Hear her out

As Charlie and I finished our meal, she grew quieter, and her usual calm demeanor became replaced with a sense of unease. You could tell something was on her mind, something important that she wanted to share with you.

"Alex, there's something I need to tell you," Charlotte said, her voice low and serious.

You looked up from your plate, meeting her gaze. "Of course, Charlotte. Anything."

She hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath. "I'm not who you think I am," she said, her voice trembling slightly.

You frowned, unsure of what she meant. "What do you mean?"

"I mean that my name, my identity, it's not entirely real," she said, her eyes flickering with emotion.

You leaned forward, intrigued. "What do you mean it's not real?"

Charlie looked away for a moment, gathering her thoughts. "My real name is actually Charlotte Reyes. Montgomery is my ex-husband's name. I kept it because of the business, but it's not who I really am."

You felt a wave of relief wash over you. This wasn't as bad as you thought it would be. "Charlie, that's not that big of a deal. I mean, it's just a name."

She shook her head, looking down at her hands. "It's more than just a name. It's a part of who I am, who I was **** to be when I was with Marcus. I feel like I'm constantly living a lie."

You reached across the table and took her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "You don't have to be anyone else but yourself around me, Charlotte. I like you just the way you are."

She looked up at you, her eyes glistening. "Thank you, Alex. That means a lot to me."

You sat in silence for a moment, both lost in your own thoughts. Then, Charlie looked up at you, a small smile on her face. "I feel like I've been so serious this whole evening. Let's lighten things up a bit, shall we?"

You grinned, happy to see her in a better mood. "Sure, how do you propose we do that?"

"Well, for starters, let's have some dessert," she said, motioning to the waiter.

You ordered a chocolate lava cake to share, and as you ate, you began to joke and laugh, the weight of Charlotte's confession lifted from your shoulders. You talked about your favorite books and movies, your hopes and dreams for the future, and everything in between.

As the evening drew to a close, you walked Charlie back to her car. You stood in front of it for a moment, neither of you sure what to say.

"I had a really great time tonight, Gabriel," Charlie said, breaking the silence.

"Me too," you said, smiling at her.

As you look up at her, you see a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes, as if she's unsure of what your reaction will be. It's then that you realize how much you care about her and how much you want to be with her.

You lean in closer, feeling the heat radiating off her body. Your eyes meet and you can see the desire and longing in hers. The air between you is thick with tension as your lips almost touch.

In that moment, you have a choice to make. Do you kiss her, finally letting her know how you feel? Or do you pull away, unsure of what this will mean for you two?