Chapter 10: The First Embrace
Thursday night.
Rain pattered softly against the window, filling the apartment with a steady rhythm.
I was curled up on the couch with a book, but my thoughts kept drifting to Alex.
He appeared quietly, holding two mugs of hot chocolate.
"I thought you might want this," he said softly.
I looked up. He stood close enough that I could feel the warmth radiating from him.
The room felt suddenly smaller. Closer.
"Thanks," I whispered, my fingers brushing against his as I took the mug.
He didn't pull back. Instead, his hand lingered a fraction longer than necessary.
My heart raced.
Every nerve in my body was alert.
"I… I don't know why I feel like this," I admitted, voice trembling slightly.
Alex tilted his head, eyes soft but intense.
"Because it's real," he murmured.
Before I could respond, he stepped closer, gently wrapping his arms around me.
A hug. Not too tight, not overbearing.
But it was enough to make my chest ache, enough to make me realize how much I had wanted this.
I froze at first, unsure how to react.
But slowly, I relaxed into his embrace.
It was warm, grounding, and terrifying all at once.
We stayed like that for a long moment, listening to the rain outside.
The tension, the uncertainty, the unspoken feelings—all of it pressed into that quiet embrace.
Finally, I whispered, "Alex…"
He pulled back just slightly, enough to look me in the eyes.
"Shh," he said softly. "We'll figure it out."
And for the first time, I believed him.
That maybe, just maybe, we could navigate this… together.
---
💛 If you enjoyed this chapter and would like to support the story, even a tiny tip would mean so much. Thank you!