Fragile

Chapter 2 - Number Swap

I pretended to examine her. "Hmm. You're stubborn."

Her eyebrows lifted. "Excuse me?"

I laughed. "Oh, come on. You can't tell me you're not."

She sighed dramatically. "Okay, maybe a little."

I smirked. "Knew it."

She shook her head, smiling before nudging me lightly with her knee. "Alright, let me guess something about you."

I gestured for her to go ahead.

She narrowed her eyes playfully. "You like control."

I tilted my head. "In what way?"

"In every way." She smirked. "You like having a plan. You like being the one people look to. You don't do well with uncertainty."

I exhaled through my nose, amused. "That's not entirely wrong."

"Mm-hmm." She sipped her coffee, satisfied.

I leaned a little closer, lowering my voice just slightly. "You think you've got me all figured out, don't you?"

Evelyn met my gaze, her eyes flickering with something playful. "Not yet."

I grinned. "Guess you'll have to keep spending time with me, then."

She raised an eyebrow, pretending to consider it. "I suppose I could make time in my very busy schedule."

I chuckled. "Generous of you."

She laughed, shaking her head. "Okay, last question before we move on—what's your biggest guilty pleasure?"

I smirked. "Reality TV."

Her eyes widened. "No way."

"Oh, yeah." I grinned. "Love Island, trashy dating shows, the works."

She covered her mouth, laughing. "I did not expect that from you."

I shrugged. "I have layers."

She shook her head, still smiling. "I love that. Though, now I feel like I have to ask—are you one of those people who yells at the TV?"

I scoffed. "Obviously."

Evelyn laughed again, her eyes crinkling at the corners, and for a moment, I just watched her, taking in the way the sunlight hit her skin, the way she seemed so effortlessly herself.

I didn't know what this was yet—this thing between us. But I liked it.

And I liked her. A lot.

The afternoon had slipped away without either of us noticing. The conversation had flowed so easily—likes, dislikes, random facts, playful teasing—that time didn't seem to exist. But then Evelyn glanced at her phone, and just like that, reality settled in.

"Oh, I should go," she said, her tone reluctant. "I need to pick Riggs up from my mom's."

I nodded, schooling my expression into something neutral even though disappointment flickered in my chest. "Right. Of course."

She stood, stretching slightly before grabbing her coffee cup, now mostly empty. I followed, sliding my jacket over my arm instead of putting it back on because I wasn't making that mistake twice.

We walked back towards her car, the silence between us not uncomfortable, but heavier than before. I found myself stealing glances at her, still caught in the way her eyes lit up when she laughed, the way she'd leaned in when she was teasing me, like she was drawn to me without realizing it.

When we reached her car, she turned to face me, leaning back against the driver's side door. "Well, this was fun."

I smirked, stepping closer—not too close, but enough to test the space between us. "Yeah? Even though I was a sweaty, awkward mess?"

She grinned. "Especially because of that."

I placed a hand over my heart dramatically. "Wounding my ego again, I see."

She tilted her head, her smile playful. "I think your ego will survive."

I chuckled, shifting my weight slightly. The sun was lower now, casting a warm glow over the street, making her look even softer somehow. My eyes flickered to her lips for the briefest second before I forced myself to focus.

We'd only just met.

And yet, standing here, so close, it felt like something was pulling me in.

Evelyn must've felt it too because her smirk faded into something quieter, something more thoughtful. She looked up at me, her expression unreadable, like she was waiting to see what I'd do.

I wanted to kiss her.

I could've. The moment was there, the space between us small enough to close with one step, one tilt forward. But I didn't. Not yet.

Instead, I lifted a hand, letting my fingers brush lightly—just barely—against the edge of her sleeve. "I'll see you again, yeah?"

She exhaled, something almost like amusement in her eyes. "Yeah, Leah. You will."

I smiled, stepping back, giving her space. She lingered for a second before finally reaching for her car door, sliding into the driver's seat.

I waited until she started the engine before taking a step back onto the pavement. She rolled the window down slightly. "Try not to overthink this too much, yeah?"

I huffed a quiet laugh. "No promises."

She shook her head, smiling, before pulling away, leaving me standing there, hands shoved in my pockets, feeling entirely and completely wrecked over someone I had just met.

And for the first time in a long time, I didn't mind one bit.

~~~~
AN: I meant to give you a chapter on Friday too, but forgot then I had games all weekend and lowkey may be concussed. I don't know. But you'll get a chapter still on Friday.

Question: Someone asked if I'd write more moments from other books. Like bonus chapters. While no, I won't in the book, what if I brought my one-shot book back (or made a new one) and called in Bonus Chapters? They can all be requests from the 600+ of you. So thoughts? Yay or nay?

Next Chapter: February 14

As always, vote ⭐️
and comment 

🫶🏼