Her words stopped me cold. For so long, I had told myself that I was just filling a gap-that I was here because she needed someone to lean on. But hearing her say that... it meant everything.

The air between us shifted, and suddenly it felt like the space between us was too small, too charged. I could feel her breath, shallow and quick, and without thinking, I leaned in. My lips hovered near hers, waiting, giving her the chance to pull away. But she didn't. And when our lips finally touched, it was soft, tentative, like we were both afraid to admit what was really happening.

But the kiss...