The next morning, the sun streamed through the blinds of Thea's room, waking her up earlier than usual. Thea (Michael) stretched in bed, feeling the unfamiliar but now somewhat comfortable body she occupied. Monday had arrived, and with it, her inevitable return to work and a meetup with Kevin. After their first date, she couldn't shake the strange feeling that had lingered between them, especially after Kevin kissed her. She was so happy about it.
As Thea got ready for the day, she thought back to last night. The time spent with Dylan was a reminder that things were still normal between them—well, as normal as things could be—but there was no denying the shift. Dylan had called her "Babe" the whole night, though she is the one who ask Dylan to do that, but that left an impression in Thea's mind. The tension that had begun to build between them hadn't dissipated, and it was starting to weigh on her.
She tried not to think about it too much as she showered and dressed, picking out an office-appropriate outfit. She chose a sleek, professional look—light blue pants matching with blazer with the same color and a white accent from her tee's inside the blazer. As she styling her hair, Thea couldn't help but feel an odd sense of dread. Today was going to be... different.
A minute later, her phone buzzing on the bedside table. She groggily stretched out her arm and checked the screen. It was a message from Kevin, asking her if she was free for breakfast.
She smiled to herself, still amazed at how quickly everything had unfolded between them. The first date had been unexpected but perfect, and now, she found herself waking up to the thought of seeing him again.
When they had first met, she hadn't known what to expect. Kevin had been different than she anticipated—he didn't care about her being a man, and he didn't seem phased by her past. Instead, they clicked instantly, and now, she was starting to realize that maybe this relationship could go somewhere.
She quickly texted him back, letting him know she was down for breakfast, then send him a mirror selfie like a girl her age she thought they would usually do.
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A few minutes later, she was on her way to meet him at the same café they'd gone to after their date.
By the time she left the house, Dylan was still asleep, so she quietly headed to the the cafe to have a breakfast with Kevin
====== at the cafe =====
When Thea entered the café, she spotted Kevin almost immediately. He was sitting at their usual corner, his back slightly turned to her, but when he heard her approach, he smiled so brightly that it made her heart race. His genuine joy at seeing her made her feel like the luckiest person alive.
"Hey there," he said warmly, standing up and pulling out her chair. "I was starting to think you weren't going to show up."
Thea laughed and sat down. "Would I ever do that to you?" she teased, but she felt completely at ease with him, as if there was no need for pretenses.
Kevin chuckled softly. "I guess not. You look great this morning," he said, his voice filled with admiration.
"Thanks, you too. How was your weekend?" she asked, glancing at him.
Kevin leaned back slightly, his face lighting up. "It was good. Spent most of it thinking about how lucky I am to have you as my girlfriend. It's funny, I didn't expect to feel this way so soon, but here we are."
Thea (Michael) slowly sipped on her coffee as Kevin cheerfully rambled on about his weekend. He had a way of talking that was so light and easy, making her smile without even trying. She leaned back in her chair, listening to him with a relaxed expression, but a small part of her was distracted. Sunday had been... well, complicated, and the remnants of the day still lingered in her mind.
"....So, we decided to check out that new park," Kevin continued, grinning widely. "Turns out, it's a lot bigger than I thought. Did you ever go there as a kid?"
Thea (Michael) blinked a few times, shaking herself from her haze. "Oh.. I think that park doesnt even exist yet when I was a kid... remember I was actually... yeah, you know..." she replied with a distracted smile, her mind flickering back to Sunday, and Dylan's eyes — the way he had acted around her. She felt guilty for feeling so conflicted.
Kevin noticed her distant look and chuckled lightly. "What's going on in that head of yours, huh? You seem a little... foggy."
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Thea (Michael) forced a chuckle, shaking her head slightly. "Just... didn't sleep well last night. A lot on my mind, I guess."
Kevin smiled knowingly, his voice gentle. "Well, I hope it's nothing bad, yeah? You deserve to have things go smoothly for once."
She appreciated his warmth, though a little bit of unease twisted in her gut. They had been talking for a while now, and she wasn't sure how much longer she could keep everything from him. Kevin was so open, so easy to talk to, and yet, Thea (Michael) had this sinking feeling that she was living a double life now.
"So, uh," Kevin's voice broke into her thoughts, "I was thinking about something. You've mentioned your son before, right?"
Thea (Michael) froze for just a second. She blinked at him, trying to gather her thoughts. "Yeah... Dylan, right."
"Yeah," Kevin said, his tone light but curious. "I've never really heard you talk much about him though. Is he, like, older now?"
She nodded slowly, her mind suddenly drifting to Dylan's recent behavior. "He's... He's a little complicated, you know? He's in his 20's, and all that, you know he's around your age I think. You must really understand it well" She chuckled weakly, but inside she was in turmoil.
Kevin smiled gently. "I get that. It can be tough. But you're doing great, I'm sure."
Thea (Michael) gave him a small smile, grateful for the reassurance. "Thanks. Just... wish things were a bit easier sometimes." She paused before adding, almost absentmindedly, "He's got his own things going on. We're both just figuring it out, you know?"
Kevin's eyes softened. "It's not easy, huh?"
"Yeah. It's not." She met his gaze, her mind still tangled. It was easy to get lost in Kevin's kindness, his simple understanding. She needed it now more than ever, especially with everything that was happening with Dylan.
Kevin gave her a warm smile, and for a moment, it was just the two of them, quiet and comfortable. But somewhere in the back of her mind, the weight of Dylan's actions — and her confusing role in it — remained.
