Chapter 19: The First Touch
Sunday night.
The apartment was quiet except for the soft hum of the rain outside.
I was sitting on the couch, trying to focus on a book, but my thoughts kept drifting to Alex.
He appeared from the kitchen, holding two mugs of tea.
"Thought you might want this," he said softly, handing me a mug.
Our fingers brushed as I took it, but this time… I didn't pull away.
Instead, I noticed the warmth of his hand linger, and my pulse quickened.
He sat beside me on the couch, close enough that our shoulders touched fully.
I could feel the tension between us, electric and undeniable.
"I… Alex," I whispered, heart racing.
"I don't… I don't know what to do."
He tilted his head, soft eyes locked on mine.
"You don't have to do anything," he murmured.
"Just… be here with me."
Before I could react, he shifted slightly and wrapped an arm gently around my shoulders.
A hug. Simple. Light. But it made my chest ache with every nerve alert.
I froze at first, unsure what to do.
But slowly, I leaned into him, letting myself feel the warmth and the closeness I had been denying for weeks.
His hand rested lightly on my back, grounding me, holding me in place.
The rain outside blurred into white noise.
Everything else disappeared.
"Ethan… I like you," he whispered, barely audible.
My heart skipped.
I wanted to deny it. I wanted to retreat.
But the truth hit me harder than any words: I liked him too.
And there, in that quiet apartment, with rain pattering against the windows,
our first real touch became more than a spark.
It was a promise. A beginning.
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