I didn't expect Daniel's message to come when it did.
I was standing in Mr Knight's kitchen, rinsing mugs, Josh humming softly in the living room while Mr Knight helped him fold the tent back into something that vaguely resembled its original shape.
The house felt… warm. Lived-in. Almost normal.
My phone buzzed in my pocket.
I ignored it at first.
Then it buzzed again.
I wiped my hands on a towel and glanced down.
Daniel:
Hey. Are you free sometime soon? Like… actually free?
My chest tightened.
I didn't reply immediately.
I didn't know how to.
Because the truth was messy.
Daniel was kind. Daniel was attentive. Daniel smiled at me like I was something good that had walked into his life unexpectedly.
And I liked him...just not in the simple, clean way he deserved.
I typed. Deleted. Typed again.
What's up?
Three dots appeared almost instantly.
I was wondering if you'd like to go out with me. Properly. Dinner. Not work, nothing. Just us.
I stared at the screen.
