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backed the kitchen and was only marginally bigger. There was enough room

for her microfiber brown couch and the matching oversized reclining chair,

as well as a coffee table, but that was about it. She didn’t have a TV, since

she had her phone and her laptop and she didn’t see the point of one. She

liked watching movies or shows in her bed anyway.

She set the mugs down. The atmosphere in the room suddenly felt

charged. There was so much more they both needed to say. Romi didn’t

even know if Kiera was going to accept her offer. Was it an offer? Agree to

her terms? Putting it that way sounded terrible. She wasn’t sure if Kiera

would agree to date her, if they were willing to take a chance on whatever

there was between them, or if they would just be friends. She didn’t want

Kiera to rush her answer or try to force something she didn’t actually feel,

but her whole body felt tight with the waiting and uncertainty all the same.

Patience was seriously a virtue. A virtue that Romi spent a lot of time

trying to have.

Kiera was the first to move. She picked up her mug and took a sip. Her

face immediately registered surprise. “Oh wow. This is good. It does taste

like a latte.”

“Yup.”

“Romi, I, uh…” Kiera bit down hard on her bottom lip. She grasped her

mug with both hands, even though it was hot. “I do want this. I want you. I

never meant to tell you to leave. I don’t want to be someone who hurts other

people. I wasn’t trying to be callous. I just panicked.”

“I know.”

“But I…I’m tough. Tough to get to know. It’s hard for me to open up.

I’ve spent my whole life telling myself I’m not ready, even when I want to

be. I’ve never made myself truly vulnerable before. I know that’s what I

need to do. Be vulnerable. Be honest. With myself. With everyone else. You

deserve that. You deserve someone who treats you right because you’re

amazing. I want to do that for you. With you. I just don’t know where to