The Line Between Us - Alejandro Balde Love Story

Chapter 26: Close but Not Quite

The restaurant was small and cosy, tucked away in a quiet corner of the city, far from the bustling streets and the prying eyes of the public. Alejandro had chosen it, insisting it was the perfect spot for a quiet evening. And he was right. The dim lighting, soft music, and flickering candlelight made the atmosphere feel... intimate.

As we sat across from each other at the small table, I could feel the tension between us. Not the uncomfortable kind, but the kind that made my heart race every time he looked at me. It was the same tension that had been building since that day in the rain, the one that hovered between us, waiting for the right moment to unravel.

Alejandro smiled at me from across the table, his eyes reflecting the soft glow of the candlelight. "You look beautiful tonight, Bella."

I blushed, my heart skipping a beat at the way he said my name. Bella. It was like he couldn't stop reminding me how beautiful he thought I was, and each time, it made my chest tighten.

"Thank you," I murmured, hoping the dim light hid how flustered I felt.

The conversation was easy, flowing between us like it always did. We talked about everything—his upcoming games, my work, the latest movies, and even random little things that didn't matter. But underneath it all, I could feel the weight of the things we weren't saying.

As the evening went on, I found myself relaxing more, enjoying the simple pleasure of being with him. It was easy to forget the outside world when it was just the two of us like this. No brothers, no cameras, no expectations. Just us.

At one point, Alejandro leaned forward, resting his arms on the table as he looked at me with that familiar intensity in his eyes. "You know, Bella, I've been thinking about you a lot lately."

My heart stuttered, his words sending a jolt through me. "Oh?"

He smiled, his gaze never leaving mine. "Yeah. You're kind of hard to forget."

I laughed softly, but my mind was racing. This felt like the beginning of something—something important. My stomach tightened with anticipation as I wondered if this was the moment when everything between us would change.

Alejandro's expression softened, and he reached across the table, his hand resting lightly on top of mine. The warmth of his touch sent a shiver down my spine, and I felt my breath catch in my throat.

"Bella," he said quietly, his voice dropping to a low, serious tone. "There's something I need to tell you."

I froze, my heart hammering in my chest. This was it. This was the moment.

"I—"

But before he could finish, his phone buzzed loudly on the table, shattering the moment. We both jumped, and Alejandro quickly grabbed the phone, his expression turning from serious to frustrated in a matter of seconds.

"Sorry," he muttered, glancing at the screen.

"It's okay," I said quickly, though my heart was still racing from the almost-confession.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's my agent. I need to take this. I'll be quick, I promise."

I nodded, trying to hide my disappointment as he stepped away from the table to take the call. As soon as he was out of earshot, I let out a long breath, leaning back in my chair. The tension that had been building all night still hung in the air, but the moment had passed.

I glanced around the restaurant, the soft glow of the candles doing little to soothe the ache in my chest. What had he been about to say? Was he going to tell me how he felt? Or was I just reading too much into it?

I looked down at my hands, still feeling the warmth of his touch lingering on my skin. I wanted to believe that he felt the same way I did, that this wasn't just some passing thing for him. But every time we got close—every time it felt like we were on the verge of something real—something pulled us apart.

Alejandro returned a few minutes later, his expression still tight with frustration. He slid back into his seat, his eyes apologetic. "I'm sorry about that."

"It's okay," I said, forcing a smile.

He looked at me for a long moment, his eyes searching mine as if he was trying to figure out what to say next. But whatever it was, he didn't say it.

The rest of the dinner passed in a blur. We kept talking, but the earlier lightness had faded, replaced by an undercurrent of frustration. The tension between us was still there, stronger than ever, but we both seemed too afraid to confront it head-on.

By the time we left the restaurant, the air outside was cool and crisp, a welcome change from the warmth inside. We walked side by side, our arms occasionally brushing as we made our way down the quiet street.

Alejandro glanced over at me, his expression unreadable. "Bella..."

I stopped, turning to face him. The street was empty, the only sound the distant hum of traffic. He looked like he wanted to say something, his brow furrowed in concentration, but then he shook his head, running a hand through his hair again.

"Never mind," he muttered, his frustration evident in his voice.

I swallowed hard, feeling my own frustration rise. Why couldn't we just say what we were both thinking? Why was it always so hard to cross that line?

"Goodnight, Alejandro," I said softly, giving him a small smile.

"Goodnight, Bella," he replied, his voice tinged with something I couldn't quite place—regret, maybe?

As I turned to leave, I could feel his eyes on me, the weight of everything we hadn't said hanging in the air between us. I wanted to turn around, to say something—anything—that would break the tension. But I didn't. Instead, I kept walking, the ache in my chest growing with every step I took.