Chapter 15
Misread Signals
The following week, Emma found herself unusually distracted at her photography class. Her thoughts kept drifting to Lucas and the festival, the warmth of their hands intertwined, the laughter, the lanterns rising into the sky.
She didn’t notice Lucas approaching until he was standing right beside her, a playful grin on his face. “You’ve been quiet all day,” he said.
Emma snapped out of her thoughts. “Oh! Sorry… I was just thinking.”
Lucas’s grin faltered slightly. “About me?”
Emma felt her face warm. “Uh… maybe. A little.”
He raised an eyebrow, teasing. “A little, huh? That’s all?”
Before she could answer, another friend from class joined them, chatting animatedly and brushing against Lucas in a way that made Emma’s stomach twist unexpectedly. She tried to shake it off, but the small pang of jealousy lingered.
Later, during a photography project, Lucas noticed Emma’s distracted expression and the subtle distance she was keeping. “Emma… is something wrong?” he asked softly.
Emma hesitated, unsure how to explain her feelings without sounding silly. “I… I don’t know. I guess I just… overthink sometimes.”
Lucas reached out, taking her hand. “You don’t have to overthink with me,” he said gently. “I like being with you… just us. Nothing else matters.”
Emma looked into his eyes, feeling the tension dissolve. “I know. I’m sorry. I just… get in my own head sometimes.”
Lucas squeezed her hand. “It’s okay. We’ll figure this out together, slow and steady. No rush.”
Emma smiled, relief washing over her. “Together,” she agreed.
As they returned to their project, the unease melted, replaced by a quiet understanding. The slow-burn romance wasn’t always smooth, but the little challenges and misunderstandings made the moments of connection all the more meaningful.