Sitting on the couch in Athlea''s cozy living room, I took a moment to absorb the details of her home.

    Everything was decorated in soft colors, with hints of floral accents and a subtle, sweet fragrance that lingered in the air, adding a warm, homely touch to the space.

    A framed photo of Athlea and her husband rested on the side table near the TV—a smiling couple, the picture-perfect duo, but a part of me couldn''t help but notice a certain distance in her eyes even in that photograph.

    From the kitchen, I heard the gentle clink of cups and plates as she prepared tea.

    "Austin," she called, "you look like you haven''t eaten! Did you get anything for dinner?"

    I met her gaze, deciding to go along with the warmth of the moment. "Not yet... I thought I''d keep some room."

    "Oh?" She raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on her lips. "So you stayed hungry just for my company?"

    I laughed, half-deflecting, half admitting, "Maybe. You''re good company, after all."

    "Well then," she said, glancing back into the kitchen, "I''ll make us something light to go with the tea. We can have dinner together."

    In no time, she brought over two steaming cups of tea, setting down a plate of sandwiches and fresh salad on the table. I reached for a sandwich, and she mirrored me, settling comfortably into the chair opposite mine.

    We sipped tea, chatting easily as the night grew darker. She brought up the game, a playful gleam in her eye.

    "So," she teased, "I saw the girls cheering for you quite passionately back there. You must have them lined up, huh?"

    I shook my head, laughing. "None, actually. Believe it or not."

    She raised a skeptical eyebrow, giving a little chuckle. "Oh, I find that hard to believe." She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a mischievous tone. I can see her half of her cleavage and damn those melons are distracting.

    "And yet, I could''ve sworn I heard... some rather enthusiastic sounds coming from your place a few nights ago." Her fingers traced a light path along my arm, her touch warm and teasing. "And if I remember correctly... it wasn''t just one girl. It sounded like two."

    *Cough* *Cough*

    I choked on my tea, coughing as I struggled to regain my composure.

    "Uh—yeah," I stammered, grabbing the napkin she handed me, trying to brush it off. "Just... friends, you know, hanging out and all..."

    My hands moved instinctively, one on her shoulder, the other lightly around her waist.

    But as I leaned a little closer, pressing into the kiss, she pulled back abruptly, her eyes wide.

    "Stop... stop..." she whispered, voice barely above a murmur.

    I froze, my hand lingering on her waist as I took in her flushed face and the nervous smile that had replaced her soft gaze.

    "Are you... okay?"

    She nodded, looking down, her hands twisting slightly in her lap. "I''m sorry, Austin. I... I don''t know what came over me. It''s just... it''s been a while since..." She trailed off, laughing awkwardly and brushing a stray hair behind her ear.

    Realization dawned on me, the sudden guilt crashing over me.

    "I''m sorry too," I said quickly, pulling back and standing up, giving her a small, apologetic smile. "I didn''t mean for things to... you know, to get carried away."

    Her lips quirked in a slight smile, a little flustered.

    "It''s okay, really. I... I felt the same." Her voice was soft, barely audible, as she met my gaze, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.

    Feeling the tension and embarrassment mix in the air, I rubbed the back of my neck.

    "I think... maybe I should head out now. Thank you for having me over."

    She got up too, her expression a mix of emotions as she stood by the door.

    "Sure... it''s okay. Don''t mind. And... thanks again for tonight."

    "Anytime," I said, giving her one last genuine smile before I stepped out. "Goodnight."

    "Goodnight, Austin." Her voice was soft as she closed the door gently, the sound of the lock clicking behind me as I walked away.

    As soon as I got home, I fell onto my bed, groaning as I buried my face in my pillow.

    "What was that?" I muttered to myself, my face heating up at the memory. "That was so... stupid, Austin," I chided myself, but a part of me couldn''t deny the warmth lingering in my chest, the feeling of her soft lips still fresh in my memory.

    Hugging the pillow tightly, I let out a sigh, a slight smile tugging at my lips. "Still... she felt good."