Page 38

I watched as Maya held the steering wheel—her knuckles barely flexing, her fingers steady.

Her long hair cascaded over her shoulders, and the way her black jumpsuit hugged her curves made it hard to keep my eyes away from her...

She was so freaking sexy.

And we exchanged those lingering, heated glances the whole time.

We'd been on the road for about ten minutes before Maya finally started to slow down—that's when I got a clue where she was taking me.

"Wow," I gasped, as we drove past a huge drive-in cinema. The giant screen glowed brightly against the night sky, surrounded by rows of cars.

Maya smirked, glancing at me. "You like it?"

My hand rested gently on her thigh, fingers brushing the fabric. "I love it," I said softly, my smile laced with something warmer—something I was starting to feel deep inside.

The drive-in wasn't enough for Maya—she drove straight to a food stand, where she bought literally everything that caught our eye: hot dogs, fries, popcorn, candy, lollipops.

"Don't you think that maybe that's a little too much?" I asked, glancing at the mountain of snacks she'd piled onto my lap.

Maya just smirked, completely unfazed. "Too much doesn't exist when it comes to me. Or in this case, us."

I heated up just like that. "If that's what you want, Maya," I murmured.

She tilted her head, eyes dancing. "It is exactly what I want, Grace," she said, reaching over to steal a piece of popcorn like she hadn't just casually melted me from the inside out.

With that, we found a spot in the line of parked cars, ready to watch the show.

I turned to her and couldn't help but wonder, "What's the movie?"

Maya chuckled. "You're too eager. You'll see in a sec..."

Clearly, she likes playing with the mystery—the way she teases me, making my heart race without even trying.

"I'm not eager, I'm just cur—"

Suddenly, Maya leaned over me, and goosebumps spread all over me from the feeling of her body so close, hovering above mine...

Turns out, she was actually pressing a button to adjust my seat.

I couldn't help but stare at the way she moved—so smooth, so confident. Her arm lingered against my chest for just a moment too long...

I didn't even realize I was holding my breath until Maya pulled away, leaving a small smile fluttering on my lips.

"Better?" she asked once she pulled my seat slightly back for my own comfort.

"Yeah, absolutely," I said, my pulse racing.

Maya tilted her head, a smirk playing on her lips. "You okay there, Grace?" Her gaze burned into me, waiting for my reaction.

I cleared my throat, trying to get my thoughts together. "Uh, yeah, perfect."

Her smile widened as she pulled her own seat back a little, just like mine.

"You seriously okay, sweetheart?" she asked, genuinely—no trace of sarcasm left.

Her concern suddenly felt real, like she truly cared about how I was feeling.

"I'm okay," I said sincerely, trying but failing to keep my cool as a shy smile tugged at my lips and I quickly turned to face forward.

But the way Maya was looking at me so intensely, I couldn't keep my eyes from flicking back to her every few seconds.

"Alright," her voice dripping with mock innocence. "I'm just trying to be nice..."

I couldn't help but let out a little laugh, despite myself.

"Nice, huh?"

Her smirk turned into something more knowing. "Alright, Grace, maybe I'm also teasing you. Where's the fun otherwise?"

"You don't say!" I said, nudging her shoulder playfully as she burst into laughter.

We finally sat close, our shoulders brushing, our hands inching closer with every passing second. Her scent... it wrapped around me like a warm spell, making it impossible to focus on anything but her.

The screen flickered, and the movie started.

And just like that, it hit me.

"Is this The Notebook?"

"Yep," she answered.

"Didn't think you were a romantic..." I whispered, a small smile tugging at my lips.

"I'm not."

Liar.

I raised a brow. "Are you trying to make me cry with the most romantic movie ever?" I said purposefully.

Maya chuckled, snuggling up to me. "Maybe. Or maybe I just thought you'd smile... and you did."

I couldn't help but smile again as I leaned into her, letting her arm slide around my waist, feeling more comfortable with every passing second. We both tried to act casual, but our fingers naturally intertwined, like they belonged together.

We didn't even care about the movie. Every few minutes, Maya would whisper something in my ear, making me laugh or roll my eyes.

"You're lucky I didn't pick a horror movie to scare you instead," Maya teased, her eyes gleaming.

I glanced at her, still smiling warmly. "Oh, but you could never."

Her brow furrowed, curiosity flickering in her gaze. "Why's that?"

"Because you're a softie," I said confidently.

I was practically squirming with happiness.

My assumption was officially confirmed.

All these small signs and things she did for me had already pointed to it.

"Not at all," Maya tried to deny it.

Liar again.

The movie kept going, with little jokes here and there. I leaned my head against Maya's shoulder, surrendering to peace as she stayed perfectly still—like an anchor for me.

Her fingers traced little patterns on my neck and back, sending shivers through me. I melted into it.

And then—the best scene of the movie finally came.

"I've been waiting for this moment," I breathed out.

The kiss in the rain.

Maya turned to me. "Why do you like it so much?" she asked, her voice a little quieter now. She was serious.

"It's everything about it," I tried to explain, even though the words felt too small for what that moment made me feel. "The rain, the way they know it's..."

Suddenly, my heart was racing, and I couldn't find the words.

"It's the right moment," her voice softening as she finished my sentence.

My breath caught as Maya read my mind and said exactly what I wanted to say.

The kiss on the screen felt like it was pulling me in, but Maya's gaze on me pulled me even more. It made me feel like we were having our own moment of waiting, too.

"When is the right moment, Grace?" Maya's voice echoed through the silence.

There was a tender firmness in her tone, like she deeply cared about what I was going to say next.

I immediately turned to face her, sensing a mix of longing and vulnerability in her eyes—something she rarely ever showed.

She had let her guard down completely—and for someone as guarded as her, it felt almost unreal.

I was caught off guard.

"I... I don't know..." I uttered.

Maya suddenly leaned back ever so slightly, trying to act like she wasn't so caught up in what I said. But her eyes... they flashed with hurt.

An ache twisted in my chest.

God, I'm so stupid.

Stupid. STUPID.

I fucked up.

The silence stretched on, and I could feel the silent storm brewing between us.

The movie was still playing, but I couldn't stop thinking about what I'd said—and neither could Maya.

It was unconscious, unintentional—just slipped out of me without thinking or meaning.

She wanted trust, a reassurance—I gave her my uncertainty instead.

Maya went quiet, her eyes fixed on the screen—no longer flicking back to me like before. The change was clear—she was carrying a new weight.

We both were.

The movie finally ended. Maya shifted in her seat, pulling away from me a little more this time.

"Well, that was... something," she said, but it didn't sound like her usual teasing.

I bit my lip, aching to say something to break the tension, but nothing came out.

I was starting to overthink again. Panicking. My mind was literally spiraling.

I don't want to lose what's between us.

Maya glanced at me for a second, then quickly turned back to the screen—but the film had already ended.

"Don't move away, please," I suddenly begged her.

Maya froze, surprised. She stared at me, her eyes regaining warmth, a sparkling light, then without a word, moved closer.

"Stay with me. Don't go," I begged once more. My voice was barely a whisper—urgent with need and hope.

"I'm not going anywhere," Maya reassured me.

She smiled. I smiled.

The tips of our noses lightly brushed against each other in a moment so beautiful it felt frozen in time.

Her warm lips hovered close to mine, a breath away.

So close, just inches apart, and we were so ready to close that distance, until—

My phone rang loudly, making both of us jump in our seats.

No, please.

Not now.

That was the right moment.

Our right moment.

My phone stayed face down on my lap, and I left it there, ignoring it and praying it would stop ringing so we could get back to our moment.

I didn't even dare to reach for it—it would mean letting go of Maya, and I wasn't ready for that, not when holding her felt like everything to me.

"See who's calling, Grace," her voice was a soft but firm nudge—with a hint of hesitation she tried to hide.

I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to push away the frustration that was breaking everything.

"No... I don't want to," I murmured, my voice cracked by the fragile moment I was trying to hold on to.

Maya sighed, leaning in slightly, a firm touch on my hand. "Just for a moment, Grace, then we come back to us."

I blinked, caught off guard by the sudden weight and seriousness in her voice, making me give in to the compromise.

I had no idea who was calling me, but I still begged Maya with my eyes to forgive me.

My hand reluctantly slipped away from her body as I turned the phone toward us and lowered my gaze to see who was calling.

And when I saw the name on it, I realized how much I'd fucked up again without meaning to.