~ Chapter 20 ~
Eva
Eva didn't remember walking up the stairs.
She didn't remember unlocking the door or kicking off her shoes or dropping her purse somewhere near the couch.
What she did remember—very clearly—was the way Reed's mouth had felt against hers.
Not rushed.
Not claiming.
Warm.
Soft.
Intentional.
Like he'd been asking a question with his lips and waiting patiently for her answer.
She sat on the edge of her bed still wearing the olive dress, hands resting in her lap, staring at absolutely nothing. Her heart felt too big for her chest. Not in a painful way. In a way that felt overwhelming and gentle at the same time.
She lifted her fingers to her lips without realizing it.
Immediately regretted it.
Immediately smiled.
Her phone buzzed.
Sandra.
Sandra: Are you alive or did he kill you with romance.
Eva let out a breathy laugh and flopped backward onto her pillows.
Eva: I am alive. Barely.
The door to her room opened without knocking.
Sandra stood there, arms crossed.
Parker stood right behind her.
Cassie's face appeared on FaceTime before Eva could even process what was happening.
"SHOW US YOUR FACE," Cassie yelled.
Eva groaned. "I hate all of you."
Sandra plopped onto the bed beside her. "No you don't. Now talk."
Eva sat up slowly, tucking her legs under herself. "It was... nice."
Parker raised an eyebrow. "Nice is a dangerous word."
Eva sighed. "Okay. It was really nice."
Cassie leaned closer to the screen. "Did he kiss you."
Eva covered her face.
Sandra screamed.
Parker smiled softly.
Cassie clutched her chest like she was about to faint.
"Tell us," Parker said gently.
Eva peeked through her fingers. "He asked first."
Sandra froze. "He asked."
Eva nodded. "He said, 'Can I kiss you?' And I said yes. And then he did. And it was slow. And I forgot how to breathe."
Cassie started fanning herself. "Lord give me strength."
Parker rubbed Eva's back. "How did it make you feel?"
Eva thought about it.
"Safe," she said quietly. "And wanted. And kind of... chosen."
Sandra's teasing expression softened. "Yeah. You're in trouble."
Eva swallowed. "I think I really like him."
Cassie smiled softly. "Baby, you've liked him since the library."
Eva didn't argue.
Her phone buzzed again.
Reed.
Her heart stuttered.
She didn't even open it right away.
Sandra noticed. "It's him, isn't it."
Eva nodded.
Reed: You home safe?
Eva smiled at her screen.
Eva: Yeah. Thank you for walking me back to my door.
Reed: I didn't want to leave.
Eva felt heat creep up her neck.
Eva: Me neither.
Sandra made a strangled noise.
Cassie mouthed OH MY GOD.
Reed: I had a really good time tonight.
Eva's fingers hovered.
Eva: I did too. I keep replaying it.
Three dots appeared almost immediately.
Reed: The kiss?
Eva stared at the screen like it might explode.
Eva: ...maybe.
Sandra shoved a pillow into her face.
Reed: Good. Because I can't stop thinking about it either.
Eva hugged her phone to her chest.
"I'm going to cry," she whispered.
Parker smiled. "Happy tears only."
Eva typed slowly.
Eva: I like you.
There was a pause.
Not long.
But long enough for her heart to start racing.
Reed: I like you too, Eva. A lot.
Something warm spread through her chest.
Something steady.
Something real.
Later, after Sandra finally left her room and Parker turned off the lights in the living room and Cassie said goodnight through FaceTime, Eva curled onto her side, phone resting against her pillow.
Reed: Sleep well.
Eva: You too.
She stared at the ceiling, smiling like an idiot.
For the first time in a long time, she didn't feel alone in her thoughts.
She fell asleep replaying the sound of his laugh.
Reed
Reed didn't turn the lights on when he got back to the apartment.
He kicked off his shoes, dropped his keys on the dresser, and sat on the edge of his bed fully dressed.
His lips still felt warm.
Which was ridiculous.
But true.
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, staring at the floor.
He couldn't stop replaying the way Eva had looked up at him when he asked to kiss her.
The way she hadn't hesitated.
The way she'd said yes like it meant something.
Ryan knocked once before opening the door.
"Told you you'd come back like this."
Reed didn't look up. "Like what."
"Like you just found religion."
Reed huffed quietly.
Ryan sat on the bed. "So?"
Reed exhaled slowly. "She's... different."
Ryan nodded. "Different good or different scary."
"Both," Reed admitted. "I don't want to mess this up."
Ryan shrugged. "Then don't play games. Don't disappear. Don't half-ass it."
"I'm not," Reed said immediately.
Ryan smiled. "I know. That's why I'm not worried about you."
Reed checked his phone.
Typed.
Deleted.
Typed again.
Reed: You home safe?
When she said yes, something loosened in his chest.
When she said she kept replaying it?
Reed smiled to himself like an idiot.
Ryan watched him. "You're smiling at your phone."
Reed didn't deny it.
Ryan stood. "I'm going to leave you alone to be soft."
"Get out."
Ryan laughed and closed the door.
Reed lay back on his bed, phone resting on his chest.
Eva: I like you.
Reed stared at the words.
Then typed:
Reed: I like you too. A lot.
He meant it in a way that felt heavier than any crush he'd ever had.
Before falling asleep, he sent one more message.
Reed: Goodnight, Eva.
Eva: Goodnight, Reed.
Reed stared at the ceiling, a small smile pulling at his lips.
For the first time in a long time, his head felt quiet.
Not empty.
Peaceful.
Like something good had started.