Kiss & Tell ( Asa and Chiquita)

Chapter 13: Into the Storm

Asa's POV

It's strange how quickly everything can change. One moment, you're locked in the grip of control, convinced that you can keep everything in its place. The next, you're standing on the edge, eyes wide open, heart in your throat, and you realize you're no longer sure what's safe or solid.

I've always prided myself on knowing exactly where I stand — on knowing exactly what I want and how to get it. But with Chiquita, nothing is certain.

Nothing is in my control.

But it's... different now. I can't ignore her. I can't ignore the pull I feel every time she's near me, every time her eyes meet mine with that quiet intensity, as if she's reading me. No — as if she's seeing me, really seeing me, in a way no one has before.

She's not trying to fix me. She's not trying to change me. She's just... here. She just wants to be here with me.

I sit on my balcony, watching the lights of the city twinkle below, my glass of wine half full in my hand. The night feels unusually quiet. The kind of stillness that only happens when everything is on the verge of shifting, when the world seems to hold its breath.

Chiquita isn't here tonight. She's out, doing what she does best: mixing with people, dazzling them with her presence, her charm. And I know she'll be back.

But I also know that we're no longer just two people casually spending time together. Something deeper has begun to stir. Something real.

But do I want that? Do I want to let myself get lost in this?

Chiquita's POV

I step into my apartment after another night of mingling with the city's elite, and as always, I feel a little out of place. I've spent years learning to navigate this world, mastering the art of appearing perfectly composed, perfectly in control. But the truth is, it's all a mask. None of it is real.

The only time I've felt anything close to real lately is when I'm with Asa.

She's different. I've said it before, but it's true. She doesn't fit into the neat little boxes I'm used to. She's got a hardness to her — a distance — that makes me want to break through, to see what's underneath. And each time she lets me in, just a little more, I can't help but feel like we're standing on the edge of something monumental.

But I don't know if I'm ready for that. Or if she is.

I change into something more comfortable and pour myself a drink, the dim lighting of my living room casting long shadows on the floor. I reach for my phone, half-expecting a message from her. It's been a few hours since we last spoke, and part of me knows I should give her space, but the other part... the other part wants to know if she's thinking about me.

Sure enough, the phone buzzes in my hand.

It's Asa.

I can't stop thinking about you.

It's the simple truth. The words are raw, unguarded, and exactly what I've been waiting for.

I smile to myself, feeling a warmth spread through me that has nothing to do with the alcohol in my hand. I don't waste any time responding.

I'm thinking about you too. So much.

I wait, my fingers poised above the screen, not sure how to continue.

But then the message comes through.

What do you want, Chiquita?

The question hangs in the air like a challenge. It's a dangerous one, and I know exactly what she's asking. She's asking for the truth. And the truth is...

I want you, Asa.

The words are there, on the screen, staring back at me. But I hesitate. I've never been one to put myself out there so completely, so honestly. And yet, with her... I feel like I'm on the verge of something real.

I take a deep breath, then send the message, each letter feeling like it's tying me to this moment, to this person, to whatever comes next.

I want you. I'm not afraid to admit it.

Asa's POV

The message hits me harder than I thought it would. I want you. I'm not afraid to admit it.

I stare at her words, feeling a rush of emotions I can't name. It's not just the confession. It's the clarity in her voice, the certainty that she's feeling everything I've been feeling. It's like she's finally saying the words I've been too afraid to speak.

I want her.

I know I do. I can feel it in every part of me, in the way my heart races when I see her, the way my breath catches when she touches me. But I've been so afraid of losing myself in her — of losing control — that I've kept myself at a distance.

But now, with her words hanging between us, I realize that maybe I don't need to be afraid. Maybe I can let go, just this once.

I type out my reply, each word slower than the last, as if I'm committing myself to something I can't take back.

I'm scared, Chiquita.

I hesitate again before adding, But I'm willing to try. With you.

Chiquita's POV

The reply comes almost immediately, and I can feel my chest tighten as I read it.

I'm scared, Chiquita. But I'm willing to try. With you.

It's the answer I wanted. It's the answer I've been hoping for, but somehow it feels... different. More fragile. And yet, that fragility is what makes it beautiful. She's admitting something I never thought she'd say. She's admitting that she's willing to take a leap with me, to trust me in a way she hasn't trusted anyone else.

I let out a breath, the weight of the moment settling over me. I've never wanted anything more than this — than her. But it's also the scariest thing I've ever wanted.

I respond, keeping it simple.

Then let's do this, Asa. Together.

Asa's POV

I stare at her message for a long time, letting the words sink in.

Then let's do this, Asa. Together.

It's all I need to hear.

I feel a smile tug at the corners of my lips. I don't know what happens next. I don't know where this will lead. But for the first time in my life, I'm not worried about the destination.

I'm not worried about what might happen if I let go.

Because for the first time, I'm choosing to trust someone.

And that someone... is Chiquita.

I lean back against the couch, closing my eyes, letting the truth of it wash over me. The storm inside me, the storm between us, is no longer something to be feared. It's something I'm ready to face.

Together.

Chiquita's POV

Tomorrow, everything changes.