I leaned back against the counter, crossing my arms, pretending to think. "You know," I said finally, "for two confident guys, you both seem awfully easy to fluster."
Daniel raised an eyebrow. "Flustered?" he asked, amusement curling in his voice. "You think we're flustered?"
Leo smirked, leaning in slightly. "Sweetheart, if anyone's flustered here, it's definitely not us."
I tilted my head, meeting his gaze , slow, deliberate. "Oh really?" I said, my tone featherlight, teasing. "Then why haven't you blinked since I walked in?"
Leo laughed, low and unguarded, while Daniel bit back a grin. "She's got you there," Daniel said, giving his friend a mock pat on the shoulder.
I wasn't done. "And Daniel," I added, turning toward him, "you're not exactly subtle either. You've been staring like you're trying to figure out if I'm real or still part of that fantasy your friend mentioned."
That earned me a look , the kind that lingered, deep and deliberate, equal parts challenge and admiration. "Maybe I still haven't decided," he said.
"Good," I said softly, stepping closer between them. "Because I'm not here to make it easy for either of you."
The silence that followed wasn't awkward , it was thick, electric. Leo broke it first, running a hand through his hair with a crooked grin. "Damn," he muttered. "She's dangerous."
Daniel's voice came low, almost proud. "I told you."
I smiled sweetly. "And you still brought him here," I said, arching a brow. "Brave choice."
Leo raised his mug. "Worth it," he said.
Daniel chuckled, shaking his head. "You really enjoy playing with fire, don't you, Maya?"
I took a slow sip of coffee, holding his gaze over the rim. "Only when the fire stares back."
That did it ,both of them laughed, though there was something else behind it. Something unspoken, a spark that hadn't burned out from earlier , only shifted, pulsing quietly in the space between us.
And as I turned away, swaying just enough for them to notice, I knew exactly what I was doing.
~Scene After She Leaves~
The moment Maya disappeared down the hallway,
Leo let out a low whistle, setting his mug down with a clink. "Damn, bro," he said, leaning back in the chair. "She's a whole storm. You didn't tell me she was like that."
Daniel shot him a sideways look. "Like what?"
Leo smirked. "Like… that. The kind of girl who walks into a room and suddenly your brain forgets basic functions , like breathing, or remembering your own name."
Daniel tried not to smile, but it slipped through anyway. "You always were dramatic."
Leo grinned. "And you always go for trouble. Don't even try to tell me you're 'just friends.' That's the same look you gave when you swore you were done with relationships last time."
Daniel leaned against the counter, jaw tense, eyes following the direction Maya had gone. "It's… not like that."
"Really?" Leo raised a brow. "Because you were looking at her like she hung the damn constellations in your ceiling."
Daniel exhaled through a laugh. "You're imagining things."
Leo shook his head. "Nah, man. I'm reading between the lines. The way she moves around you? That's not casual. And the way you look at her? That's dangerous."
Daniel went quiet for a moment, rubbing the back of his neck. "She's… different," he said finally, voice low, thoughtful. "There's something about her ,it's not just the flirting, or the attitude. She's got this… gravity."
Leo chuckled. "Yeah, no kidding. Even I felt it. She's got that mix , chaos and control. One second she's playful, next second you're questioning your sanity."
Daniel gave a small nod, eyes distant for a beat. "She's been through a lot. But she hides it with all that energy. Like she refuses to let anything break her."
Leo studied him, a knowing grin tugging at his lips. "You're falling, aren't you?"
Daniel didn't answer. He didn't have to.
Leo laughed, standing up and clapping him on the shoulder. "Damn, Danny boy. The last time I saw that look on you, it didn't end with 'just friends.'"
Daniel just smirked faintly. "Maybe this time's different."
Leo grabbed his jacket, still grinning. "Uh-huh. Keep telling yourself that. Just don't call me when it gets messy — and trust me, it will."
As Leo headed for the door, Daniel lingered there a second longer, staring down the hall where Maya had vanished. Her laughter echoed faintly from the bedroom, soft and unguarded.
And that's when it hit him , the realization he'd been trying to dodge.
He wasn't just intrigued anymore. He was in deep.