Nicholas Chavez was always sure of himself. On set, in interviews, even when life threw unexpected challenges his way, he carried himself with a confidence that made everything seem effortless. But with you? He was a mess.
You didn't see it, of course. To you, Nick was composed, thoughtful, and charming in that quiet, unassuming way. But inside, he was a fool—your fool. The kind of fool who couldn't stop thinking about you, who tripped over his words when he tried to say how he felt, who stayed up at night replaying every moment he'd ever spent with you.
It wasn't supposed to be like this. Falling in love with you was never part of the plan. But from the moment he met you—at that charity gala last year, when you'd accidentally spilled champagne on his shoes and apologized so profusely he couldn't help but laugh—Nick had been smitten.
Now, you sat across from him at a tiny café tucked away in the heart of LA, your laugh filling the space like music. Nick tried to focus on what you were saying, but his mind was elsewhere, tangled in thoughts of how perfect you looked in the soft afternoon light, how your smile made his chest ache in the best way.
"Nick," you said, snapping your fingers in front of his face. "Are you even listening to me?"
"Of course," he lied, flashing you an apologetic grin. "Something about your coworker and... the world's most awkward Zoom call?"
You rolled your eyes, but there was no real annoyance in your expression. "Close enough. Honestly, though, you've been spacing out all day. What's going on?"
Nick hesitated, his hand tightening around his coffee cup. He'd been thinking about this moment for weeks, wondering when—or if—he'd ever find the courage to tell you how he felt. But now that he had the chance, every word he'd rehearsed vanished from his mind.
"It's nothing," he said quickly, looking down at his coffee. "Just tired, I guess."
You didn't look convinced, but you let it slide, changing the subject to some new TV show you'd been obsessed with lately. Nick nodded along, forcing himself to engage in the conversation, but the truth weighed heavily on his chest.
He was in love with you. Completely, hopelessly, stupidly in love with you. And he was terrified.
What if you didn't feel the same? What if he ruined the friendship you'd built, the one thing that had kept him sane over the past year? What if he told you the truth, and you walked away, leaving him with nothing but regret?
But what if you did feel the same?
The thought hit him like a punch to the gut, equal parts thrilling and terrifying. If there was even the slightest chance you might love him back, wasn't it worth the risk?
"Nick?"
Your voice pulled him from his thoughts, and he realized you were staring at him, your brow furrowed in concern.
"Sorry," he said quickly. "I was just... thinking."
"About what?"
He hesitated, his pulse pounding in his ears. This was it. This was his moment, his chance to stop being a coward and finally tell you how he felt.
"About you," he said softly, the words slipping out before he could stop them.
You blinked, clearly caught off guard. "Me?"
Nick nodded, his throat tightening. "Yeah. You, and... everything." He took a deep breath, willing himself to keep going. "I've been meaning to tell you something for a while now, but I didn't know how. I still don't, honestly, but I can't keep it to myself anymore."
You leaned forward slightly, your expression unreadable. "Nick, what's going on?"
He ran a hand through his hair, frustration bubbling to the surface. "I'm in love with you, Y/N. I've been in love with you for months, and it's driving me crazy. I can't stop thinking about you. You're the first thing on my mind when I wake up and the last thing before I fall asleep. You're... everything to me. I'm a total fool for you."
The words hung in the air, heavy and fragile. Nick's heart raced as he watched your face, searching for any hint of what you were thinking.
You didn't speak right away, and the silence was deafening. Nick felt like the biggest fool in the world, laying his heart bare only to be met with uncertainty.
Finally, you let out a shaky breath. "Nick... I don't know what to say."
"Say anything," he said desperately. "Please. Even if you don't feel the same, just... don't leave me hanging here."
Your eyes softened, and you reached across the table, placing your hand over his. "You're not a fool, Nick," you said gently. "You're one of the best people I've ever met. And the truth is... I've been trying to ignore how I feel about you because I was scared, too. Scared of losing what we have, scared of ruining something so good."
Nick's breath caught in his throat. "You feel the same?"
You nodded, a small smile tugging at your lips. "Yeah, I do. I've just been too stubborn to admit it."
Relief and joy flooded Nick's chest, and he couldn't stop the grin that spread across his face. "God, you have no idea how happy that makes me."
Your smile widened, and for the first time in months, everything felt right.
Later that evening, the two of you walked along the quiet streets, the city lights casting a warm glow around you. Nick couldn't stop smiling, his hand brushing against yours with every step.
"You know," you said teasingly, "I always thought you were too cool for this whole 'fool for love' thing. Turns out, you're just a big ol' softie."
Nick laughed, his hand finally finding yours and intertwining your fingers. "Only for you," he said, his voice soft but certain. "I'll always be a fool for you."
And in that moment, as you leaned into him and the world faded away, Nick knew he wouldn't have it any other way.
