✧･Chapter 34 Top Three? #3
She's not wrong.
It did feel nice.
Letting go, even just for a few hours. Not thinking about everything that came before us or everything that might come after. Just existing, and laughing. Being with her in a way that didn't feel heavy or complicated.
"I'm surprised I had a great time," I admit, tilting my head slightly as I look at her.
Mae huffs a quiet laugh, her shoulders relaxing. "I was fully prepared for you to be miserable the entire time."
"That makes two of us."
She smiles at that, but it fades a little as she studies my face, like she's trying to read something deeper in it.
"I always have the best times with you, Mae," I say softly, meeting her gaze.
The words land differently than I expect them to, and Mae goes still, her expression shifting in a way that makes my chest tighten. There's something in her eyes - something like relief, like disbelief, like she's been waiting longer than she should have for me to say something like that.
"Yeah?" She asks quietly.
I nod, just once. "Yeah."
There's a pause, but it doesn't feel awkward. It feels full, like there's too much sitting between us to rush past it.
Mae exhales slowly, then lets out a small, almost shy laugh as she looks down for a second before meeting my eyes again.
"Good," she says. "Because I really needed tonight to go well."
Something in her tone makes me soften.
"You were nervous?"
She shrugs a little, but it's not convincing. "A little."
"That's surprising."
"Why?"
"You don't usually get nervous."
Mae lets out a quiet breath, shaking her head slightly. "That's not true."
I raise an eyebrow, and before I can respond, she reaches for my hand again, like it's instinct now, like she doesn't even think about it anymore. Her fingers slip between mine easily, and I don't hesitate.
I never do anymore.
"I just wanted you to feel happy," she says, her voice softer now. "Even if it was just for a few hours."
I look at her, really look at her, and something in me shifts again.
"You don't have to try that hard," I say gently.
Her brow furrows slightly. "I'm not trying that hard."
I tilt my head, giving her a look. "Mae."
She smiles a little, caught. "Okay, maybe a little."
I shake my head, but there's no frustration in it. "You don't have to earn anything with me."
The words come out before I can stop them, and for a second, I wonder if I've said too much, but Mae just looks at me, completely still.
"What do you mean?" She asks quietly.
I take a breath. "I mean..." I glance down at our hands, then back at her. "You don't have to plan things or prove anything or make every moment perfect."
My voice softens. "I'm already here."
That seems to hit her harder than anything else tonight.
Her fingers tighten slightly around mine, like she needs something to ground herself.
"I chose to come tonight," I continue gently. "I chose to stay. I chose to come mini golf with you."
A small smile pulls at her lips at that.
"And I didn't do that because you convinced me to," I add. "I did it because I wanted to."
The silence that follows isn't heavy. Mae looks at me like she's trying to memorize something, like she's afraid if she looks away for too long, this moment might disappear.
"Okay," she says finally, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Okay?"
"Okay," she repeats, softer this time, like she's letting herself believe it.
A quiet settles between us again, but it feels different now. Easier, like something unspoken has finally been said.
Mae glances toward the car, then back at me. "We should probably go," she says, though she doesn't make any move to let go of my hand.
"Probably."
Neither of us moves. Instead, she takes a small step closer, close enough that I can feel the warmth of her even in the cool night air.
Her free hand lifts slightly, hesitating for just a second before gently brushing a piece of hair away from my face. The touch is soft, like she's still learning where the boundaries are - but hoping they're not where they used to be.
I don't pull away, I don't even think about it. I just stand there, letting her. Her hand lingers for a moment longer than it needs to before dropping back to her side.
We look at each other for a second that stretches longer than it should.
Then, almost like it's the most natural thing in the world, I lean in.
It's not rushed, or hesitant.
Our lips meet softly, the kiss slow and warm, like something that doesn't need to prove anything. My hand tightens slightly in hers, and I feel the way she exhales against me, like she's been holding her breath all night without realizing it.
When we pull back, neither of us goes far. Mae rests her forehead lightly against mine, her eyes still closed for a second before she opens them.
There's a small smile on her face. "Best date ever?" she murmurs.
I huff out a quiet laugh, my lips brushing against hers as I do. "Don't get ahead of yourself."
She grins. "Top three?"
I pretend to think about it. "Hmm... maybe."
"Rude."