Rivals Redemption

chapter 34 : My favorite subject : my boyfriend

Tina Diaz

As we continued chatting, the atmosphere in the café shifted subtly. The door swung open, and in walked Louis McGregor, looking a bit out of sorts. His blonde hair fell messily over his forehead, and I could tell he'd been thinking about something important. Trailing behind him were Aiden, Nash, and, of course, Rowan. My heart skipped a beat at the sight of him, a mix of irritation and attraction washing over me.

"Hey, look who decided to join us," Grace said, her voice dripping with excitement. She shot me a knowing look as if she could sense the tension rising. Louis approached Sevia, his expression serious but a hint of uncertainty lingered in his eyes.

"Can we talk?" he asked, his voice steady but soft. Sevia nodded, her expression a mix of hope and apprehension.

"Sure," she replied, sliding out of her seat and leading him a few steps away from the table. Aiden, Nash, and Rowan exchanged glances, clearly intrigued by what was about to unfold.

"So, this is happening," I murmured, leaning closer to Lemi, who raised an eyebrow. "Do you think they'll actually resolve anything?"

"Who knows?" Lemi shrugged, trying to mask her curiosity. "But it's about time they hashed things out."

Nash leaned back in his chair, an amused grin spreading across his face. "Place your bets! Who thinks they'll end up hugging by the end of this?"

"Let's not jinx it," I replied, but I couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope for Sevia and Louis. They had something special, even if it was currently tangled in misunderstandings.

Suddenly, in the midst of the brewing drama, Nash leaned over and kissed Grace right on the lips. The café seemed to fall silent for a moment, all eyes on them. Grace's cheeks flushed a deep shade of pink as she pulled back, looking pleasantly surprised.

"Wow, Nash, way to be bold," I said, suppressing a laugh. "Is this your way of showing off?"

"I'm just securing my territory," he replied with a wink, earning a playful shove from Grace. "Can't let anyone think they can steal you away."

As Nash's comment hung in the air, I caught Rowan's gaze. He seemed unfazed, arms crossed and a smirk playing on his lips. But I could see the flicker of annoyance in his eyes. My stomach twisted slightly at the realization-what did he think of all this? Did he care at all?

Sevia and Louis were still a few feet away, their conversation growing more animated. I leaned in closer to listen, straining to catch snippets of their exchange.

"Louis, you have to understand where I'm coming from," Sevia was saying, her voice rising. "I thought you didn't want to be with me anymore!"

"Sevia, that's not true!" Louis protested, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "I've been trying to figure things out. I care about you, I really do!"

Aiden leaned over to Nash, whispering something that made him chuckle. "This is better than any reality show," he said, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes.

"Seriously, guys, this is real life, not a drama series," I muttered, though I couldn't deny the thrill of watching my friends navigate their relationships.

Just then, Louis took a step closer to Sevia, his expression earnest. "Look, I didn't mean to hurt you. I was just overwhelmed, and I thought you wanted space. Can we please talk this through?"

As the conversation intensified, I glanced back at Rowan, who was now watching intently, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. Did he feel anything similar about our own tangled relationship?

Before I could dwell on it too long, Aiden's voice broke through my thoughts. "Hey, we're all friends here. Let's just chill and give them a minute."

"That's easy for you to say," I shot back, not wanting to ignore my own brewing feelings. "You're not the one trying to navigate love and confusion."

"Touché," he replied, feigning defeat, but his playful demeanor never faltered.

The moment felt heavy as Sevia finally turned to Louis, her eyes glistening. "So, what do you want?" she asked, vulnerability etched in her tone.

"I want you. I want us. I'm sorry for being an idiot," Louis replied, his sincerity radiating across the table.

"Is that enough?" Sevia whispered, her voice barely audible.

My heart ached for my friend as I watched them. Meanwhile, Nash and Grace exchanged a knowing glance, their connection palpable. Rowan shifted next to me, leaning closer, his warmth radiating against my side.

"I think they're going to be okay," he murmured, his voice low.

"Do you really?" I asked, unable to hide the skepticism in my tone.

He shrugged, still looking at Sevia and Louis. "Sometimes it just takes a bit of courage to admit what you really feel."

"Sounds like you've been doing a lot of thinking lately," I said, raising an eyebrow at him.

"Maybe," he replied, a teasing smirk appearing. "But that doesn't mean I'm ready to dive into the deep end just yet."

"Glad to know you're still maintaining your distance," I quipped, crossing my arms in mock frustration, but a part of me wished he'd step closer.

As Sevia and Louis embraced, their tension dissipating into something warmer, I couldn't help but reflect on my own tumultuous feelings for Rowan. What would it take for us to find common ground? I felt the stirring of possibilities swirling in the air, and despite my uncertainties, a flicker of hope ignited within me.

Maybe this was the beginning of something more-if only I could muster the courage to embrace it.