(Gerald’s POV)
The next morning at work was quiet. Most of the guys were either on patrol or stuck in the office doing paperwork. I had just finished up my shift and was about to head out when I ran into Ryan, one of my coworkers.
“Hey, man,” Ryan said, slapping me on the back as I passed by. “You’ve been in a good mood lately. What’s up with that?”
I raised an eyebrow, giving him a skeptical look. “What are you talking about?”
“Come on,” Ryan said, grinning. “Don’t act like you haven’t noticed. You’ve been different these past few weeks. Less grumpy, more… I don’t know, happy?”
I rolled my eyes, shaking my head. “I’m not grumpy.”
Ryan laughed. “Sure, sure. But seriously, you’ve been smiling more, cracking jokes. We were all wondering what’s changed.”
“Maybe I’m just enjoying the calm before the next storm,” I replied dryly.
But Ryan wasn’t buying it. “Nah, it’s something else. Or should I say, someone else?”
I felt my stomach twist slightly at his words, but I kept my expression neutral. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, really?” Ryan’s grin widened. “So you’re going to pretend we didn’t see you at the cinema a few weeks ago with that girl?”
I froze for a split second before forcing myself to shrug casually. “That’s just Megan. She’s a friend.”
“Uh-huh. Sure.” Ryan didn’t seem convinced, leaning against the doorframe with an amused look on his face. “So, is this ‘friend’ the reason you’ve been in such a good mood lately?”
I didn’t answer right away, not sure how to respond. Was Megan the reason? I hadn’t really thought about it in those terms. But now that Ryan had pointed it out, I realized that ever since she’d come into my life, things had felt different. Lighter, maybe. Happier, even.
“We just hang out,” I said finally, trying to downplay it. “Nothing more to it than that.”
“Right,” Ryan said, his tone teasing. “Nothing more. Got it.”
“Can you not?” I groaned, already regretting the conversation.
Ryan chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. “Alright, alright. I’ll drop it. But seriously, man—if she’s the reason you’ve been smiling more, maybe it’s worth thinking about.”
I didn’t respond, but his words stuck with me long after I left the station. Was that it? Was Megan the reason I had been feeling more upbeat lately? It made sense, I guess. I enjoyed spending time with her, and our hangouts had become the highlight of my week. But was it really just friendship, or was there something more lurking beneath the surface?
The thought made me uneasy. I didn’t want to complicate things. What we had right now was easy, fun, and uncomplicated. Bringing feelings into the mix would only make things messy, and I wasn’t sure I was ready for that.
But as I walked back to my apartment, I couldn’t help but wonder if maybe Ryan was right. Maybe it was worth thinking about.
YOU ARE READING
After the Heartbreak
RomanceAfter a year of soul-searching and self-discovery, Megan finally feels like she's starting to figure out her life. While she hasn't accomplished everything she hoped for, she's proud of the person she's becoming. She's let go of the pressures of the...
