The basketball player

Falling for the Smile

Aiden's ankle hadn't gotten any better, and my concern for him was growing by the day. I kept nagging him to get it checked out, urging him to take it seriously. He was always one to brush off things like this, but I couldn't stand the thought of him in pain. After countless days of me insisting, he finally agreed to go to the hospital. I could hardly believe it when he told me he'd made an appointment and had even put in a holiday from work to attend it.

He mentioned, almost offhandedly, that he'd come see me after his appointment. "I'll swing by the branch once I'm done," he had said, casually, like it was no big deal. My heart did a little flip, and without thinking, I blurted out, "You don't have to. I mean, it's fine if you just go home and rest."

But what I really wanted to say was the exact opposite. I wanted him to come. I needed him to come. My words said one thing, but my heart was screaming for him to do the complete opposite. I was scared he might take me at my word, that he'd think I didn't want him there when, in reality, it was all I could think about.

The days leading up to his appointment were a blur. I couldn't focus on anything. My thoughts kept drifting to him, wondering what it would be like when he walked into the branch. Would he be okay? Would he still be in pain? And most importantly, would he really show up, despite my weak attempt at playing it cool? I found myself daydreaming about it constantly. I'd picture the way he'd walk in, his eyes searching the room until they found me. The smile that would spread across his face, that warm, familiar smile that made everything in the world seem right.

I imagined the way he'd make his way over to my desk, the teasing comments from my colleagues already playing out in my head. "Look who's here, can you believe it?" they'd say, and I'd blush furiously, trying to act casual. But inside, I'd be brimming with excitement, my heart racing at the mere thought of him being near.

I even thought about what I'd wear that day, obsessing over every detail. I picked out my best dress, the one that made me feel confident. Not that I was trying to impress him, of course. Or at least that's what I kept telling myself. But there was no denying that a part of me was doing this just for him, hoping he'd notice, hoping he'd think I looked nice.

The morning of his appointment, I was a bundle of nerves and anticipation. Every time the door opened, my eyes darted up, hoping to see him walk through. I tried to keep busy, to keep my mind off of it, but it was no use. The daydreams kept flooding in, each one more vivid than the last.

In the back of my mind, there was still that small, nagging fear. What if he took my words to heart and didn't come? What if he thought I didn't want to see him? I tried to shake off the thought, telling myself that he knew me better than that. He had to know what I really meant, didn't he?

And so, I waited, my heart caught in a tug-of-war between hope and doubt, longing for the moment when he'd finally walk through that door and make all my daydreams come true.

As luck would have it, things didn't go as planned for me at work. Of all days, I had a cash discrepancy to deal with, and we were scrambling to find where the mistake was. By the time Aiden arrived at the branch, I was neck-deep in vouchers and paperwork, trying to piece together where things had gone wrong. The stress was mounting, and I was feeling the pressure. We had to check the CCTV footage, which meant multiple trips back and forth from the CCTV room to my desk.

As I walked out of the CCTV room, feeling the weight of the situation on my shoulders, Shaine caught my eye, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "Look who's here," he teased, nodding toward the direction of Reese's office. My heart skipped a beat as my eyes darted around, searching for him. And there he was, sitting inside Reese's room, looking at me with that warm smile of his. He gave a small wave, and in that instant, I wanted to cry. Not from stress, but from the sheer mix of emotions bubbling up inside me.