Beneath The Surface

Chapter 29: Confessions in the Dark

Ava's heart raced as Lucas's words hung in the air between them. The park was eerily quiet, the only sounds being the soft rustle of leaves and the distant hum of cars. It was as if the world had stilled, waiting for her response.

She swallowed, her throat tight. "Lucas, I... I don't know what to say."

Lucas took a step closer, his eyes never leaving hers. "You don't have to say anything, Ava. I just want you to know where I stand. I know this is complicated, and I'm not asking you to make any decisions right now. But I can't pretend I don't have feelings for you. I can't just step back."

Ava bit her lip, feeling the weight of his words press down on her. This was what she had feared. The intensity of Lucas's feelings was undeniable, but the more he expressed them, the more torn she felt. Ethan's gentle care versus Lucas's fiery passion—how could she possibly choose between them?

"Lucas, I care about you," she began softly, trying to find the right words. "But I'm so confused. I don't want to hurt anyone, least of all you."

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I get it. I do. And I'm not trying to make this harder for you. But I can't just walk away from this. From us. I feel something between us, Ava, and I think you do too."

Her breath caught in her throat. He wasn't wrong. There was something between them, an undeniable spark, but was it enough? She looked away, her mind swirling with thoughts of Ethan, of his steady presence and the comfort he provided. How could she possibly explain this without breaking someone's heart?

Before she could respond, Lucas gently took her hand, his touch sending a shiver down her spine. "Ava, I know you're scared. But I'm here. And I'm not going anywhere."

She looked up at him, her eyes searching his face. His expression was open, vulnerable, and for a brief moment, she felt the urge to lean into him, to let herself get swept away by the intensity of his emotions. But just as quickly, she pulled back, the image of Ethan flashing through her mind.

"I need time, Lucas," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I need to figure this out. I don't want to rush into anything and make the wrong choice."

Lucas nodded, though the hurt in his eyes was clear. "I understand. Just promise me one thing."

"What?"

"Promise me you won't shut me out."

Ava hesitated for a moment before nodding. "I won't."

He smiled faintly, his thumb brushing across the back of her hand before he let go. "I'll wait, Ava. However long it takes."

With that, Lucas turned and walked away, leaving Ava standing alone in the fading light of the park. She watched him go, her heart heavy with the weight of her indecision.

As the sky darkened and the first stars began to appear, Ava slowly made her way back home. Her mind was a whirl of emotions, but one thought stood out above all the others—no matter what decision she made, someone would end up hurt. And she wasn't sure she was ready for that kind of responsibility.

When she finally reached her house, Ava stepped inside and collapsed onto her bed, staring up at the ceiling. Her phone buzzed beside her, and she glanced at the screen. It was a message from Ethan.

**Ethan:** *Hope you're doing okay. Let me know if you want to talk.*

Ava sighed, her fingers hovering over the screen as she debated whether or not to reply. She wanted to talk to him, to find comfort in his familiar words, but something stopped her. Maybe it was the guilt, or maybe it was the fear that talking to him would only make things harder.

In the end, she put the phone down and closed her eyes, exhaustion washing over her. Tomorrow, she told herself. She'd figure it all out tomorrow.

But deep down, Ava knew that no matter how long she waited, the decision wouldn't get any easier.

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