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Adonis hasn't shown his face at the diner since being released from the hospital or stopped by to see me. I come to terms with my feelings for him, and now he vanishes from my life as sudden as he comes into it. I step out of the car and onto the sidewalk in front of his apartment. I walk up to the door and knock with trembling hands. My heart races with each passing second.
The door opens, and I let out a gasp. There he is, standing in the doorway. He is pale, but his eyes are bright and full of life.
“Raven?”
I smile, tears brimming in my eyes, and step forward to embrace him. He holds me close, and his heart beats against me, steady and strong.
“I’m so glad you’re okay.”
He nods, and we stand there for a few moments, holding each other. Finally, he steps back and smiles.
“Come in,” he says, opening the door wider. “Can I get you something to drink?”
I shake my head.
I follow him into the living room, where he gestures for me to sit on the couch. I sink into the cushions, and he sits beside me.
He clears his throat and says, “I’m sorry I didn’t come see you. Been staying home and trying to get back to a hundred percent."
I reach out and take his hand, squeezing it. “Listen, you can't walk into my life, be a grump, tell me about all you have gone through, and say peace. I'm out. You could have at least called me."
He moves closer to me, and squeezes my hand. "Listen, I care about you, but I don't know if I'm ready to be in a relationship. My heart still aches for her, and that isn't fair to you."
I look down at our entwined hands. "I would be lying if I said my ex doesn't still come to mind sometimes, but having you in my life, that's what I want."
We sit there for a few moments. I speak again.
“Can I tell you something?”
“Of course.”
I take a deep breath and look into his eyes. "I think I'm in love with you."
Adonis's eyes widen, and he looks away for a moment. When he looks back, his expression softens.
I continue, my voice trembling. "I know it's a lot to take in. I just wanted you to know how I feel."
"I want to be with you too," he says. "But I don't want to rush into anything. I want us to take our time, make sure that we're both ready."
Adonis leans in and presses his lips to mine. It's like a dream, his lips are so soft and inviting. I close my eyes as my heart races and I melt into the kiss.
Adonis' hands begin to wander, brushing my hair out of my face and caressing my back. His scent is intoxicating, and my body relaxes against his. Our lips part, but neither of us want to break away. We stay in the moment, smiling and gazing into each other's eyes.
The kiss is a beautiful moment that I will never forget. All of my emotions are released in that single moment, and I am absolutely in love. Adonis and I have taken a step in the right direction.
I clear my throat. "The day I first saw you, I hated your guts, but that was obvious. Our second encounter was worse, and let me say you were an arrogant asshole, but you have shown me a side I have fallen in love with. I understand if you might not be ready, but we don't have to label it."
Adonis is a good man. Friends with benefits might not be a bad deal. He still loves his ex-girlfriend, but he might not be ready to move on. He will need time to open up.
“Maybe we can take things slow. No label.”
Despite being scared of love again, there is a tiny spark inside of me prompting me forward - allowing myself enough hope for what can come next without relying on expectations or predictions about the future.
"Well, in that case, do you wanna stay for a while?"
I throw my hands around him and nod. His embrace is gentle and warm, and my worries melt away. Here in his arms, the world outside no longer matters and it is just the two of us.
We settle onto the couch, and I watch as Adonis tries to make himself comfortable. He still has some recovery time left before he fully heals, but I want to be there for him every step of the way. He turns on the TV, and we lounge there, watching crime documentaries.
