“I’m fine, Licia. It’s just a bit sore. No big deal,” he said, trying to wave off my concern.
“I’m going to get you some ice,” I insisted, already heading towards the kitchen.
“Licia, you don’t have to—”
“I want to,” I interrupted gently, giving him a soft smile before disappearing into the kitchen.
As I prepared the ice pack, I couldn’t help but think about what Joey had said earlier. She was right—Kevin was more than capable of taking care of himself now.
But that didn’t mean I was ready to step back, to let go of the intense need to be there for him.
I wasn’t sure what that meant for us, for our friendship or whatever else might be brewing beneath the surface, but I knew I wasn’t ready to walk away.
When I returned to the living room, Kevin was leaning back against the couch, his eyes closed, while Lexie was scrolling through her phone.
“Here,” I said softly, handing him the ice pack.
“Thanks, Licia. You’re a lifesaver,” he said, giving me a tired but grateful smile.
“Just doing what I can,” I replied, settling down beside him on the couch.
For a while, we sat in comfortable silence, the only sounds coming from the TV and the occasional clicking of Lexie’s phone. I could feel the weight of Kevin’s gaze on me, and when I turned to look at him, his eyes were filled with something I couldn’t quite place.
“What?” I asked, feeling a bit self-conscious under his scrutiny.
“Nothing,” he said, shaking his head with a small smile. “Just… thanks for being here, Licia. It means a lot to me.”
“You don’t have to thank me for that, Kevin,” I replied softly. “I’m always here for you.”
“I know,” he said, his voice filled with something deeper, something that made my heart skip a beat.
Lexie, oblivious to the tension between us, suddenly looked up from her phone. “Hey, Kevin, are you up for another round, or should I let you off the hook?”
“I think I’ll sit this one out,” Kevin replied, his gaze never leaving mine.
“Okay, your loss!” Lexie chirped, jumping up from the couch and heading to the kitchen for a snack.
As she disappeared, Kevin shifted closer to me, his expression serious. “Licia, can I ask you something?”
“Of course,” I said, my heart beginning to race.
“What’s going on with us?” He asked, his voice barely above a whisper. “I mean, I know we said we’d stay friends, but… it feels like there’s something more, doesn’t it?”
I swallowed hard, my mind racing. I’d been avoiding this conversation, but now that it was here, I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t want to hurt him, didn’t want to ruin what we had, but I also couldn’t deny that there was something more between us—something I was terrified of losing.
“I don’t know, Kevin,” I said honestly, my voice trembling. “I care about you. A lot. But I’m scared. Scared of what might happen if we take that next step.”
“I’m scared too,” he admitted, his eyes searching mine. “But I don’t want to lose you, Licia. Not now, not ever. I’d rather stay in the friend zone forever if it means I get to keep you in my life.”
My heart ached at his words, and I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes. “I don’t want to lose you either, Kevin. But I’m not sure what the right thing to do is.”
“Maybe we don’t have to figure it all out right now,” he said gently, taking my hand in his. “Maybe we just take it one day at a time. See where it leads.”
I nodded, unable to trust my voice to speak. His hand was warm and comforting, and for a moment, all the fear and uncertainty melted away, leaving only the simple, undeniable truth that I wanted to be with him—no matter what.
“Just promise me one thing,” Kevin said softly, his eyes locked onto mine.
“Anything,” I whispered.
