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This is the last scenario I ever imagined being in with her, but this is what happens when you have friends that want to help so badly, they end up putting you in awkward situations that you’d rather not be in.
As we sit in the car, the tension between Aria and me is palpable. I can practically feel it crackling in the air, suffocating any attempt at conversation. But then again, maybe I’m just overthinking things. Either way, I am stuck in this car with her, the silence weighing heavily on my shoulders.
I steal a glance at Aria from the corner of my eyes, noting how she still seems lost in thought, her gaze fixed on the passing scenery outside. Does she regret agreeing to come with me? Is she as uncomfortable as I am? I want to reach out, to break the silence that threatens to suffocate us, but I can’t bring myself to speak.
Finally, unable to bear the silence any longer, I cleared my throat awkwardly. “So...uh, how has the town been treating you?”
Aria jumps slightly at the sound of my voice, her eyes flickering towards me briefly before returning to the window. “Oh, um, better than I expected. Has the city been good to you?”
I nod, trying to think of something else to say. “Yes, definitely.”
“Yeah,” she murmurs, her response barely audible over the hum of the engine.
We lapse into a thicker silence, the hum of the engine the only thing to be heard.
As I navigate the car through the bustling streets, my stomach rumbles loudly, reminding me of its empty state. Glancing at the clock, I realize it is well past lunchtime, and I can’t ignore my hunger any longer. Spotting a quaint little restaurant on the side of the road, I make a split-second decision to pull over.
Aria’s voice breaks through the silence in the car, her curiosity evident in her tone. “Where are we going?”
I shot her a sheepish grin. “I just thought we’d stop by that restaurant we passed to grab a bite to eat. I don’t know about you, but I’m starving.”
She considers my opinion and nods. “Yeah, I could definitely go for some food right now.”
Parking the car, we make our way into the cozy establishment, the aroma of freshly cooked meals wafting through the air and teasing my senses. We settle into a booth by the window, and I can’t help but feel a sense of relief wash over me. Maybe a good meal would help ease the tension between us. I am wrong.
The atmosphere between us is thick with tension, each moment stretching on uncomfortably. I glance at the menu, trying to find something to break the ice. Unable to resist the opportunity to make conversation, I leaned across the table. “Anything catching your eye?”
She doesn’t look up. “I’m not sure yet.”
I push harder to start a conversation between us. “Tell me about it. I think I might go for the burger. You can’t go wrong with a classic.”
Aria nods in acknowledgement. “Yeah.”
I sigh inwardly, frustrated by the situation. I grit my teeth, resisting to beg her to talk to me. “Can we at least try to have a conversation? I don’t think it would be that bad if we talked.”
She raises an eyebrow. “We are on this trip to check out the hotel for the wedding, nothing more.”
Her words sting, but I refuse to let her see how much they affect me. “Okay, fine.”
The rest of the meal passes in strained silence, neither of us daring to speak another word. The tension between us is palpable, weighing heavily on my shoulders as we eat. Every attempt I make at conversation is met with short, one-word replies, leaving me feeling frustrated and defeated.
As we leave the restaurant, the tension continues to hang heavy in the air, a stark reminder of the unresolved feelings that linger between us. I can’t shake the feeling that maybe, just maybe, this idea of us coming to the hotel together is going to be a disaster. But deep down, I knew that avoiding each other won’t make things any easier. We must face our past if we ever hope to move on—even as just friends.
The rest of the car ride passes in awkward silence, punctuated only by the occasional rustle of clothing or the soft sigh of the wind outside. By the time we reached the hotel, I was more than ready to escape the suffocating atmosphere of the car.
As we stepped out onto the pavement, I hesitate, unsure of what to say next. But before I could utter a word, Aria spoke up, her voice barely above a whisper. “Cade, can we just act civilized towards each other and check the hotel out, then we can leave.”
My heart hurts at how much she wants to keep the distance between us, even though there’s an opportunity to try to repair something between us right here. Once again, I hide the fact that her words hurt. Nodding, I say, “Of course, Aria.”
With that, we make our way into the hotel, the weight of our unspoken words hanging heavy between us.
We head straight to the reception desk, where we plan to check in and start the weekend. As we approached the front desk, I couldn’t shake the feeling of dread gnawing at my gut. Sure enough, when Aria informed the receptionist about the reservation made by Rose, her expression turned to one of confusion.
Aria turns to me and says, “Cade, there seems to be some mistake. Rose booked a room for us, but it looks like there’s only one bed.”
I feel a flush of embarrassment creep up my neck as I look at Aria, bracing myself for her reaction. To my surprise, she remained surprisingly composed, though I could see the tension in her posture.
“Great,” she mutters under her breath, her eyes narrowing at me.
