After the final bell rang, Riley made her way out of the building, her thoughts a whirlwind. She spotted Zayden leaning against his car, a few feet away from where she had parked her bike. His presence was commanding, as always, but today it felt different—intense, even.
When she approached him, Zayden gave her a small, reassuring smile, though his eyes were filled with something more serious. "Thanks for coming," he said.
Riley nodded, her palms suddenly sweaty. She tried to sound casual, but it was hard. "So, what's this about?"
Zayden pushed off from the car and took a step closer to her, his eyes searching hers. "I wanted to ask you something. Something that's been on my mind for a while."
Riley's pulse quickened. She wasn't sure she was ready for whatever was coming, but she wasn't going to back down now. "Okay. What is it?"
Zayden took a deep breath, then spoke with surprising seriousness. "Riley, I know we've been dancing around this thing for a while. I've been trying to give you space, trying not to rush you. But the truth is, I can't stop thinking about you. And I need to know… what do you feel? Are you just… keeping me at arm's length because you're scared? Or is there something real here?"
Riley's heart pounded in her chest. She had been holding onto her walls so tightly, convinced they were necessary to protect herself. But now… now she wasn't so sure. Could she really push him away forever?
"I don't know," Riley admitted, her voice shaking despite herself. "I don't know what to feel. I've been trying to keep everything in control, but you make it harder. I don't know if I'm ready to… let you in."
Zayden stepped closer, closing the distance between them. "You don't have to be ready right now," he said softly, his voice gentle. "But I'm not going anywhere. I won't push you. Just… know that I'm here. Whenever you decide you're ready."
Riley's breath hitched. She couldn't deny the pull she felt toward him, the way he made her feel like maybe she wasn't as alone as she had convinced herself she was. But still, a part of her held back, terrified of what it would mean to truly let someone in.
"I don't know if I can do this," she whispered, her eyes downcast. "I've spent my whole life building walls. I don't know how to tear them down."
Zayden's gaze softened, and he reached out, gently lifting her chin to meet his eyes. "You don't have to tear them down all at once. Just one brick at a time."