Bella woke that morning with a heaviness in her chest, a weight that had nothing to do with sleep. Her dreams had been restless and fragmented—flashes of Chris, Adrian, and her mother's voice. Everything was tangled in her mind like threads she couldn't pull apart.
Her phone sat beside her bed, silent, but every vibration she imagined felt like it might change her life. Her thoughts kept returning to her mother's words. "You're coming with him, right?" That question had lodged itself inside her mind like a thorn.
She didn't know how to tell Chris. Was it a decision she should even make?
Chris had been her anchor when everything else felt like chaos. His presence was comforting. With Chris, she felt wanted and safe. Adrian's fire still pulled at her, but his danger shadowed every spark. Adrian had felt like a thrill, like temptation wrapped in danger. Chris felt at home.
But home came with its own questions.
Bella dressed that morning, her movements slow, deliberate, yet absent-minded. She had to go to campus to pick up a few things. Her thoughts circled back to nights with both men—the heat, the fights, the lies, and the apologies. Every moment with Chris felt different. Every touch carried sincerity. But with Adrian… it was raw hunger, untamed and intoxicating.
By afternoon, she stepped out, moving through errands on autopilot. The world seemed a little dull, filtered through her restless thoughts. She bought a few things—a notebook, some groceries—but her mind never settled. Every sound reminded her of last night; every step brought her closer to an answer she didn't know she wanted.
Evening came, but Bella wasn't ready to return to her apartment. She wandered the park near her block, couples passing by, and wondered: was she moving toward love or away from it?
By the time she returned home, her body ached with indecision. Chris was there. Not in the dramatic way she imagined—no knocks at the door, no sudden appearances. He waited in her living room, as though he had known she'd walk in that way.
In his hands was a takeout bag.
Bella stopped at the door, watching him unpack food with a kind of gentle focus. She wanted to tell Chris everything—her mother, Adrian, and her confusion. But the words caught in her throat.
Chris glanced up, catching her stare. His expression softened. "Hey," he said.
"Hey," she replied, her voice low.
He set the food down on the coffee table, then moved toward her. "You've been quiet all day. What's wrong?" His eyes searched her face with concern.
Bella looked away, unable to meet his gaze. Her mind screamed with all she hadn't said.
Chris sat beside her, careful not to crowd her space. "Bella, talk to me. You've been distant. I can feel it."
She took a deep breath. The silence between them stretched until she felt she might break. Then she whispered, almost to herself, "My mom… she wants me to come with you."
Chris froze. His hand hovered, then settled, his thumb brushing her knuckles. She could see surprise flicker across his face, followed by something deeper—hope.
"Bella…" His voice was careful, but underneath it was a warmth that made her heart ache. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"It wasn't easy to say," she murmured, her voice little more than a whisper. "And it's not only that. I… I don't know if I should."
Chris's fingers curled around hers. "Bella, you don't have to decide now. If it worries you, then don't. I'm fine with waiting. But I want you to know—I'm here. For whatever you need."
Her chest tightened at his words. He sounded almost too earnest, almost too patient. And part of her wanted to give in right there. But another part of her was still tangled in uncertainty.
"You make it sound easy," she said, her voice low. "It's not."
"I know it's not," Chris answered in the same hushed tone. "But if you want me to go with you, I'll make it happen. If that's what you want."
Her mind went back to the nights before—Adrian's hunger, Chris's steadiness. Adrian was in chaos. Chris was calm. Adrian desired without promises. Chris was stable without guarantees.
Chris leaned closer, his voice low. "Bella, I have to ask. I need to know. Do you want me in your life because you want me? Or because I'm the space left by Adrian? The safe choice?"
Bella felt her breath catch. His words were sharp and deliberate. They weren't accusations; they were a question she couldn't evade.
Her fingers curled into her lap. "I don't know," she admitted. "I… I want to know too."
Chris took her hand in both of his. His eyes searched hers, unwavering. "Then tell me. Don't leave me guessing. I need to know if this is real. If I'm real to you."
The air between them thickened. Her heart pounded. She could feel the pull of both her past and her future tugging her apart.
Chris kissed her, lingering on her lips like a question that demanded an answer. Bella didn't pull away, but she didn't close the distance either. She stood there in silence, his hand still holding hers, her mind still torn.
Her breath trembled as she thought of her mother's words again. And she knew the moment of decision was coming.
But she wasn't ready yet.
Chris held her gaze for a long moment, his lips still brushing hers. Bella stood frozen, heart pounding, mind clouded with thoughts she wasn't ready to voice.
Her phone buzzed on the table beside them. She glanced at it. Her mother's name flashed on the screen.
"Bella… are you coming? And you'll come with him, right?"
Her breath hitched. She froze, the words sinking like a stone in her chest. She swiped to answer, her fingers trembling.
"Mom?" Her voice was low, uncertain.
On the other end, her mother's tone was warm but deliberate. "Bella… I hope you've told Chris about my offer. He's coming, right? Tell me so I can start preparing. I want to know."
Bella's throat went dry. "Mom…"
"Is he there with you?" her mother pressed. "Give the phone to him. I want to speak with him."
Bella's hand wavered. She looked at Chris, whose expression was unreadable. His gaze held hers, steady and knowing, as if he had expected this moment all along.
Her lips parted, but no words came out. She swallowed hard. The line was silent except for her mother's gentle urging.
Chris reached for her phone. Her heart thudded in her chest. She wasn't sure if it was from fear, desire, or the gravity of what was about to happen.
She stepped back, staring at him in silence.
And in that stillness, Bella saw the truth. This wasn't about two men. It was about her life.
The screen blinked, the call still ringing, and Bella didn't move.