Her Apartment

The bus ride felt short. Mia kept her head on his shoulder and her hand in his. Alex stared out the window but all he could feel was her warmth pressed against his side. Every bump in the road made her shift closer. He tried not to think about how her body had felt this morning. Naked and soft under his hands. But the memory kept coming back anyway. It made his jeans tight. He crossed his legs and hoped she didn’t notice.

They got off at her stop and walked the short block to her building. She unlocked the door and held it open for him. Inside it was warm and smelled like her. Books on the table. A blanket thrown over the couch. The same place where everything had started last night.

Mia kicked off her shoes. “Come sit with me.”

She pulled him to the couch and curled right into his side. Her head rested on his chest. One arm went around his waist. She pulled the blanket over both of them. It felt easy. Too easy. Alex put his arm around her shoulders and tried to relax. His heart was still beating fast from asking her on the path. From hearing her say she wanted to be with him.

They didn’t talk much at first. Just sat there. Her fingers played with the hem of his shirt. Small touches. He could feel her breathing against his ribs. Every time she moved he felt it everywhere. His body reacted again. He shifted a little so she wouldn’t feel it. Felt stupid and guilty for getting hard just from cuddling. This was supposed to be sweet. Not about that.

Mia looked up at him. “You’re quiet again.”

He shrugged. “Just thinking.”

She smiled and kissed his jaw. Soft. Quick. Then she settled back against his chest like it was the most normal thing in the world.

They stayed like that for a long time. The light outside got darker. She told him a little about the exam. He told her he was glad it was over. Mostly they just breathed together. Her hand slipped under his shirt and rested on his stomach. Warm skin on warm skin. Not sexual. Just close. But it still made his stomach flip. He wanted to pull her on top of him. Wanted to kiss her until they forgot about the exam and everything else. But he didn’t move. He was scared if he started something it would go too far too fast. Or that she would think that was all he wanted now.

After a while she sat up a little and looked at him. Her eyes were soft in the low light.

“I like this,” she said. “Just being here with you. No test to worry about.”

He nodded. “Me too.”

She leaned in and kissed him. Slow and sweet. Not deep. Just lips brushing. Her hand stayed on his stomach. He kissed her back the same way. Careful. Like he was afraid to break whatever this was.

Time passed. He didn’t want to leave but he also didn’t want to overstay. His mind started spinning again. What if she was just being nice because they had sex? What if tomorrow she decided it was too much? The “I love you” from this morning felt huge now that they were official. He wanted to say it again but the words stuck.

He checked his phone. It was getting late.

“I should probably head out,” he said. His voice came out low. “Let you rest.”

Mia sat up but didn’t pull away. She kept one hand on his arm. “Okay. But only if you want to.”

He didn’t want to. He wanted to stay on this couch with her forever. But he nodded.

They stood up. She walked him to the door. At the door she turned and hugged him tight. Her face pressed into his chest. He hugged her back and breathed in her hair. The same scent that had been on his skin this morning.

She pulled back just enough to look at him. “I love you,” she said. Simple. Like she had been waiting to say it again.

His chest got tight. “I love you too.”

They kissed one more time. Soft. Lingering. His hands stayed on her waist. Hers on his shoulders. He felt the want hit him hard again but he kept the kiss gentle. No pushing. Just closeness.

When they broke apart she kept her hands on him. “Hey. Maybe bring some clothes over next time? Like a shirt and stuff. For if you stay over. I was thinking I could bring some things to your place too. Make it easier.”

Alex blinked. His brain took a second to catch up. She wanted his clothes here. She wanted to leave her stuff at his place. It felt big. Domestic. Like she really meant the boyfriend girlfriend thing.

“Yeah,” he said. His voice sounded rough. “I can do that.”

She smiled. That warm smile that made his stomach twist in the best way. “Good.”

He stepped out into the hall. She stayed in the doorway watching him. He walked down the stairs and out into the night air. His body still felt warm from her. His head was loud with everything that had happened. They were together now. She had said she loved him again. She wanted his clothes at her place.

But the doubt was still there. Quiet but steady. What if this was moving too fast? What if he said or did something wrong and it all went away? He had waited so long for her. Now that he had her he was terrified of messing it up.

He walked toward the bus stop with his hands in his pockets. The night felt different. Lighter in some ways. Heavier in others. He already missed the way she had felt curled against him on the couch.

He wondered how long it would take before he stopped overthinking every good thing that happened with her.