When Hearts Heal

Chapter 27

The door to my apartment had barely clicked shut behind me when I all but sprinted down the hallway, a giddy smile on my face. I knew Maya would still be awake, probably binge-watching her latest Netflix obsession, and there was no way I was going to wait until morning to tell her about tonight.

I burst into the living room, where, just as I predicted, Maya was sprawled on the couch in her sweats, a half-eaten bag of popcorn on her lap. She glanced up at me, eyes widening as soon as she saw the look on my face.

“Okay, spill,” she said, sitting up straight and pausing the show without hesitation. “You’ve got that look.”

I couldn’t help but laugh, dropping my bag and kicking off my shoes. “What look?”

“The ‘I-just-had-the-best-date-ever-and-you-need-to-know-every-detail’ look,” Maya said, smirking. “So? How was it? And don’t leave out the good parts.”

I flopped down onto the couch beside her, still grinning like an idiot. “It was amazing. Honestly, it was... perfect. We had dinner at this cute Italian place, talked about everything, and then…” I bit my lip, drawing out the moment for dramatic effect.

“And then?” Maya leaned closer, eyes wide with anticipation.

I could barely keep the excitement out of my voice. “We kissed.”

Maya gasped, her hand flying to her chest like I’d just delivered the juiciest plot twist. “No way! Finally! I was starting to think you guys were never going to get around to it.”

I rolled my eyes, though I couldn’t stop the blush from creeping up my neck. “I know, right? But it was so worth the wait. We were sitting in his car, and I pulled out a mint like I always do, and we started talking about how I’m obsessed with fresh breath. And then—” I paused, grinning as the memory replayed in my mind. “He said, ‘Well, I guess that means you’ll be a great kisser.’”

Maya’s eyes practically sparkled. “Oh, he did not.”

“He did,” I said, laughing. “I was so flustered, I didn’t even know what to say! I was just sitting there like an idiot, blushing, and before I could even respond, he kissed me.”

Maya squealed, clutching a pillow to her chest. “And? How was it? Was it as good as you imagined?”

I took a deep breath, trying to put the moment into words. “It was… incredible. Like, soft at first, but then it got deeper, and it was just—Gosh, it felt like everything else just disappeared. I didn’t even realize how much I’d been waiting for it until it happened.”

Maya let out a dreamy sigh. “That sounds amazing. And the fact that he waited this long, and it was so sweet and perfect… ugh, I’m swooning for you.”

I laughed, shaking my head. “Trust me, I’m still swooning too. When he pulled back, he just smiled and said, ‘Definitely a good kisser.’”

Maya looked like she was ready to pass out from the cuteness overload. “I can’t believe you’ve been holding out on me all this time! You and Dominic are like a freaking rom-com in real life.”

“I know,” I agreed, feeling the warmth of the night settle over me again. “I don’t know, Maya. This feels… different. Good different. Like, maybe this could actually be something.”

Maya nudged me with her elbow. “It sounds like it already is something. So, what’s next? When are you seeing him again?”

“He said he’d text me tomorrow,” I said, suddenly feeling a little giddy again at the thought. “I can’t believe I’m even saying this, but I’m excited. Like, really excited.”

Maya smiled knowingly. “That’s because he’s not like the other guys, and you know it. He’s showing up for you, being patient, making you feel seen. It’s no wonder you’re head over heels.”

I hugged the pillow to my chest, sinking deeper into the couch. “Yeah. I think I might really be falling for him.”

Maya grinned, her eyes twinkling with excitement. “Well, babe, it sounds like this is just the beginning.”

The two of us sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the weight of the night settling around us. It felt like the start of something new, something right. Finally, I stood, stretching my arms.

“Well, now that I’ve spilled all the details, I’m going to bed. But first…” I grabbed another mint from my bag with a smirk.

Maya burst out laughing. “Girl, you and those mints! Just admit it—they’re your secret weapon.”

With a wink, I waved goodnight and headed to my room, a soft hum of contentment in my chest. As I closed the door behind me, I couldn’t help but smile. For the first time in a long time, everything felt like it was falling into place.