Heartbeats and Algorithms

Chapter 9: Back in the Groove

Jasmine

The soft chime of my alarm pulled me from sleep, signaling that my week of enforced bed rest was finally over. I hadn't missed work before, but this past week felt like an eternity. Not that I was rushing back into the grind—I wasn't the type to get overly dressed up for the office. In tech, it's more about comfort than style so I reached for a pair of jeans and a simple black tee. My laptop bag was slung over my shoulder as I headed out the door, still feeling the familiar weight of my recovery pressing on my body.

The cool autumn air hit me, making me feel more alive than I had in days. I took a deep breath, savoring the feeling of freedom. It had only been a week, but something had changed. Or maybe I had. Xavier's face flashed in my mind—the way he looked at me when he stayed over, the softness in his eyes when he kissed me. We hadn't talked much since that morning, which left me in a haze of wondering what it all meant. Was it just a moment, or something more?

"Don't overthink it," I whispered to myself, shaking off the thought as I hopped in my car.

Work would be a welcome distraction. Code, bugs, sprints—those were things I understood. Xavier? Not so much.

---

The office was its usual hum of quiet activity, a few developers hunched over their laptops, some chatting at the coffee machine. I gave a few nods as I passed, dropping into my chair at the far end of the room. My computer booted up, and I stared at the screen, letting the familiar lines of code settle my nerves. Work was like muscle memory; it felt good to be back, even though the backlog of tasks was a mountain waiting for me to climb.

Before I could dive in, my phone buzzed beside me. A message from Destiny flashed on the screen.

**Destiny**: Lunch today, right? We need updates on the *doctor*. 😉

I rolled my eyes, smiling. It was inevitable that the girls would want every detail of what had happened with Xavier. I'd been putting off talking to them, unsure of how to explain something I barely understood myself. But there was no escaping their curiosity.

**Me**: Yeah, I'll be there. And yes, I'll tell you everything.

I set my phone aside and dove into the sea of code, trying to lose myself in the simplicity of algorithms and logic. But even with the hum of work around me, Xavier was there—lingering in my thoughts. His hands on my shoulders, his lips on mine, the way he made me feel safe in a way I hadn't expected.

I bit my lip, resisting the urge to text him. He had his own life, his own work. And maybe it was just one kiss, but my mind kept turning it over, like a puzzle I couldn't solve.

---

By noon, I'd made decent progress on a few bugs, but my thoughts still drifted back to the night with Xavier. There was a part of me that wanted to keep it to myself, to hold onto the mystery of it. But another part—the one that had always confided in Alana and Destiny—knew I had to spill. I'd been distant with them all week, and they'd notice if I didn't give them the full story.

I grabbed my things and headed out, walking the few blocks to our favorite café. As soon as I stepped inside, I spotted Alana and Destiny at a table by the window, both sipping iced coffees, eyes already lighting up when they saw me.

"There she is!" Alana waved me over, grinning from ear to ear. "Finally out of bed, huh?"

I smiled, sliding into the seat across from them. "Finally. I thought I was going to lose my mind."

Destiny leaned in, eyes sparkling with mischief. "You look good for someone who's been stuck at home for a week. Is there a reason for that? Maybe a certain doctor named Xavier?"

I felt the blush rise to my cheeks, but I kept my face neutral, hoping to stall a bit longer. "You guys don't waste time, do you?"

"Nope," Alana said, smirking. "We've been waiting. Now spill."

I took a sip of my water, stalling for a few seconds more. "Okay, so... you know Xavier's been checking in on me, right?"

Both of them nodded, leaning closer as if they could sense I was holding back something juicy.

"Well, one night, he came over to make sure I was okay after that grocery trip—"

"Wait, back up," Destiny interrupted, eyes wide. "You saw him at the grocery store? After you *weren't* supposed to be out?"

I winced. "Yeah... I may have tried to sneak out for thyme, and he caught me."

Alana burst out laughing. "Of all things, Jasmine. Thyme?"

"Don't judge me," I said, laughing with her. "I was stir-crazy."

Destiny shook her head, grinning. "And Xavier caught you red-handed. I love it. So, what happened after that?"

I felt the blush deepen as I looked down at my drink, swirling the straw to avoid their gazes. "He took me home and stayed with me... and then we, um, kissed."

Both of them gasped in unison, leaning forward even more. "Shut up!" Destiny half-yelled. "You kissed him?"

"Or did he kiss you?" Alana added, her eyes dancing with excitement.

"A little of both, I guess," I said, finally meeting their eyes. "It just... happened. And it felt right."

Destiny clapped her hands together, beaming. "I *knew* it. I knew something would happen between you two."

Alana nodded sagely. "It was only a matter of time. You two have had this tension for days."

I rolled my eyes, though I couldn't help but smile. "Okay, maybe. But now I don't know where it's going. We haven't really talked about it since."

Alana raised an eyebrow. "Why not? You both clearly like each other."

I shrugged, picking at the edge of my napkin. "It's complicated. We're friends, and I don't want to ruin that. Plus, he's... well, he's him. He's got his whole life together."

"And you don't?" Destiny asked, leaning back in her chair. "You're literally killing it at work. Don't sell yourself short."

"I'm not, I just—ugh, I don't know," I said, frustrated with myself. "I don't want to mess this up."

Alana reached across the table, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze. "Look, Jasmine, if it felt right, then it *is* right. Don't overthink it."

Destiny nodded. "Exactly. You've got to talk to him. Otherwise, you'll drive yourself crazy."

I sighed, knowing they were right. "I will. I just need to figure out how."

Alana smirked. "Maybe start with 'Hey, I've been thinking about that kiss...'"

I laughed, shaking my head. "Yeah, something like that."

As we finished our lunch, I felt lighter. Seeing the girls and sharing everything had lifted a weight off my shoulders. Xavier was still a puzzle, but at least now, I wasn't trying to solve it alone.