Chapter 5: His Unexpected Question

He smiled, friendly and easygoing. I relaxed a little, grateful for the distraction.

"Lila, see if there's anything else you want. Mason likes spicy food, so I ordered some spicy wings. If you don't like it, just order something else."

He spoke with the ease of someone used to hosting. I scanned the menu, looking for something familiar.

I glanced at the menu—it was all dishes I liked—and gently said, "I can eat spicy too. Let Marissa order more."

I smiled at Mason, hoping he’d notice. He nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips.

Alex laughed. "You two really are meant to be. Marissa and I can't handle spicy at all."

He nudged Marissa, who rolled her eyes and grinned. The tension eased, replaced by easy laughter.

After ordering, Marissa pulled Alex out to get my cake, giving me a look to help take care of Mason in the booth.

She winked at me as she left, her meaning clear. I blushed, glancing at Mason.

Soon, only Mason and I were left at the table.

The silence stretched between us, comfortable but charged. I fiddled with my straw, trying to calm my nerves.

It was so quiet I could almost hear my own breathing. I slowly looked up.

Mason caught my gaze, his eyes warm and steady. I felt myself relax, just a little.

Today, Mason was wearing a casual black T-shirt, looking down at his phone, his eyes calm and gentle. Not sure what he saw, he leaned back lazily, a smile tugging at his lips.

He looked older than I remembered, more confident. I wondered if he noticed the way I stared.

With that movement, his shirt outlined his defined abs.

I looked away quickly, cheeks burning. I hoped he hadn’t noticed.

(none)

I focused on the salt shaker, counting the grains of salt to distract myself.

I'd watched Mason grow up, but when did the boy turn into a man?

It hit me all at once—he wasn’t the shy kid I remembered. He was taller, broader, and there was a quiet strength about him now.

Across from me, I heard Mason put down his phone. He calmly called my name.

His voice was low and steady, cutting through the silence like a knife.

"Lila."

"Mm?" I forced myself to look up, even though I was nervous.

I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, meeting his gaze. My heart pounded in my chest.

Mason's eyes lifted slightly, his voice deepening.

He leaned in, elbows on the table, voice barely above a whisper.

"About that day, shouldn't you give me an explanation?"

I blinked, caught off guard. I hadn’t expected him to bring it up so directly.

Explanation?

My mind raced, searching for the right words. I fiddled with my napkin, buying time.

The day I kissed him?

I replayed the moment in my head, the heat of his skin, the shock in his eyes.

That's right, the dare didn't specify where to kiss. The cheek would have been fine, or the hand.

I wondered if he thought I’d crossed a line. My stomach twisted with nerves.

Kissing the lips... was fine too, right?

I searched his face for any sign of anger or embarrassment, but all I saw was curiosity.

I smiled awkwardly. "That dare—I thought I had to kiss, um, the lips."

I shrugged, trying to play it off. “In stories, it’s always a kiss on the lips, right?”

"In stories, it's always a kiss..."

My voice trailed off, hoping he’d understand. I held my breath, waiting for his response.