I was halfway home, the city lights blurring past my window as I drove through the quiet streets. My mind was still reeling from earlier—from Dominic, from that damn kiss, from the way his voice still lingered in my head like a whisper I couldn't shake.
"Damn him. Damn his lips, his hands, the way he knew exactly how to get under my skin. I could still feel the heat of his breath against my mouth, the smug smirk that followed when he pulled away like he hadn't just ruined my entire night.
My grip tightened on the steering wheel. I needed to shake this off.
But how the hell was I supposed to do that when every nerve in my body still buzzed with the memory of him?
Then my phone lit up.
Gabriel.
I glanced at the screen on my dashboard just as the message popped up.
Gabriel: Hey Lexi, can I see you at the café close to your house?
I sighed, fingers tightening around the wheel. Gab wasn't the type to text me out of nowhere, especially not after hours. And he sure as hell wouldn't ask to meet up unless something was weighing on him.
For a second, I considered ignoring it. My body ached for a hot shower, a drink, and maybe—just maybe—a moment to process the insanity that was my life.
But this was Gabriel. My best friend. My partner. If he was reaching out, it had to mean something.
I exhaled and typed back quickly at the red light.
Lexi: I'll be there in 10.
With a flick of my wrist, I turned the wheel and headed toward the café instead of home. Whatever this was, it better be good.
The scent of freshly brewed coffee and warm pastries hit me the second I stepped inside. The place was quieter than usual, the soft hum of conversation and the occasional clink of mugs filling the space.
I spotted Gabriel right away. He was sitting near the window, his fingers drumming against his coffee cup in that nervous, erratic way that meant something was eating at him. That wasn't like him. Gabriel was always the calm, steady one—the one who cracked a joke when things got tense, the one who never let emotions get the best of him.
So whatever was on his mind? It wasn't small.
I made my way over and slid into the chair across from him, setting my bag down. "Hey, Gab," I greeted, scanning his face. His jaw was tight, his lips pressed together like he was still debating whether to say whatever was on his mind.
His eyes flicked up to mine, and just like that, the tension in his shoulders eased—just a little. "Hey, Lex," he said, offering me a small smile. But it didn't quite reach his eyes.
I reached for the coffee and burger he had waiting for me—of course, he had ordered for me. He always did. "You sounded urgent," I said, taking a sip. "Something wrong?"
He hesitated. "You seem… happy today," he said instead. His gaze searched mine, as if looking for an answer I hadn't given yet. "Something you want to share?"
I let out a soft chuckle, grabbing the burger. "Not really. You're the one who asked to meet, remember?" I took a bite, savoring the warmth. "So? What's on your mind?"
Gabriel exhaled slowly, rubbing his palms together before finally resting them on the table. "Lexi… we've been friends for a while now, right?"
I swallowed my bite, arching a brow. "Yeah… and?"
He shifted in his seat, his fingers drumming against the table again. Nervous. That made my stomach tighten with unease. "And… if you've noticed, I… I really like you."
I froze mid-sip, my cup hovering just inches from my lips.
What?
His words landed like a slow explosion, spreading through my chest, cracking open something I wasn't prepared for.
The café suddenly felt too small, the walls closing in around me. Heat crept up my neck, my fingers tightening around the coffee cup like it was the only thing grounding me.
Gabriel's voice still echoed in my head, his words twisting into something I wasn't ready to hear.
My stomach clenched. Damn it, why did this feel like a slow-motion car crash?
I lowered the cup carefully, setting it down as my brain tried to catch up. "Gabriel…"
He rushed on before I could say anything else, his words tumbling out in a breathless, desperate stream. "No, listen. I've liked you for a long time, Lexi. I just… I didn't know how to say it. But after everything that's happened, I can't keep it to myself anymore."
My throat went dry.
This was Gabriel. My best friend. My safe space. The person who had been by my side through every shitty moment, every heartbreak, every damn time I needed someone to lean on.
And now—now he was looking at me like I was something more. Like I was someone he wanted in a way I wasn't sure I could give him.
The tension between us thickened, pressing against my ribs, making it hard to breathe.
He leaned forward, his eyes pleading. "Lexi, I want to be more than just your friend. I love you. I want you to be my girlfriend."
Seconds stretched between us, thick and suffocating. A barista laughed somewhere behind the counter, the sound distant, almost unreal. My fingers curled into my lap, my pulse a frantic mess. Gabriel was still watching me, waiting, but I—hell, I had no idea what to say.
To Be Continued...