Again

Chapter 04

Rhea stared at her phone screen, watching Wayne's expression shift from detached to distracted as they FaceTimed. Her voice softened as she leaned forward, the glow of the phone casting shadows across her face.

"I get Ben's kind of nerdy hot—no arguments there—but Ashe?" Rhea's eyebrows shot up in playful disbelief.

"Yeah," Wayne muttered, eyes fixed somewhere off-camera. His voice was flat, almost distant.

Rhea smirked, her head tilting slightly. "Wait, let me get this straight. You have Ben practically throwing himself at you, and now Ashe's in the picture too? Inviting you to lunch or dinner whatever? You sure you're not working on some hidden agenda here?" Her tone was a mix of amusement and bewilderment, trying to pull Wayne back into the conversation.

Another blank, "Yeah," from Wayne, followed by silence.

"Wayne, seriously!" Rhea's voice broke through his thoughts, shaking him out of his mental fog. His eyes blinked back into focus, narrowing at the screen.

"What?" He snapped, clearly irritated by the intrusion.

"I said—you're working with Ashe now?" Rhea repeated, voice lighter but laced with concern. "I can't believe you're pulling guys from every corner. What's the deal?"

Wayne sighed, rubbing his temple as if the conversation weighed too much. "I'm not working with Ashe. We're just in the same company, that's it." He paused, frustration creeping into his voice. "And can you stop with this nonsense? Those people... they're the worst."

"People change, Wayne. I changed," Rhea said softly, her playful demeanor melting into something more genuine.

"No," Wayne shot back without hesitation. "You just... gained a little weight over the summer. That's it."

Rhea gasped, her face scrunching into mock offense. "Wow, okay, you don't need to drag me like that. Besides, you're one to talk—you gained some weight too."

Wayne chuckled, but there was no warmth in it. "Touché."

"But listen," Rhea's voice dropped into something more sincere, her eyes now fixed on him, the humor gone. "I'm being serious. Stop holding onto all that pain. You've got Ben, Ashe—whoever. Just... let them in. Let yourself live a little."

Wayne fell quiet, her words sinking in, settling like stones in his chest.

"That's why I love you," he mumbled. "You always know how to fix me."

Rhea smiled, but it was bittersweet. "I can't fix you, Wayne. Only you can do that and if you're holding back, maybe don't? Now, I've gotta run—I have this blind date tonight." Her smile widened. "You think about what I said, okay? Love you, bye."

"Yeah, love you too," Wayne echoed, more out of habit than meaning, ending the call. He tossed his phone aside, sinking into his bed as the world around him dulled.

"Letting go..." he whispered to himself, staring at the ceiling as his thoughts drifted toward Ben, toward Ashe. He grabbed his phone again, fingers hovering over Ben's name, debating whether to send that text.

The next morning, the harsh fluorescent lights of the office felt like a rude awakening. Wayne was groggy, a sleep-deprived haze clouding his thoughts as he dragged himself into the conference room. It was a routine meeting, but Wayne felt far from routine.

And then Ashe walked in.

The air seemed to shift immediately. Conversations stopped mid-sentence, heads turned, and whispers fluttered through the room like leaves caught in a sudden gust of wind. Ashe carried himself with a quiet grace, his mere presence commanding attention. His beauty was undeniable—effortless, magnetic.