Until forever...

Chapter 8: Breaking the Ice

Maya spent the next day in a haze, half-focused on her classes and fully distracted by the idea of dinner with Ethan that night. She told herself it was just a casual meal, no big deal. But no matter how much she tried to convince herself, the flutter of nerves in her stomach wouldn’t settle.

By the time the evening rolled around, she was overthinking everything—what to wear, what to say, and how to keep things from getting too... personal. She settled on a simple outfit—jeans and a soft sweater—casual but still put-together. After all, it wasn’t a date, she reminded herself. Just dinner. Just two people who had worked together on a project, nothing more.

When she arrived at the small Italian restaurant just off campus, Ethan was already there, leaning against the entrance, his hands in his pockets. He looked relaxed, dressed in a black jacket and jeans, his usual air of effortless cool around him.

“Hey,” he greeted with that familiar grin, his eyes lighting up as he saw her. “You look nice.”

“Thanks,” Maya replied, trying to ignore the warmth that spread through her at his compliment. “You too.”

They were shown to a small table in the back, and as they sat down, Maya felt the tension slowly begin to dissolve. The atmosphere of the restaurant was warm and intimate, with dim lighting and soft music playing in the background. Ethan ordered a bottle of wine, and Maya let herself relax a little, telling herself to just enjoy the evening.

“So,” Ethan said, leaning back in his chair once they had their drinks, “I know I’ve given you a hard time, but I’m actually curious—what’s your deal, Maya? You’ve got everything figured out, always one step ahead. What’s that like?”

Maya raised an eyebrow, taking a sip of her wine. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

“No, it’s impressive,” Ethan admitted, surprising her. “But don’t you ever just... let go? Have fun without a plan?”

Maya felt a flush of defensiveness. “I have fun,” she said, her voice a little sharper than intended. “I just like knowing where I’m going, that’s all.”

Ethan smirked. “Fair enough. But isn’t it exhausting, always being so... in control?”

Maya paused, her fingers tightening around her glass. It was a question she’d never really allowed herself to ask. She had always been the one who had it together—the one with the plan, the one who didn’t take unnecessary risks. But now, sitting across from Ethan, she wondered if maybe there was more to life than the path she’d set for herself.

“I guess I’ve never thought about it,” she said finally, her voice quieter.

Ethan’s eyes softened, and for a moment, the usual banter between them faded. “You know, Maya, there’s more to you than just being the smartest person in the room. You’ve got layers, even if you don’t want to admit it.”

Maya didn’t know how to respond. His words struck something deep inside her, something she wasn’t used to feeling. Vulnerable. Seen. And it scared her.

“I’m not that complicated,” she said, trying to brush it off.

“Maybe not,” Ethan said with a shrug, though there was a hint of a smile in his eyes. “But I think there’s more to you than you let on.”

The conversation shifted after that, becoming lighter as they talked about everything from childhood memories to favorite movies. Maya found herself laughing more than she expected, surprised by how easy it was to talk to Ethan when he wasn’t trying to push her buttons.

As the night went on, the initial tension between them dissolved completely. It felt... nice. Comfortable, even. But underneath the ease of their conversation, Maya could feel something else building, something that had been simmering between them for weeks.

By the time they finished their meal and were walking out into the cool night air, Maya’s head was spinning—not from the wine, but from the way Ethan had gotten under her skin without her even realizing it.

“So,” Ethan said as they stopped at the edge of campus, his hands in his pockets. “Was that so bad?”

Maya smiled, shaking her head. “No. It wasn’t bad at all.”

Ethan’s gaze lingered on her for a moment, something unreadable in his expression. Then, without warning, he took a step closer, his voice lowering. “Maya, I’ve got to ask—what is this?”

Maya’s heart skipped a beat, her breath catching. “What do you mean?”

“You and me,” Ethan said, his voice soft but serious. “We keep bumping into each other, hanging out, working together... but I can’t tell if we’re just friends or if it’s something else.”

Maya’s stomach flipped, her mind racing. This was the question she had been avoiding, the one she wasn’t sure she had an answer for. She had kept telling herself that she didn’t want anything more, that Ethan wasn’t part of her plan. But the truth was, the more time she spent with him, the more complicated her feelings became.

“I don’t know,” she admitted quietly. “I honestly don’t know.”

Ethan nodded, his gaze steady. “Well, I do.”

Before she could process what was happening, Ethan took another step closer, his hand gently brushing hers. And then, without hesitation, he leaned down and kissed her.

Maya’s mind went blank, her body frozen in place as Ethan’s lips pressed softly against hers. For a moment, time seemed to stop, the world around them fading away.

And then, just as quickly as it started, it was over. Ethan pulled back, his eyes searching hers, waiting for her reaction.

Maya stood there, her heart racing, her mind struggling to catch up with what had just happened. She had been so careful, so determined to keep things professional, to keep Ethan at arm’s length. But now... everything had changed.

“I—” Maya started, her voice shaky, but she didn’t know what to say.

Ethan smiled, though there was a hint of uncertainty in his eyes. “It’s okay, Maya. You don’t have to say anything right now.”

He stepped back, giving her space. “Just... think about it, okay?”

Maya nodded, still too stunned to speak. And with that, Ethan turned and walked away, leaving her standing there, alone under the dim streetlights, her mind spinning with questions she wasn’t sure she was ready to answer.

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