Until forever...

Chapter 14: The Domino Effect

Maya stood in front of her bathroom mirror, adjusting her hair for what felt like the hundredth time. It was just a casual dinner with Ethan, nothing fancy, but somehow, the idea of spending more time alone with him made her nerves act up. She had told herself—multiple times—that she wasn’t overthinking this. They were just taking things one day at a time, no need to label anything.

But labels or not, she couldn’t ignore the fact that she liked him. More than she wanted to admit.

Her phone buzzed on the counter. She glanced down and saw a text from Ethan.

Ethan: I’m outside, no rush. But the sooner we get food, the better. Starving here.

Maya smiled, a knot of nerves forming in her stomach. She grabbed her jacket and bag, took one last look in the mirror, and headed out. When she stepped outside, Ethan was leaning against his car, looking effortlessly cool as usual, his hands shoved into his pockets.

“Hey,” he said with a grin. “You look great.”

Maya felt a blush creep up her cheeks. She wasn’t wearing anything special, just jeans and a sweater, but the way he looked at her made her feel like she’d put in way more effort.

“Thanks,” she replied, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “You too.”

Ethan opened the car door for her, and she slid into the passenger seat, her heart beating a little faster than usual. As they drove toward a local diner they both liked, Maya felt a strange mix of excitement and anxiety. Being around Ethan always made her feel more alive, but there was still that nagging voice in the back of her mind reminding her that this wasn’t part of the plan.

“So,” Ethan said, breaking the silence, “Tara seemed pretty intense earlier. What’d she have to say about us?”

Maya shot him a sideways glance. “How do you know we talked about you?”

He smirked, eyes focused on the road. “Because every time she sees me, she gives me that I’m watching you look. Figured she’d grill you at some point.”

Maya laughed, shaking her head. “She’s just looking out for me, that’s all.”

“Fair enough. And what did you tell her?”

Maya hesitated, then sighed. “I told her we’re... taking it slow.”

Ethan nodded, his expression thoughtful. “And that’s what you want, right?”

Maya bit her lip. “I think so. I’m just... trying to figure everything out. You, school, my future... it’s a lot.”

He glanced at her, his gaze softening. “I get it, Maya. I don’t want to mess with your plans. But I also don’t want you to feel like you have to hold back because of me.”

Maya appreciated his honesty, the way he never pushed her to define things. He let her set the pace, even when she wasn’t sure of it herself.

“I know,” she said quietly. “It’s just hard sometimes.”

Ethan didn’t say anything for a moment, his eyes fixed on the road. “You know,” he said finally, “I’ve never been one for plans. But you? You’ve got your whole life mapped out. And I respect that. But you can have plans and still have fun. It doesn’t have to be one or the other.”

Maya looked at him, surprised by how well he seemed to understand her dilemma. “You make it sound so easy.”

He grinned, his confidence returning. “It is easy. You just have to trust yourself.”

They pulled into the diner parking lot, and as they walked inside, Maya realized that maybe he was right. Maybe it didn’t have to be as complicated as she was making it. Maybe she could enjoy being with him without overanalyzing every detail.

As they slid into a booth and ordered their food, the conversation flowed easily. Ethan had a way of making her laugh, of teasing her in a way that felt natural, not forced. He told her stories from his past, most of them ridiculous or mischievous, but every now and then, he’d share something more personal, something that showed a glimpse of the Ethan that wasn’t just the laid-back guy everyone saw.

In return, Maya found herself opening up more than she expected. She talked about her family, her dreams, even her fears about the future. And the more she shared, the more she realized that Ethan wasn’t just listening—he was genuinely interested.

Halfway through dinner, Ethan leaned back in his seat, a thoughtful look on his face. “You ever wonder if maybe you overthink things because you’re afraid of what’ll happen if you don’t?”

Maya blinked, caught off guard by the question. “What do you mean?”

He shrugged. “I mean, you’re always so careful, so calculated. But what if you just let yourself... I don’t know, be messy sometimes? Let things happen without trying to control everything.”

Maya frowned, not entirely sure how to respond. He wasn’t wrong—she was afraid of losing control. But the idea of letting go, of embracing the uncertainty, felt... reckless.

“I don’t know if I can do that,” she admitted.

Ethan leaned forward, his eyes locking onto hers. “I think you can. And I think you’ll be surprised by what happens if you do.”

There was something in the way he said it that sent a shiver down her spine. He wasn’t asking her to change who she was, but he was challenging her to step outside of her comfort zone, to take a risk. And for the first time, Maya found herself considering it.

After dinner, they lingered outside the diner, the cool night air wrapping around them. Ethan looked down at her, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

“You know,” he said, “there’s something I’ve been wanting to do.”

Maya raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “What’s that?”

Without warning, Ethan took her hand and pulled her toward him, his other arm wrapping around her waist. Before she could protest or ask what he was doing, he spun her in a playful circle, the two of them laughing as they twirled under the stars.

“You’re ridiculous,” Maya said between giggles, her heart racing from the sudden movement.

“Maybe,” Ethan replied, his grin wide. “But I’m also right.”

As they slowed, Ethan kept her close, his hands resting lightly on her waist. The playful energy between them shifted into something more, something deeper. For a moment, neither of them spoke. They just stood there, wrapped in each other’s presence, the rest of the world fading away.

Maya’s heart pounded in her chest, but this time, it wasn’t from anxiety. It was from something else—something she hadn’t felt in a long time.

“See?” Ethan said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. “Messy isn’t so bad.”

Maya smiled, feeling lighter than she had in weeks. Maybe, just maybe, letting go wasn’t as terrifying as she had thought.

And maybe, being with Ethan was exactly what she needed to find the balance she’d been searching for all along.