Chapter 7

Maya wasn't sure what she was expecting when she opened her phone that morning. Maybe a message from Ash. Maybe not. But the moment she saw his name light up on the screen, a small flutter spread through her chest. She quickly tapped the notification before she could overthink it.

Ash: Good morning, Maya! I hope you're doing okay today. Would love to hear about your plans this weekend if you're free.

Maya couldn't help but smile at the message. It was simple. But it felt... different. His words weren't pressured, weren't rushing her into anything. It felt like he really just wanted to get to know her more. No hidden agendas, no expectations. Just a casual, genuine conversation.

She sat there for a moment, holding her phone. Was she ready to respond? She glanced at the time-she had a meeting soon. But the idea of texting him back kept tugging at her. There was this unspoken connection between them, one she wasn't ready to label just yet but couldn't ignore.

Maya: Good morning, Ash! I'm okay, thanks. This weekend? Hmm, not sure yet. I have a couple of things planned. What about you?

She hesitated before sending it, wondering if she'd given too much or not enough. But as soon as she pressed send, she felt that familiar rush of nervous excitement. What would he say?

A few minutes passed before his reply came.

Ash: I was thinking of checking out that new café downtown. Heard it's good. Maybe we could go together? If you're free, of course. No pressure.

Maya's heart skipped a beat. He was asking her out-sort of. It wasn't a big deal, but the idea of meeting him outside of their digital conversations made her feel both excited and anxious.

The old Maya would've backed out, given some excuse about being busy or not feeling like it. But something about Ash's message felt genuine. He wasn't pushing her. He was simply inviting her, giving her space to say yes or no without any pressure. And for the first time in a long while, Maya wasn't scared of saying yes.

She took a deep breath, typing her reply.

Maya: That sounds nice. I'm free on Saturday afternoon. Let's do it.

She hit send, feeling a sense of accomplishment mixed with excitement. She didn't know why it felt so different with him. Maybe it was because he respected her boundaries. Maybe it was because he made her feel like she didn't have to be anyone else but herself.

Later that day, Maya found herself thinking about their upcoming date. She wasn't calling it a date, not exactly. But the idea of spending time with Ash outside of the app made her stomach flip. She wasn't sure why, but there was something about him that made her feel... comfortable. Safe, even.

But she knew better than to get ahead of herself. She was still figuring things out. She couldn't rush into anything, especially not when she didn't fully understand where this connection was leading.

Maya glanced over at her desk, distracted by her thoughts, and caught a glimpse of Ava walking in. Her best friend's bright smile was contagious, as usual.

"You're smiling at your phone again, huh?" Ava teased, setting down her bag on the desk.

Maya blinked, quickly looking up, trying to hide the fact that she'd been grinning like an idiot. "I wasn't smiling."

Ava raised an eyebrow, sitting down across from her. "You so were. Is it Ash again?"

Maya rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress her grin. "Maybe."

Ava leaned forward, hands on her chin. "I swear, you've been talking to him a lot lately. What's going on? Spill."

Maya's face warmed a little. "It's not like that. We're just... talking."

Ava looked at her skeptically, her gaze not missing a beat. "Talking? You're literally glowing right now, Maya. This is so much more than just talking."

Maya laughed nervously. She wasn't used to having these kinds of conversations, especially not about someone like Ash. She hadn't even figured out what she was supposed to feel.

"Okay, maybe we're talking more than usual," Maya admitted. "But it's not like I'm jumping into anything. I don't even know where this is going. He's-he's different, Ava. But I'm not... I'm not sure if I'm ready for all of this."

Ava's expression softened, and she reached over to give Maya's hand a reassuring squeeze. "You don't have to rush it. You've got time. Just don't let your past hold you back from seeing what's right in front of you. You deserve to be happy, Maya. And if Asher's making you happy, then go for it."

Maya bit her lip, thinking. She appreciated Ava's advice, but the fear still lingered. It was hard to let go of the walls she'd built after so many disappointments. She wasn't sure she was ready to open up again.

But then again, maybe it wouldn't hurt to take a chance.

Saturday came faster than Maya expected, and as the time for their meeting approached, she couldn't help but feel nervous. She spent the morning getting ready, carefully choosing an outfit that felt both comfortable and stylish. She wanted to look good but didn't want to overdo it.

Maya glanced at the clock-15 minutes before she needed to leave. She grabbed her bag and took a deep breath. She was doing this. No turning back.

She left her apartment, walking toward the café with a mixture of excitement and anxiety. The familiar sound of her footsteps on the pavement echoed in her mind. Was she making a mistake? Was this just another thing she'd end up regretting?

But she had to push those thoughts away. She was already here, already meeting him. All she could do now was be herself.

As she reached the café, she spotted him sitting outside, looking casual but still effortlessly handsome. Ash looked up when she arrived, and a smile spread across his face.

"Hey, Maya," he greeted, standing up as she approached. His eyes were warm, welcoming, and for a moment, all the tension in her body melted away.

"Hi," she replied, her voice softer than she intended. "This place looks nice."

Ash chuckled, gesturing for her to sit down. "Yeah, I've been hearing a lot about it. Thought we could try it together."

Maya smiled, feeling a little more at ease. This wasn't so bad. In fact, it felt... normal. Like she wasn't on a date, but just two people meeting up to enjoy a cup of coffee and some conversation.

Maybe she could do this.