Ocean Love

Chapter 22

I sat in the darkened living room, the quiet hum of the city outside barely reaching my ears. The soft glow from the streetlights filtered through the curtains, casting faint shadows on the walls. My fingers absently traced the delicate pendant hanging from my neck, the cool metal a constant reminder of him.

Dylan.

The thought of him stirred something deep inside me, a mix of warmth and unease. How did I end up here? How did I go from being his bodyguard to something more? It felt like just yesterday I was keeping my distance, maintaining the professional line we were never supposed to cross. And now, I found myself longing for him, aching to return to his side.

I shook my head, trying to clear the thoughts that swirled around, but they clung to me, persistent and relentless. What am I doing? How did I get here so quickly? I wasn't the kind of person who let my guard down, who allowed myself to get close to someone, especially not like this. Yet here I was, wanting nothing more than to be with him.

A part of me wanted to grab my keys, rush out the door, and go back to him. I could picture him in that moment—maybe lying in bed, wondering where I was, maybe even worrying. The thought of him being concerned made my chest tighten. I didn’t want to be the cause of his worry, the reason he couldn’t sleep peacefully.

But I couldn’t go back, not yet. I needed this time, this space to sort through my thoughts, to understand what was happening between us. How did I let this happen? How did I allow myself to fall for him? Dylan was so much more than just a client, and that scared me.

I curled up on the couch, hugging my knees to my chest as I stared at the shadows on the walls. My mind was at war with itself. One side pleaded with me to go back to him, to find comfort in his presence, while the other side urged me to stay, to figure this out on my own before diving back into something that felt too big, too fast.

I sighed deeply, running a hand through my hair. I knew I couldn’t keep doing this, couldn’t keep pushing and pulling myself in different directions. But for now, I couldn’t help it. I wasn’t ready to face him, to confront the reality of what was happening between us. Not yet.

I glanced at my phone sitting on the coffee table, half-expecting it to light up with a message from him. But it remained dark, silent. I wasn’t sure if I was relieved or disappointed.

Closing my eyes, I tried to push the thoughts away, to quiet my mind, even if just for a moment. I needed to rest, to find some peace before the morning came. But even as I tried to calm myself, the ache in my chest remained, a constant reminder of how deeply Dylan had already found his way into my heart.

And how much I wanted to go back to him.

As I sat there, wrapped in my thoughts, my phone suddenly buzzed on the coffee table. I hesitated before reaching for it, my heart already knowing who it was. My fingers trembled slightly as I unlocked the screen and saw Dylan’s name.

"Where are you? I miss you already, I'm still waiting, you know?"

His message was short, but it held so much. I could almost hear his voice, the gentle tease in his words, and the underlying worry that tugged at my heartstrings.

I sighed, my resolve crumbling as I read the message again. How could I stay away after that? The rational part of my mind, the one telling me to take time for myself, was suddenly overpowered by the simple truth that I wanted to be with him. I wanted to be wherever he was, even if it meant confronting all these overwhelming feelings.

Standing up, I quickly grabbed a piece of paper and a pen. I scribbled a note to Sarah, letting her know I was leaving and that I’d be back later. I knew she’d understand—or at least, I hoped she would. There wasn’t time to explain everything now.