Three weekster...

ATHENA

"Girl. Spill it!" Isabelle turns to face me like I''m holding onto the juiciest gossip this week. "You''re killing me here." She adds.

I bring my coffee to my lips, needing something to distract me.

Instead of relief and joy, I feel sad.

Maybe it''s PMS week.

Isabelle slides onto the bench beside me, probably now tired of standing. Her

brows arch with that all-too-familiar look of curiosity and concern.

I let out a breath. "I said yes."

She blinks. "Yes...?"

"To Zayan."

Her eyes widen. "As in yes-yes? Like proposal, yes?"

"Girlfriend yes." I correct.

"Are you serious?"

I nod once, staring into the steam of my cup like it might offer me answers I don''t have.

"But why do you look like someone killed your cat?"

"I''m just tired."

"Liar... anyway, so, Alex? Does he know?" she asks carefully.

Iugh bitterly. “He lost his mind. I''m not shocked he knew where I was when he showed up at the restaurant, acted like a lunatic. Called me his wife and nearly ripped Zayan''s head off in front of everyone."

Isabelle snorts. "ssic. That man''s ego is the size of the entire fucking universe. He probably just hates the idea that someone else gets you now."

I want to agree. I do agree. But it doesn''t silence the ache in my chest.

"I mean," she continues, "Zayan is a good guy. Kind. Reliable. And definitely not

going to give you emotional whish every two minutes."

"I know," I whisper. "He is."

But even as I say the words, they fall t.

Zayan is good. He shows up. He listens. He doesn''tplicate things.

So why does it feel like something''s missing?

Why doesn''t my heart race when he touches me?

Why do Alex''s eyes still haunt me even when I''m not looking for them?

"Maybe... maybe the sparkester," I mumble, more to myself than to her.

Isabelle tilts her head, watching me closely. "Have you felt no spark yet?" I shake my head.

"Tell you what, give it three dates and three kisses. It wille to you. Bet."

Iugh, "Zayan''s advocate huh?"

"Till the day I die." She touches her heart mimicking a swearing. "The man brings you flowers that aren''t from his secretary. That''s rare, babe."

"Okay, but roses are overrated," I mutter.

"Yeah, well, so is emotional stability, apparently." She side-eyes me.

I nearly choke on my coffee. "Wow. Okay. Personal attack noted."

"I''m just saying," she continues, holding up a finger, "Zayan makes sense. You don''t have to decode him like a CIA mission."

"True," I sigh. "With Alex, everything is.... How do I put it, heightened."

Isabelle raises a hand. "Let''s not forget the eye contact. The way he looks at you. Although I must admit, most times I get so curious I want to open his head to know the dirty thoughts running through his head."

"Ugh, don''t remind me," I groan.

She squints at me. "But you like that burning look don''t you?"

"I do not!"

"You do."

"I don''t!"

"You do. I also have a strong hunch you''re looking for Alex in Zayan. But that''s understandable, you''ve loved the man for five years. That just doesn''t go away. But I think you deserve to be happy and if Zayan can give you that, you Should give it a try. Go all in."

"You think so?"

"Yep."

"That''s pretty good advice for someone who doesn''tmit to rtionships." I eye her and she waves me off.

"Coaches don''t y babe." She winks in addition making meugh.

My phone vibrates and the screen shes Zayan.

"I guess we summoned him." I show the screen to Isabelle who smiles in excitement,

"Fate and shit huh?

"Get out." Iugh as I swipe right to answer.

"Hello?"

"I''ve searched the entire hospital but I can''t seem to find my woman. Where are you?"

My cheeks heat.

Isabelle was right.

I do need to give this a chance.

"I''m on the rooftop. Why, do you miss me?" I tease.

"So much, I feel like I could die." He responds and I roll my eyes.

"Did I just enter into a rtionship with a y boy? That response was straight out

of a fiction book."

"Naa, just from my heart. My eyes are only for you, Athena."

"I think that''s my queue." Isabelle whispers as she waves and walks off.

I blow her a kiss before returning to the conversation.

I smile, resting my elbow on the table. "You really out here trying to melt me like

mozzare, huh?"

"Is it working?" His voice drops just a little, teasing but sincere.

"A little," I admit, biting back a grin.

There''s a brief pause on the line,

"Hey... what time do you get off?"

"Why? Are you nning a rooftop proposal?" I tease.fn41a1 Follow current nov?ls on find[?]ovel/fn41a1

"Not yet. I need to scare you a little less before I go full romantic lunatic."

Iugh. "I appreciate the restraint."

"I was

hesitanking..." he continues, then

"Would it be okay if yo

came home with me after your shift?

My family''s been dying to meet you.  s

I freeze for half a second.

Family?

Already?

I''m not going to lie. Meeting his mother again is something I''ll never look forward

to.

My internal panic lights start blinking like a Christmas tree. Sirens. Smoke. shing red gs not because I''me not taking this rtionship senous, but because meeting family means big steps. And I''ve barely started figuring out how I feel.  s

He must sense the hesitation because his voice softens.

"Hey, if you''re not ready, it''s totally

okay. I just thought- you know what?

Never

mind what thought Noeat?

pressure, I promise  s

I take a breath, as the words echo in my mind.

Go all in.

I straighten. "Pick me up in two hours."

"Are you sure? I promise we can do it another time."

"I''m sure. What if youe from a family of serial killers? I need to know now

before I fall in too deep."

Heughs, "So we''re progressing then. You''re slowly falling?"

I roll my eyes. "Very funny."

He chuckles." See you in two."

I hang up, staring at the phone for a moment.

And for the first time since saying yes, I actually feel a little spark.

Not fire yet.

But definitely, a flicker.

And maybe... that''s enough to start with.