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I park my car in front of Lexi's apartment building and take a deep breath before getting out.
As I make my way to the entrance, I spot a familiar red Jeep pulling into the parking lot.
Gabi steps out of the car and our eyes lock from across the distance.
She looks...different. Her hair is pulled back into a messy bun, there are dark circles under her eyes, and she's wearing my old sweatshirt over leggings. She looks tired but as beautiful as ever.
I sprint toward her, ready to wrap her in my arms and never let go, but she holds up a hand to stop me.
"Jacob, what are you doing here?" she asks with a serious tone that sends chills down my spine.
"Funny. I could ask you the same thing."
Gabi sighs and runs a hand through her hair. "I just needed some time to think. Being around you right now is just...too much."
"So much that you disappear on me?"
Gabi's green eyes flash before narrowing. "I think you did the disappearing first, don't you think?"
"Fuck. I know. I missed the doctor's appointment...I should have been there for you."
Gabi's expression softens, but she still doesn't move any closer. "You were busy. I understand."
"And yet..."
"And yet I still need space."
She stares at me, and I stare right back. I sense that resolving this right here in the parking lot is about as likely as seeing a unicorn ride a rollercoaster, so I make a suggestion.
"It might be better if we take this conversation somewhere more appropriate. Like, I don't know, not in the parking lot next to Lexi's apartment building?"
Gabi hesitates for a moment, then nods. "All right. Lexi's not home, but we can go up."
We walk in silence toward the entrance, our footsteps echoing in the empty lobby. I can feel the tension between us, thick and suffocating.
Once we reach Lexi's apartment, Gabi pulls out her keys and opens the door. We step inside, and she leads me to the overly pristine kitchen. I lean against the counter, while Gabi grabs a glass and pours herself a glass of water.
"So..." I say, breaking the silence. "Are you going to tell me what's been bothering you?"
Gabi takes a sip of her water before answering. "I just...I don't know if we can keep doing this," Gabi says softly, looking down at her hands.
My heart drops into my stomach. "Doing what?"
"It's not just about you missing the appointment, Jacob. It's everything. The pressure, the expectations, the constant feeling that we're going to get caught. First, we faked a relationship, and now you're talking about a real one? Jacob...we don't even know what that would mean for us."
"Hey, hey," I say, stepping closer to her. "I understand that this has been hard for both of us. But you pulling a Houdini on me doesn't sound like the most healthy way to deal with it."
Gabi looks up at me, green eyes hard. "But what's the end game here, Jacob? What are we even working toward? A friendship? A relationship? A family?"
I open my mouth to answer, but nothing comes out. She has a point. We have never really talked about where this was headed.
And right now, she looks almost too beautiful for me to handle. With her hair falling in soft waves around her face and those emerald eyes piercing into mine, I feel like a dumbstruck teenager, completely unprepared for this conversation.
"Well, I...I didn't really think that far ahead," I admit.
Gabi studies me for a moment before letting out a small laugh. "Well, that certainly gives me a lot of faith."
Jaw grinding, I take another step closer. "Hey, I may not have a master plan, Gabi." My skin heats beneath my t-shirt and jeans. "But at least I'm honest about it. Which is more than I can say for you."
