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I blink, taken aback by her response. “What?”
“I’ve seen the way you two look at each other. It was only a matter of time before one of you figured it out. I just had my money on it being him.”
“I don’t know if he feels the same way.”
“He does. He was like your shadow in high school, but you were always too focused on the future to notice.”
“What if I tell him, and he doesn’t want anything serious?”
“He’s head over heels for you, Auden. He will.”
“What if I can’t handle a relationship and work?”
“You can. You can literally do anything. Once you put your mind to something, you go over it. You’ll be okay.”
“What if—” I start, but she cuts me off.
Lena reaches across the table, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze. “Auden, you’ll never know if you don’t ask. And from what I’ve seen, Wade isn’t the kind of guy to just play around. He’s serious about you. I can see it.”
Her words should be comforting, but they only heighten the knot of anxiety in my chest. Still, she’s right. I need to know how he feels. I need to know if this is something real or just another fleeting romance that will leave me more broken than before.
“And you want him too. It’s time to have more than just work in your life.”
I know that she’s right, but that doesn’t make me any less anxious.
“What about you?” I ask, and she leans back.
“I’m happy with work.”
“Liar,” I say, twirling the ice in my glass around until they clink together. “You want Holden.”
“Have you forgotten what happened between us? He left me once. I’m not giving him the chance to do it again.”
“Maybe you should hear him out,” I say quietly, cautiously.
“No.”
She’s so firm, and I nod, not wanting to argue with her.
We finish our drinks, and I make my excuses to head home early. Lena gives me a knowing look as I grab my purse, but she doesn’t say anything, just waves me off with a wink.
The drive home is a blur, my thoughts racing faster than the car down the winding roads. By the time I pull into my driveway, my heart is pounding in my chest, a mix of fear and excitement that I haven’t felt in years.
Wade’s house is dark, the only light coming from a single lamp in the living room window. For a moment, I just sit in my car, staring at the house, trying to summon the courage to go over there.
It’s now or never, Auden.
I take a deep breath, get out of the car, and walk up to his front door. The air is cool against my skin, the faint sound of waves crashing against the shore in the distance. I knock, the sound echoing in the quiet night.
A few seconds pass, and then the door opens. Wade stands there, looking tired but surprised to see me. His hair is tousled, and he’s in a plain gray t-shirt and jeans, but he’s never looked better.
“Auden,” he says, his voice soft and slightly puzzled. “What are you doing here?”
“I… I wanted to see you,” I say, the words tumbling out before I can stop them. “I haven’t seen you much this week, and I missed you.”
He steps aside, letting me in, and I take in the cozy warmth of his house. It’s the first time I’ve been here, and I’m struck by how much it feels like him: simple, strong, comfortable.
“This place is amazing,” I say, turning to face him. “I love the way it feels. And the view of the water… it’s beautiful.”
