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Chapter 44

POV Austin

I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I mean, I knew this was a date, but still, part of me couldn't believe it was actually happening. Leo, my best friend's older was now asking me out. Well, sort of. We were going to dinner, but it felt more like something out of a dream than reality.

I stood in front of my bathroom mirror, smoothing out the collar of my shirt for the fifth time. I wanted everything to be perfect. It wasn't like me to get nervous usually, I was pretty laid back about stuff like this. But this was different. This wasn't just any date. This was Leo, and for the first time in a while, I was genuinely unsure of myself.

When I finally walked out the door, I made my way to the café where I was supposed to meet him. We'd agreed on a small bistro nearby nothing too fancy. I didn't want to make it overly formal. After all, we were friends, right? But as I waited for Leo to show up, I couldn't shake this sense of anticipation, that little spark in the pit of my stomach.

And then I saw him.

Leo was walking toward me, looking effortlessly cool as always, but there was something different about him tonight. He seemed a little... nervous, maybe? I'd never seen him fidget before, but as he approached, I caught the slightest hesitation in his step. I smiled, suddenly feeling a little less tense. If Leo was nervous too, then maybe this was all a little more real than I had let myself believe.

"Hey" I greeted him with a grin, trying to hide the nervous energy I was feeling. "You look good."

Leo flashed me one of his signature smirks, his eyes bright. "So do you. Ready for dinner?"

"Definitely" I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "I've been looking forward to this."

We walked into the bistro together, the cozy ambiance making the whole evening feel intimate. We got seated at a small table by the window, the warm glow of the streetlights outside casting a soft light on us. I could feel the weight of the moment. This wasn't just dinner between friends. It was something more.

We started talking almost immediately, the usual easy flow of conversation between us. We joked around, talked about work, and caught up on life in general. I could tell Leo was still a little on edge, but with each word, each laugh, I could feel the tension slip away.

And then something changed.

At some point during the meal, I realized I wasn't just talking to Leo the friend anymore. I was talking to Leo, the person I had feelings for. It was like a switch flipped, and I found myself more aware of how close we were sitting, how his hand brushed against mine as he reached for the breadbasket.

For the first time, I noticed the way he looked at me not just casually, but with something more. His eyes lingered just a little too long when he spoke. It was the same kind of look he gave me when we were joking around, but now it felt loaded with meaning. And when I looked back, I realized I couldn't stop staring at him.

After dinner, we took a walk down the street. The air had cooled, and I shoved my hands into my pockets to try to hide the nervous energy that was suddenly bubbling up. Leo was walking beside me, casually close, and I could feel the tension between us growing.

We ended up by a small fountain in the park, the sound of the water flowing around us, making everything feel quieter, more intimate.

"So..." Leo started, glancing at me with a slightly nervous laugh. "This is weird, right? I mean, we've known each for two months now but this feels... different."

I smiled, trying to hide how much that admission made my heart race. "Yeah, it does. But I like it. I like being with you like this."

Leo's expression softened, and for a moment, we just stood there, the quiet between us filling the space with an unspoken understanding. His eyes never left mine, and I could feel the warmth between us intensifying.

And then, without warning, Leo leaned in, closing the small gap between us, his lips brushing mine softly.

I froze at first, unsure of how to respond. But then my mind caught up, and I kissed him back, gently at first, then more confidently. It felt natural, like the most right thing in the world.

When we finally pulled away, my heart was racing, and I could barely catch my breath. I looked at him, unable to hide the smile on my face.

"Wow" I whispered, still a little dazed. "I didn't expect that."

Leo laughed softly, his eyes full of that familiar warmth. "Neither did I" he admitted. "But it felt right."

I nodded, my hands trembling a little as I tucked them into my jacket pockets. "Yeah. It did."

We stood there for a few more moments, neither of us moving, both of us still trying to process what had just happened. I couldn't stop smiling, and I had the feeling Leo was doing the same.

"This isn't the end of the night, right?" I asked, my voice a little quieter now, but hopeful.

Leo's smile deepened. "No. I think we can keep this going."