When Willow Met Riley

008

Willow

I stared at my phone, the last text from Riley glaring back at me.

Hey, I hope you're doing okay. I miss talking to you.

That was three days ago, and I still hadn't responded. Not because I didn't want to-I did. But because I wasn't sure if I should. Every time I thought about Riley, something would rise up in me, something so unfamiliar yet so comforting, and it scared me.

I was falling for her. Deeper and deeper with every glance, every touch, every conversation. And I didn't know how to stop it.

Truth is, I didn't want to stop it. But that was the problem. If I let myself feel too much, get too close, then what? I'd be vulnerable, and I hated that feeling. I hated the thought of being hurt or rejected or worse... abandoned. And Riley, she had this way of breaking down my walls without even trying, of making me feel like maybe, just maybe, I didn't have to hold myself back so much.

But it was easier to pull away. To disappear before things got too real.

Yet... I missed her.

The thought hit me hard as I sat there, phone still in my hand. I missed her laugh, the way she'd playfully tease me, the way she made me feel comfortable in my own skin. Without thinking, I opened her message again and my fingers started moving before my brain could catch up.

Hey... Sorry, I've been kind of wrapped up with work. How have you been?

I stared at the screen, the send button already pressed, my heart racing.

Her reply came almost instantly, as if she'd been waiting for this the whole time.

I've missed you. Can I come over? I really want to see you.

My chest tightened, this odd mix of excitement and fear swirling inside me. She wanted to come over. She wanted to see me. Part of me wanted to say no, to tell her I was busy or tired or whatever excuse I could think of. But the other part, the louder part, screamed at me to say yes. Because I wanted to see her too, so without thinking too much about it, I typed back.

Waiting. Can't wait to see you.

It was about two hours later when I heard the knock on the door and my heart skipped.

When I opened the door, there she was-looking effortlessly good as usual. She wore this oversized denim jacket, simple but chic, and her blonde curls were loosely tied back, a few strands framing her face. The second our eyes met, that familiar warmth rushed through me again, only this time, it was mixed with something heavier-guilt.

She smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Hey," she said softly, stepping inside.

"Hey." My voice felt smaller than usual, and I stepped aside to let her in, closing the door behind her.

The room suddenly felt smaller, too, like her presence filled every inch of space around me. I couldn't stop staring at her, and the longer I looked, the more I realized how much I missed her. Missed being around her, hearing her voice.

Riley turned to face me, her expression serious. "Why didn't you answer my texts?" Her voice was calm but carried an undertone of hurt that twisted something inside me. "I mean, you just... disappeared."

I swallowed hard, shifting on my feet. "I'm sorry," I said quietly, not meeting her gaze. I wanted to tell her the truth-that I didn't respond because I was scared of how much I liked her, scared of what she was making me feel. But instead, I went with something easier. "Work got crazy, and I just... I don't know, I didn't mean to ignore you."