Back To You;

CHAPTER 3

before I start this chapter, please don't forget to share this story with your friends! Thank you.

Okay, here's the deal.

Today-I almost confessed everything. And by almost, I mean I was literally this close to blurting it out. But instead, I froze. Like a deer caught in headlights, if the deer was suddenly aware of how much its heart was racing.

I was sitting across from Lauren at a cafe, our usual spot. The café was buzzing with chatter, but for me? The world had suddenly shrunk to the space between Lauren and me. And my heartbeat. Oh God, it was like it was trying to break free from my chest, making everything else feel like background noise.

Lauren had just finished telling me about some workout he did at the gym, something about his arms feeling like jelly after lifting ridiculous amounts of weight, but I wasn't really paying attention. I was too busy trying to figure out how to say something I'd been thinking about for years.

I mean, how hard could it be, right? It's just words. "Hey, Lauren. I like you." Simple enough. But no. My mouth went dry, my palms started sweating, and suddenly, I felt like I had the IQ of a potato.

"Uh, so..." I started, sounding like a nervous wreck even to myself, "You're, uh, really good at gym stuff."

Lauren laughed, a deep, smooth chuckle. He looked like he didn't have a care in the world, and I... I just wanted to disappear into my chair. "Thanks, Marie," he said, raising an eyebrow. "But, you know, I can't lift weights on a full stomach. Gotta stick to my pizza strategy."

I snorted. Great. So instead of confessing, I'm laughing at pizza strategies. Classic.

"Right," I said, forcing myself to calm down. I shifted in my seat, suddenly hyperaware of how close we were, of the way his lips curved into that smile-that smile. It did things to me, okay? I couldn't even begin to explain how my brain malfunctioned whenever I saw it. "So, um... speaking of pizza," I continued, trying to sound casual even though I was anything but. "What's your opinion on pineapple on pizza?"

Lauren looked at me like I had asked him about the meaning of life. He leaned back in his chair, his expression turning serious for a moment. "Pineapple?" he said slowly, as if contemplating my very existence. "It's a controversial topic, but I'm a fan. It's like... sweet and savory, you know? Balance."

Sweet. Savory. Balance. The words hit me like a punch to the gut.

"Balance," I repeated, trying to act normal. "Yeah. That makes sense."

But honestly? It didn't. Because nothing about this was balanced. My emotions were like a hurricane. And as much as I tried to hide it behind jokes and awkward questions, the truth was right there. Staring me in the face.

And then it happened. My mouth opened, and I could feel the words teetering on the edge of my tongue. I could almost say them. Almost. "I like you, Lauren. I've liked you for forever, and I'm sick of pretending I don't."

I took a deep breath. My heart pounded louder than my thoughts. Lauren's eyes softened, and he tilted his head ever so slightly. Like he was waiting. Waiting for me to say it...

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