Becca wouldn't let a single text ruin our sleepover. She lightened the mood, but deep down, we all knew things wouldn't be the same again.
We just drank more wine aand knowing how much of an overthinker Kelly was, so we were surprised she didn't cry like we expected.
"This night is for us. I'm not letting her ruin it." Kelly said with a faint smile.
"She's not worth it." Becca added.
I squeezed Kelly's hand gently, and she laid her head on my shoulder. We quietly continued watching the movie.
When everything felt calmer I replied to Leon's text.
"I just got overwhelmed by the show, I guess." It felt too early to tell him about my friend's drama.
He didn't reply on time like he always did,work must not have gotten too busy.
Kelly fell asleep within an hour. She had drunk too much to stay awake and she completely passed out.
We made sure she was comfortable before Becca started a conversation.
"Do you think she'll stay with him after everything? Even if his ex still has a hold on him?"
"He's really hurting her, but she's choosing to see past the pain. Kelly is a fighter. She'll fight for her relationship, even if it breaks her. I see her staying." I replied.
"I just hope Shane would be worth it in the end." Becca added.
"I hope so too. She deserves someone just as good as she is." I softly replied.
"Let's just support her, no matter what she decides." Becca said while yawning, her eyes already sleepy.
"Sure." I replied.
But deep down, I wasn't sure it would be easy for me watching Kelly stay with Shane after everything . It made me question myself and I couldn't help to think maybe I overreacted with Michael.Everyone handles pain differently.
Becca barely talked about her own relationship. For someone who FaceTimed her man every free minute, she was strangely quiet tonight. I couldn't shake the feeling she was hiding something.
Or maybe I was overthinking.
But I notice things and I'm hardly wrong. I was about to ask when I realized she had fallen asleep too.
It was just me now and my phone buzzed and it was just who I expected,Leon.
"My princess, are you still awake?" he asked.
"Yes, the girls are asleep now so I can call you." I replied.
"It's midnight already. The club is getting busy, and the music is too loud. I wouldn't hear your beautiful voice." Leon responded.
"It's fine. I should have thought of that." I replied.
"Can we have our first lunch date tomorrow? Since it's the weekend." he asked.
"I'd love that." I replied.
"You should sleep now, my love." Leon typed.
"Good night. Stay out of trouble." I swiftly replied back
"I will, babes. I love you." Leon can't even end a text without this.
"I love you too." I finally said it.
I buried my face in the pillow and blushed like a teenager experiencing her first crush.
Leon sent a bunch of dancing emojis with heartbeat stickers, my happy man.
With all the breakups and cheating around us, maybe I should take things slow with him but my heart said otherwise.I wasn't scared anymore, I wasn't worried,I trusted him completely and I saw no red flags.
Leon was definitely made for me.
I turned off the TV, joined my girls, and drifted off to sleep with a beaming smile.
The smell of fresh coffee and pancakes woke me up.It was almost 8 a.m ,I must have passed out too.
Becca was in the kitchen, singing and dancing to a song by Olivia Dean while cleaning.
"Where's Kelly?" I asked immediately.
"You're finally awake. Good morning to you too," she teased.
"I'm sorry. Good morning, girl."
She laughed and lowered the volume a bit.
"Kelly rushed back to her apartment to talk things through with Shane. It's been over an hour. She said we'd talk later." Becca responded.
"Oh." I didn't know what to say anymore.
After freshening up, Becca handed me a cup of coffee and some pancakes.
"When are you finally meeting your man? Or better yet, why not spend the rest of the weekend at his place?" she asked casually.
I nearly choked on my coffee.
"Seriously, Becca?" I asked while rolling my eyes.
"Why not? You've known him for a while." she replied defensively.
"You know this is new to me. What I feel for him is actually rare and I want to take things slow." I replied hoping I made sense.
"There's no rule that says slow means distant. I'm not saying you should do something you're not ready for." Becca replied, she doesn't want to give up.
She had a point though.
"What if he thinks otherwise?" I asked with brows raised.
"I doubt it, this could create the perfect romantic spark." she replied with a smirk.
I sighed. "We're meeting for lunch. Maybe I could follow him home after." I replied agreeing to her silly suggestion.
"Perfect." she replied with a huge grin.
She dropped me at campus before heading to her part-time job at the bakery.
When I got to my dorm, I was surprised to see my roommate packing.
"Hi," I said.
"Hey." she replied coldly as ever.
"Are you changing rooms?" I asked because I wasn't notified about any changes.
"No. I'm transferring to another college. I don't fit in here." Her tone made it clear the conversation was over and she left with a simple wave of goodbye.
I guess I have the dorm to myself not until the school assigns someone new.
Leon called, and I told him about my roommate transferring.
"At least now I can sneak in and sleep over sometimes," he joked.
The campus was strict about that but sneaking in once in a while didn't sound so bad.
2 p.m. and it was time for our lunch date. I struggled to choose an outfit and finally settled for flat sandals, denim trousers, and a crop top. I packed a few extra clothes just in case the weekend plan worked out.
When I got to the restaurant, my palms were slightly sweaty from being nervous.
It wasn't like I hadn't seen Leon before. I had seen him once and it was briefly.
But today felt different, it's just him and I and today was our first real date.
He was already there when I arrived, standing outside like he'd been waiting for hours even though I was right on time. Coffee brown fitted shirt, sleeves slightly rolled up, that confident but calm posture that always made my stomach flip.
When he saw me, his face quickly lit up and that smile? It did something dangerous to my heart.
"You look" He paused, scanning me slowly but respectfully. "Beautiful feels like an understatement."
I laughed shyly. "It's just denim and a crop top."
"Exactly," he said. " you look effortlessly gorgeous babe."
He stepped closer and kissed my forehead softly.
Not my lips but my forehead and somehow that felt even more intimate.
We went inside. The restaurant wasn't too crowded ,warm lighting, soft music playing in the background. The kind of place that makes conversations feel private even in public.
We talked about everything we've ever texted about .
My embarrassing high school school stories and all my childhood memories we had talked about online.Kelly's drama, though lightly, without too much detail.
He told me everything I needed to know about him and the vibe went smoothly not like how I pictured in my head. I talked and I could feel heard, not the nodding type of listening but he was observant about everything I said or do.
Halfway through lunch, he suddenly stood up.
"I'll be right back." he said with a smile.
I frowned slightly. "Where are you going?"
"Trust me." he replied softly.
That word again, trust.
A few minutes later, he returned but not alone.
The waiter followed behind him holding something. A small wrapped box and my heart skipped.
"Leon, what's this?" I asked totally surprised .
He placed it gently in front of me."Open it." Leon said calmly.
"I didn't get you anything," I whispered.
"I know." he replied.
I slowly unwrapped it and Inside was a book, I blinked.
It was a romance novel But not just any novel.
It was the exact book I once mentioned wanting to read but couldn't find anywhere.
"You said you liked stories where love feels real," he said softly. "I had to order it from another store." he said.
My throat tightened."You remembered that?" I could feel tears in my eyes building already.
"I remember everything you say." Leon replied softly.
That did it, that broke me in the best way.
Not diamonds, not expensive perfume and not flashy gifts.
A book and that's because he sees me.
"You don't even know what this means to me," I said quietly.
He leaned closer across the table."I just wanted you to feel special like never before."
That line, that exact line.I felt my cheeks warm instantly.
"You're the best." I whispered.
"Only for you." he replied with a wink.
After lunch, instead of heading straight to his place, he surprised me again.
He drove somewhere unfamiliar.
"Leon, where are we going?" I asked calmly.
"You'll see." he replied like an excited child.
When he parked, I realized we were near the waterfront.
The sun was beginning to set, the sky painted in soft orange and pink hues. The breeze was gentle, carrying the scent of water and evening air.
He took my hand as we walked,no rush, no pressure.Just fingers intertwined.
We stood watching the sunset in silence and he turned to me slowly.
"I know there's a lot of mess around us," he said softly. "But I want you to know something."
I swallowed.
"I'm not Shane, I'm not your past and I'm not here to confuse you or hurt you."His thumb brushed gently over my knuckles."I'm here because I want to keep choosing you."
My heart felt full, no loud music and no dramatic declarations.
Just sincerity.
For the first time in a long time love didn't feel scary, It felt safe.
I leaned into him, resting my head against his chest.
"I'm really glad I said yes to you." I quietly mumbled into his shirt.
He kissed the top of my head."And I'm really glad you did."
The sky darkened slowly, but I didn't care because for once, everything felt exactly right and honestly this is where I want to be.