There really was no need for hesitation.
Ella like Connor and Connor liked Ella.
So they should date, right?
Yet, Ella hesitated.
The giddiness from being asked out by the man she liked slowly ebbing away.
She never really planned on staying in Nebraska. She was only here for research and once that was done she'd be on the first plane back to Miami.
At least, that's what she initially planned to do.
If Ella started dating Connor, her plans would basically be ruined. She'd never want to leave.
She'd want to stay here with Connor, watch as his baseball career grows, settle down and have a family, and than next thing she knows she'll be living on a ranch with five children and a hundred bison.
Well, maybe that was a little dramatic.
"Ella," Connor said, peering at her curiously. "Everything okay?"
Caught in her thoughts, Ella blinked, realizing she had been silent for too long. "Sorry, I was just... thinking."
"About what?" Connor's expression softened with concern.
Ella hesitated for a moment, debating whether to share her internal conflict. Finally, she sighed. "About us. I like you, Connor, I really do. But I never planned on staying in Nebraska for long. Once my research is over, I'll likely head back to Miami."
Connor's brows furrowed in thought. "So, what are you saying?"
"I...I don't know. If we start dating, it might complicate things. I don't want to hold you back or make promises I can't keep."
Connor stayed silent, his grip on her hand never loosened. He stroked his thumb over the back of her wrist, seemingly lost in thought. "You're worried about the future."
"Yeah," Ella admitted. "I don't want to hurt you, and I don't want to be hurt when I eventually leave."
He smiled and than let out a small chuckle. Than a hearty laugh.
Ella frowned. This was a serious moment, why was he laughing?
"Sorry, sorry." Connor said, rubbing her hand reassuringly. "I'm not laughing at you, I promise. It's just—I think it's cute you're already thinking about the future."
Ella's frown deepened. "Well, of course I'm going to think of the future! I don't want to date than break up."
Connor stared at her for a moment, his eyes soft and full of playful mirth. "When do you plan on finishing your research, Ella?"
She furrowed her brows. "I don't know. In two years maybe?"
She watched as Connor visibly tried to hold back a humorous smile.
Connor reached out, gently cupping her face. "Ella, I appreciate your honesty. But why don't we just enjoy what we have now? The future will figure itself out. Maybe you'll decide to stay, or maybe we'll find a way to make it work."
His words resonated with Ella, bringing a sense of relief. Something, she desperately needed. Ella was so used to having her life planned out, everything had to be perfect but now the weight of uncertainty lifted, replaced by a newfound lightness. Maybe, just maybe, she didn't need to have every detail of her future planned out.
"Okay," she said, a small smile playing on her lips. "Let's just enjoy the present."
The words felt weird rolling off her tongue. She was opening the door to something new—something she didn't know if she was ready for.
"So I take it that you're saying yes to being my girlfriend?"
Ella pretended to ponder it over a for a few seconds.
"Let me think... Well, considering the circumstances, I suppose I can give it a try."
Connor laughed, the playful glint in his eyes mirroring her tone. "Gee, thanks for reluctantly accepting the offer. I feel so special."
She laughed. "You should"
Connor grinned, leaning in for a gentle kiss. Ella met him halfway.
———
All things considered, dating Connor wasn't much different than when they were friends—er talking.
They spent most of thanksgiving break together. Having been one of the few people to stay on campus during the break. Ella because she had some research to catch up on, and Connor, well, he claimed he just wanted to keep her company.
"Don't you want to go home for the break? Maybe see your family?" Ella had said one night. She was propped up against the headboard of Connor's bed, her computer resting in her lap.
"Mmm, not really." Connor said, sidling up to her. "I'll see them for Christmas." He closed the laptop and gently laid in on the mattress. "I'd rather be here with you." He held her gaze, a small smile playing on his lips.
"Well, I guess I can't really fight you on this." She patted the bed. "Come here and give me a kiss."
Connor enthusiastically complied.
It didn't take long for them to fall into a comfortable routine, sharing meals, watching movies, and stealing kisses when they thought no one was looking.
But Thanksgiving break was only a week long, despite it feeling like forever.
And Ella's worst nightmare was approaching.
Yep, finals week.
Ella had three written finals and two projects to turn it and she barely studied for any of them over the break.
She wasn't usually the type to procrastinate but well...
Now here she was, sitting in a crowded coffee shopping waiting for Lysander to meet her for the final part of their project. According to him, it shouldn't be that much work. Just a few edits here and there and they could turn it in.
Ella couldn't help but feel a twinge of anxiety as she awaited Lysander's arrival. Her laptop open, notes scattered across the table, she stole a glance at her phone, checking the time. Finals week was closing in, and the weight of unfinished projects hung over her.
Just as she was about to send a quick message to Lysander, the door chimed.
"Hey," a familiar voice called. Ella looked up. Lysander was standing by the door, donning a simple, red plaid button up and jeans. He had his coat slung over one of his arms, probably due to the heat radiating in the coffee shop. She watched as a walked over. Once he was at the table he smiled. "It's good to see you."
Ella smiled back. "It's good to see you too Lysander, how was your break?"
"It was pretty good. It was nice to see my family again. They were all pretty excited about the baseball team's big win, so most of the attention was on Alex." He pulled out his laptop. "What about you?"
Ella sighed, looking down at her notes. "It was nice, spent most of it on campus. Connor stayed too, so we had our own little Thanksgiving."
Lysander's eyes flickered with curiosity. "Connor, huh?"
Ella couldn't help but smile at the thought of Connor. "We're officially dating now."
Lysander's smile faltered for a moment, a fleeting expression of surprise. "Oh, that's... that's great. I'm happy for you."
"Thanks!" Ella chirped, excitedly. "So any idea on how you wanna edit this paper?"
Lysander nodded, focusing on the project at hand. "Yeah, I was thinking we could tighten up the introduction, maybe add a bit more analysis to the third section. Nothing too drastic, just refining what we already have."
As they delved into the project, Ella found herself appreciating Lysander's dedication and advice. Yet, something felt off.
There seemed to be some sort of underlying tension between them, but she didn't know why. She'd never felt this way around Lysander before. She shifted nervously.
"So," Lysander began, his tone casual, "How did you and Connor end up dating? It seems like a sudden turn of events."
"Oh," Ella said trying to navigate the conversation delicately. "Well, we've been spending a lot of time together, and things just evolved, you know? It felt right."
Lysander nodded, a neutral expression on his face. "I see. It's great that you're happy."
She frowned.
"Is everything okay, Lysander? You seem a bit... off."
He sighed, glancing away for a moment before meeting her eyes. "It's nothing, Ella. Just a lot on my mind lately. With all the finals and what not. You know how it is."
Ella nodded, sensing there was more beneath the surface. They worked in silence for a while, each lost in their thoughts.
Eventually, Lysander broke the quiet. "Well, I should get going. Let me know if you need anything else for the project."
"Sure, thanks, Lysander." As he gathered his things, Ella couldn't shake the feeling that things had changed between them, and she wasn't quite sure why.