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Imani stared at her phone, her thumb hovering over Jude's contact. She didn't want to do this in person, but Keisha's words rang in her head: *You have to talk to him. You can't avoid this forever.* Letting out a breath, she tapped his name and waited, the ringing in her ear making her stomach churn.
"Hello?" Jude's voice was casual but guarded.
"Hey, Jude. It's Imani," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. "Do you have a minute? I'd like to talk in person."
There was a brief pause, and she could hear him shuffling, likely finishing up from a workout.
"Sure. I can meet you," he replied, his tone neutral. "How about that café on 9th? I'm nearby."
Imani exhaled, feeling a mix of relief and dread. "That works. I'll see you in 10."
She hung up, her heart racing as she grabbed her jacket and keys. The walk to the café felt interminable, her mind swirling with thoughts of what to say and how to make things right.
When she arrived, Jude was already sitting outside at one of the small tables, sipping on a coffee. His athletic build was noticeable even in his casual attire, and though he appeared relaxed, Imani could sense his underlying tension.
She approached the table slowly, her heart pounding. "Hey," she said, offering a small smile as she sat down.
"Hey," Jude replied, setting his coffee aside.
Imani took a deep breath, looking down at her hands. "I wanted to apologize. For everything. I know I messed up... I was drunk and trying to force myself on you. I know it was completely inappropriate."
Jude leaned back, arms crossed. His expression softened slightly but remained guarded. "I get that. But you've been avoiding me for weeks now. What changed?"
Imani hesitated, biting her lip. "I was avoiding it because I'm embarrassed. I was out of line, and I'm sorry for pushing myself onto you when I wasn't in the right state of mind. You didn't deserve that."
Jude's eyes narrowed slightly. "You mean when you were drunk and begging for a kiss? I could tell you weren't yourself. That's why I stopped it."
She flinched at his words, remembering the uncomfortable moment she had been insistent and desperate, only to be gently rebuffed.
"I know," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I was wrong. You didn't deserve to be put in that position. I was out of control and made a mistake. You were right to stop me."
Jude sighed, his gaze softening as he leaned forward. "Imani, I care about you, but I don't want to be involved in something that's only going to make things worse for us both. You've got stuff to work out-things that don't involve me."
She nodded, feeling a lump in her throat. "I know. I'm working on it. I just... I'm sorry. For putting you in that position. I was confused and thought maybe I could force something that wasn't there."
Jude's expression softened further as he reached out and placed a gentle hand on hers. "You don't need me, or anyone else, to fix you. That's on you, Imani. You need to take care of yourself first. That's why I didn't want to get involved."
Imani swallowed hard, her eyes welling up with tears she tried to blink away. "I know you're right. I just needed to hear it."
They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of unspoken things between them gradually lifting. Finally, Jude stood, his expression kind but firm. "Take care of yourself, Imani."
Imani nodded, standing up as well. "Thank you, Jude for understanding."
He gave her a small, genuine smile before walking away, leaving her standing there, feeling both relieved and raw. It wasn't easy, but she had faced it. Now, it was time for her to focus on herself.
