“Ariana, if you keep acting like this, I won’t see you again,” Daniel said firmly.
Caitlin froze. Her eyes instinctively found Daniel’s, who now looked visibly angry, trying to read his expression. Ariana? Could it be Caitlin’s colleague from the office? But then again, it might just be someone with the same name. Why would someone like Ariana need Daniel’s help, anyway? That woman could get any man she wanted—unlike Caitlin, awkward and shy.
“I’m hanging up.” Daniel slipped his phone into the pocket of his hoodie and turned to Caitlin with a faint smile.
“Who was that?”
“Why, Cat? Are you jealous?” he teased.
For a moment, they simply stared at each other. The truth was, Caitlin was jealous, but she knew she had no right to be. This man wasn’t hers. Daniel belonged only to himself. Tonight, he happened to be with her, that was all. It didn’t mean what they had would grow into something beyond the unspoken rules.
“No. But… I don’t know, Daniel,” Caitlin murmured, her voice heavy.
Daniel waited patiently, unusually calm in a moment like this. He kept his gaze on her, which made Caitlin lower hers, pulling her hand away from his. She began to feel uneasy. From the very start, she had known—falling for Daniel on her own was a foolish thing.
“What is it?” Daniel asked gently.
Caitlin shook her head. “Never mind. Forget it.” She avoided his eyes, focusing on the people across the street instead. “But you have to come to my reunion. I need your help.”
Daniel snorted. “I can’t promise anything.”
He leaned back, resting his head on his folded arms as he lay comfortably, while Caitlin sat frozen in her own thoughts. So many little things, when strung together, overwhelmed her. Her mind returned to Ariana, the one who had just called him. She hoped it wasn’t the same Ariana she knew. The world couldn’t possibly be that small, right?
Next week would be complicated. Hopefully, Caitlin could manage her nerves. The reunion meant seeing Tobey again. That man hadn’t even looked guilty for walking out on her. He seemed happier without her. It was hard not to harbor resentment for someone like him, even when she wished to forget it all.
“Caitlin,” Daniel called.
She barely registered that he was talking to her. “Huh?”
“Do you want to sleep at my place?” he asked, his tone serious.
“What?!” Caitlin nearly shrieked.
Daniel smiled sweetly, teasing. “I’m serious. Want to stay over at mine?”
They’d known each other long enough, but it still felt strange hearing Daniel make such an offer. He had to be joking—he always joked. But his expression had changed. He wasn’t joking this time. How could he be so casual inviting a woman over like that? Then again, for someone like Caitlin, drowning in romantic frustration, saying yes wasn’t all that far-fetched, was it?
Before she could answer, Daniel grabbed her hand, pulling her so she landed right on top of his chest. “What is it you want from me?” Daniel asked.
“I—I don’t know,” Caitlin whispered.
She struggled to sit back up, her breathing uneven, thoroughly confused by his actions. Daniel chuckled at her flustered reaction. Meanwhile, Caitlin felt like she was being toyed with—her heart almost leapt out of her chest because of him.
“What’s wrong? You were desperate to follow me just now, and when I offer you to stay over, you hesitate?” He teased.
Caitlin thought hard. This felt tougher than her calculus finals. She turned to him, nervous but curious. When else would she get an opportunity like this? “Are you serious?”
Daniel nodded slightly. “Serious. So, what’ll it be?”
“Okay,” she said with quiet resolve.
She had stood at the gates of hell long enough. Tonight, she was stepping through them. After all, there was nothing else to lose. She had never even felt truly happy in her life. All Caitlin ever did was work, pay off debt, and get drained by her own mother.
They waited by the roadside for a taxi. Daniel returned the borrowed mat to someone she didn’t catch. Caitlin, meanwhile, was trying to calm the racing of her heart, already second-guessing her decision. When the cab arrived, Daniel gave the driver an address. Caitlin couldn’t tell where it was, sitting inside nervously. Daniel sat next to her, occasionally flashing a smile—that smile, the kind that could freeze time.
“Getting cold feet?” he asked.
Caitlin blinked. “Oh… I’m fine, Dan. The heater’s warm enough.”
“Hang on, we’re almost there. Or… want me to warm you up?” he teased again.
“Don’t!” she cried in panic.
The taxi driver glanced at them suspiciously. Daniel laughed in his seat while Caitlin tried to bury her face in embarrassment. What on earth was this man thinking, saying such intimate things in front of strangers? Insane.
“I was kidding, Cat. God, your reactions are always dramatic. Give me your hand,” Daniel said.
Somehow, his voice melted like butter over toast. He always knew how to lift her spirits when she was down. He also knew exactly how to toy with her feelings. Sometimes, Caitlin wished she could selfishly keep him all to herself. But even God knew that was a hopeless dream. Daniel was like sand on a beach—the tighter you gripped, the faster he slipped away.
“Why? What are you going to do with my hand?” Caitlin narrowed her eyes.
He winked. “Well, I can’t exactly hold your feet, can I?”
Before she could protest, Daniel had already taken her hand. It was warm, comforting, and steady. They were still holding hands when they got out of the taxi and entered the elevator. People might have noticed, but no one really cared that Caitlin wasn’t wearing shoes.
“Ninth floor, Cat. Almost there,” he said.
“Have you ever brought anyone else here?”
“No. You’re the first.”
“A friend, maybe?”
“You’re the first,” Daniel said firmly, repeating it. “You should feel special. I’ve only just moved in, still getting used to the place.”
The elevator dinged. They stepped out toward his unit. Daniel keyed in the passcode. The door opened to a clean, nearly empty room.
“What kind of place is this?” Caitlin squinted.
Daniel placed his hands on his hips. “Hey, I’ve only been living here a month. Not all my stuff’s arrived. You mad? Or… want to shower first?”
“Shower?” Caitlin immediately misunderstood.
Daniel smiled, disappeared for a moment, then returned with black sweatpants and a smaller t-shirt. He handed them to her. “Take a hot shower. You must be tired after spending the whole day with me. There’s a towel and a new toothbrush in the top drawer. I’ll shower in the other bathroom.”
“All right.” Caitlin took the clothes and headed toward the bathroom. It felt like she was being asked to cleanse herself before doing something she didn’t dare say aloud.
Inside, she stared at herself in the mirror. Took a long breath. “This isn’t your first night, Caitlin,” she whispered to her reflection.