Until Then. // denis shapovalov - sascha zverev

0.5 - a date

"Hey! Where ya headed?!" Denis calls after me as I try to quickly rush away.

The rest of the interviews went smoothly, but we finished a little later than anticipated. I packed up quickly and started to find my way out the Arena before bumping into Denis, who I tried to avoid the entire day. Even during his interview, I refused to make eye contact with him. It's not that I wasn't interested in him. I definitely could see myself being. It's just... I still don't know how I feel about last night. And I don't want to mix work and relationships. Alex is just being friendly by offering to show me around.

"I'm just headed back to the hotel," I answer quickly as I keep walking to find the exit.

He chases after me, "Oh, I'll be done in half an hour. We can walk back together!"

"Oh, no, it's okay," I answer, trying not to look up at him.

"Are you sure? Are you okay?" Denis asks and stops walking.

Naturally, I stop walking along with him. "I'm totally fine," I answer and make my first eye contact with his ocean blue eyes. My heart flutters a bit. No, Willow.

"Are you sure? Is this about last night?" Denis questions. "It's okay if it is. You woke up before I did, but I promise I didn't do anything."

"Gosh, no, Denis, I'm not worried about that at all!" I say. "It's just..."

"Just what? I thought last night was good..." he drifts off.

I look up at him, alarmed and relieved, "You did?!"

"What? Of course, I thought it was fun," he shrugs.

I let out a sigh of relief, "Oh gosh, okay, I just maybe thought you might've not wanted me to spend the night over or something. I promise, it wasn't on purpose, I just fell asleep easily for some reason."

"No, I'm not mad at all, Willow," Denis pleads. "Not one bit." He reaches out to hug me, "I actually really enjoyed it."

"Oh..." I breathe into his body stiffly, before warming up to him and hugging him back. "Then I did too."

We huge for a few seconds before I pull away and say, "But I should get going. I need to meet with someone in a bit!" I tell Denis.

"Alright, alright. As long as you're not mad at me, I guess you can ditch me," He groans.

"Then I guess I can," I tease. "Maybe see ya tonight... maybe not."

"I like 'maybe' more," Denis winks and we part.

-

I throw on a pair of jeans and a knitted sweater and throw my hair into a ponytail before taking a light jog towards the elevator. I click the 'down' arrow a few times as my phone buzzes.

Alex: im outside the hotel by the bench!

I'm about to respond but the elevator dings to open, and shit. I think.

"Willow?!" Stefanos asks.

"Hey," I say, dragging the entire word out as I step into the elevator.

"Where are you headed, all dressed up?" He asks as I click the lobby button, but that's where he's headed too.

"Oh, I just made a friend today who wants to show me around New York for a bit," I shrug casually. He must know Alex. I think. But, I don't want anyone else to know about this. I haven't even told Dom yet. Can this elevator go any faster?!