Don't Explain

sixteen.

The words hung in the air for a moment, and I felt a rush of conflicting emotions—shock, confusion, and a bit of disbelief. I set my fork down, suddenly not hungry anymore, my mind racing to process what he'd just said.

"What?" I managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper. "You're... getting divorced?"

He nodded, his eyes searching mine for a reaction, but I couldn't give him one just yet. I was too stunned. Prince had always been private about his marriage. I knew he had one, of course, but it was something we didn't discuss much, an unspoken agreement between us. And now, this.

"I wanted to tell you sooner," he continued, his tone gentle but firm. "It's been a long time coming, but it's official now."

I leaned back in my chair, my mind racing. "Why didn't you tell me before?"

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I didn't want to drag you into the mess. I know we've got our own thing going, and I didn't want to complicate it... until I was sure."

I stared at him, trying to wrap my head around this new reality. Prince, getting divorced. It explained so much—why he'd been more attentive lately, why things between us had started to feel deeper, more serious. But it also raised a million questions, none of which I could voice just yet.

"Are you okay?" I asked finally, my voice quiet, though it felt like an inadequate response to everything he'd just dropped on me.

He nodded, though there was a hint of tension in his expression. "I will be. It's for the best. It's been over for a while."

We sat in silence for a moment, the weight of his confession settling between us. I wasn't sure what to say. This changed things—everything, really.

Prince, now free, made our arrangement more complicated. And yet, somehow, it made it feel more real.

I sat there for a moment, my mind racing as I tried to make sense of everything. Prince getting divorced. It changed the dynamics between us in ways I hadn't expected, and I wasn't sure how I felt about it. My thoughts tumbled over themselves, swirling between confusion, curiosity, and a strange new sense of vulnerability.

I looked at him, searching his face for answers he hadn't yet given me. "What does this mean for us?"

The question came out before I could fully think it through, but it was the only thing on my mind. I needed to know where we stood now. This wasn't just casual anymore, not with something so major in the background.

Prince took a deep breath, leaning forward slightly. His eyes met mine, and for the first time, I saw a flicker of uncertainty in them. He always seemed so sure of himself, so in control, but now it was like he was stepping into uncharted territory, too.

"I don't know yet," he admitted quietly, his voice softer than usual. "I didn't want to bring this up because I didn't want to pressure you or make things more complicated. But... I care about you. I think you know that."

I nodded, my heart pounding a little harder than I liked. His words were kind, but they didn't give me the clarity I needed.

"But if you're getting divorced..." I hesitated, trying to find the right words. "Where does that leave us? Is this still just... what it's always been? Or are we talking about something else now?"

He looked down for a moment, as if gathering his thoughts, before meeting my gaze again. "I'm not expecting anything from you," he said carefully. "I know what we've had has been... casual. But now, I guess I'm saying that if you want more, I'd be open to that."