The quiet of the night followed them back into the house. The soft sound of the waves faded away as Caleb closed the door behind them. Maya slipped off her shoes, holding them in her hand, her thoughts still lingering on the way he had watched her at the beach. That gaze… it made her heart tremble in ways she couldn't understand.
She tried to act normal, pretending her cheeks weren't burning, but every step felt heavy with unspoken emotions. Caleb shrugged off his coat and placed it neatly on the chair, his expression calm yet softer than usual.
"You should rest," he said in his low, steady voice. "It's been a long day."
Maya nodded, but as she turned to go, she couldn't resist one last glance at him. Her lips curved into a small, uncertain smile, a smile she didn't even realize she was giving. Caleb caught it, and in that fleeting moment, he silently vowed to protect that expression no matter what it cost him.
The next morning, sunlight spilled through the curtains. Maya awoke earlier than usual, her heart oddly light. She found herself humming under her breath as she moved into the kitchen. She wandered into the kitchen with no real plan, but the thought of doing something for Caleb pushed her forward.
She stood in front of the counter, staring at ingredients she barely recognized. Her brows furrowed in frustration. The truth was, she couldn't remember how to cook. No matter how hard she tried, nothing came back to her.
Still, she began fumbling with the simplest things — an egg, a pan, some bread. The sound of the shell cracking wrong made her wince. Butter slipped from her hand, sizzling too quickly in the pan.
Just as she was about to give up, a deep voice came from behind her.
"You're going to set the kitchen on fire."
Maya spun around, startled, and found Caleb leaning against the doorway. His expression was unreadable, but there was a faint amusement in his eyes.
Caleb stepped closer, taking the spatula from her trembling hand. "You don't remember how, do you?" His tone wasn't mocking, only matter-of-fact.
Maya lowered her gaze. "No… but I wanted to."
For a moment, he said nothing. Then, instead of pushing her away, Caleb guided her back to the counter. His larger hands moved over hers as he showed her how to flip the bread slowly. His voice was calm, instructive, almost gentle — a side of him she rarely saw.
Without thinking, Caleb's hand covered hers on the spatula, steadying her clumsy movements.
The instant their skin touched, Maya's heart lurched violently. Her breath caught, and a rush of heat flooded her cheeks. She froze, aware of how close he was — his arm brushing hers, his chest near hers — and suddenly, the simple act of cooking felt overwhelming.
Caleb's eyes widened slightly as he noticed how tense she had become. Realizing he was too close, he immediately stepped back, giving her space. His expression remained calm, controlled, utterly unreadable, but the air between them thrummed with unspoken intensity.
For a moment, he said nothing. Then, instead of pushing her away, Caleb guided her back to the counter. His voice was calm, instructive, almost gentle — a side of him she rarely saw.
By the time they sat down together, the food was simple and uneven, but edible. Caleb ate without complaint, and when Maya dared to look up, she caught the faintest curve of his lips.
"You did well," he said quietly.
Her heart skipped. It wasn't about the food — it was about the way he said it, as though he cared more about her effort than the result.
Back in her room, Maya couldn't sit still. She paced restlessly, her steps uneven, her chest tight with emotions she didn't want to name.
Why do I feel this way whenever he's near me? she thought, clenching her fists. It's not just my heart racing… it's more than that. Why do I start caring about him?
She stopped by the window, gripping the curtain with trembling fingers. Her reflection in the glass showed flushed cheeks and unsettled eyes — a girl who no longer recognized her own feelings.
Her gaze drifted down to her hand — the very place where his touch had lingered earlier. Slowly, she lifted it with her other hand, holding it carefully as though it were something fragile.
What was that feeling? she whispered inside her heart. The warmth of his touch hadn't faded; it still lingered, making her chest tighten. Why does my heart beat faster just remembering it?
Maya let out a long sigh, her thoughts too heavy to carry any longer. She sank onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling until her eyelids grew heavy. Somewhere between confusion and exhaustion, she drifted off to sleep.
When she opened her eyes again, the room was dim. She blinked at the clock on the table. Six…? Her eyes widened. Did I really sleep this long?
Pushing herself up, she hurried to the door and stepped into the hallway. The house was quiet. Too quiet. Her footsteps echoed against the emptiness as she looked around.
"Caleb?" she called softly, but no answer came.
Her chest tightened. The silence pressed in, louder than any noise could have been. Panic sparked inside her as she moved faster, searching room after room. Empty.
He wasn't there.
To be Continued....