shown up at the café every day without fail. He never ordered anything too fancy, just his usual coffee, but Cee knew he wasn't really there for the caffeine. He waited until her shift ended, then drove her home like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Cee had stopped questioning it. She told herself she wasn't getting used to it, but she was. She told herself she wasn't looking forward to seeing him, but she was.
But tonight felt different.
The café was quieter than usual, the soft hum of jazz music drifting through the air. The golden glow of the overhead lights bathed the space in warmth, making it feel… intimate. Carlos had been quieter than usual too, his gaze lingering on her more than once.
And then, as her shift ended and she untied her apron, he spoke.
"Come with me for a bit."
There was something about his voice—deeper, almost hesitant.
"Where?" she asked.
"You'll see."
Carlos drove her to a secluded spot outside the city, where the air was crisp and clean, and the city lights twinkled below like a thousand tiny stars. He parked on a hill overlooking the skyline, then stepped out, walking around to open her door.
Cee looked at him warily. "This feels suspiciously like the start of a crime documentary."
Carlos chuckled, the sound low and warm. "If I wanted to kill you, I wouldn't have waited this long."
"Wow, reassuring."
Despite her teasing, she followed him. The grass was soft beneath their feet as they walked toward a small clearing where a picnic blanket was already laid out, with a small box beside it.
"You… planned this?" she asked, a little thrown.
"I don't do things halfway," he replied simply.
He sat down, motioning for her to do the same. The moment felt heavier now, something unsaid lingering in the air. The wind was cool, carrying the faint scent of pine, and the only sounds were the rustling leaves and the distant hum of the city below.
"Cee," he started, his voice quieter now.
She turned to him, heart suddenly pounding.
"Be my girlfriend."
She sucked in a breath.
"Carlos—"
"Wait," he interrupted. "I know you're going to say no. I know you're scared. But I'm asking you to give me one month. That's it. One month for me to prove that I can be what you need."
His gaze was intense, like he was willing her to believe him.
"And if, after that, you still feel like it won't work, we'll walk away. No pressure. No strings."
Cee hesitated. A month. That didn't sound like a long time, but why did it feel like such a big decision?
"Carlos…" she murmured.
"Say yes," he said, his voice soft but insistent.
She bit her lip, nerves tangling in her stomach. But when she looked at him—at the way he was watching her, waiting, hoping—she found herself nodding before she could stop herself.
"Okay. One month."
Something in his expression shifted, like relief, like triumph, like something deeper than words.
"You won't regret it," he promised.
Before she could react, he reached for the small box beside him and handed it to her.
"What's this?" she asked.
"A gift."
She lifted the lid and found a delicate bracelet inside—silver, with tiny, intricate details woven into the chain. At the center was a small charm, a star.
"It reminded me of you," he said simply.
Her throat tightened. It was beautiful.
"Carlos… this is too much—"
"Take it," he interrupted. "No take-backs."
She swallowed hard, fingers closing over the bracelet.
Carlos reached out then, taking her hand gently in his.
"You're mine for a month, Cee," he murmured, his thumb brushing lightly over her knuckles. "And by the end of it… I'll make sure you never want to leave."
Before she could react, his lips crashed onto hers.
Cee gasped against his mouth, her initial shock melting away as his warmth consumed her. His kiss was hungry, urgent—like he had been holding back for weeks, and now that she had said yes, he wasn't willing to restrain himself anymore.
Her fingers curled around his shirt, pulling him closer, and he groaned softly in response, deepening the kiss. His hand found her waist, pulling her into him, making her feel the heat of his body against hers.
The world faded—there was no cold night air, no distant city sounds. Just him. Just his lips, his touch, his scent.
When they finally broke apart, both of them were breathing heavily, foreheads resting against each other.
Neither of them wanted to pull away.
Cee's lips tingled, her body still pressed against his. She felt lightheaded, overwhelmed, like she had stepped into something dangerous, something she couldn't escape from.
Carlos swallowed hard, his fingers brushing against her cheek as he whispered, "Yeah… definitely not letting you go after a month."
Cee's heart pounded.
She should argue. Should remind him of their deal.
But as she looked into his dark, burning gaze, she knew—she was already in too deep.
One month.
Thirty days of stolen glances, soft touches, lingering kisses.
Cee hadn't realized how much she had fallen for him until today—the day she was supposed to give him her final answer.
As she walked into Carlos' apartment, she was expecting him, but instead, she found Lucas lounging on the couch, munching on a bag of chips like he owned the place.
"Hey, look who decided to bless us with her presence!" Lucas grinned, stuffing another handful into his mouth.
Cee rolled her eyes but smiled. "Where's Carlos?"
"Had to step out for a bit. Should be back soon."
She nodded and sat beside him, and soon, they started talking. Gisting turned into laughter, and laughter turned into stories. Lucas, being the talker he was, ended up sharing things she didn't know about Carlos—his childhood pranks, his bad habits, his little quirks.
But then, Lucas casually mentioned something that made Cee freeze.
"Oh, by the way, today's his birthday."
Her eyes widened. "Wait… what?"
"Yeah, didn't he tell you?" Lucas said, frowning slightly. "Damn, that idiot. He probably thought it wasn't a big deal."
Cee felt a pang of guilt. He hadn't mentioned it once. Not even hinted at it.
How could he not tell her?
She jumped to her feet. "I need to do something. We have to do something!"
Lucas smirked. "Now that's the spirit. What's the plan?"