"Though I still prefer our coffee dates."
"Coffee dates?" Kael's smile was teasing. "So you admit they're dates?"
Asher's face burned. "I—that's not—you know what I meant!"
"Do I?" Kael turned to face him fully, and suddenly they were very close. "Because I've been calling them dates in my head for weeks now."
"You have?"
"Yeah." Kael's voice dropped lower, more intimate. "Is that okay?"
Asher couldn't breathe. "Yes. That's—that's very okay."
They stayed like that, caught in each other's gaze, until someone called Kael's name and broke the spell.
The drive home was quiet but comfortable. Kael walked Asher to his door—exactly at 11:30 as promised.
"Thanks for coming tonight," Kael said. "I know it was outside your comfort zone."
"Thanks for inviting me. And for staying with me the whole time."
"Where else would I be?" Kael reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind Asher's ear. The gesture was so tender it made Asher's chest ache. "Can I see you tomorrow? Outside of tutoring?"
"Like... another date?"
"Exactly like another date."
"Okay," Asher whispered. "Yes."
Then Asher's porch light flickered—his mer dad's subtle way of saying "get inside."
"I should go before my dads come out here," Asher said reluctantly.
"Yeah." But Kael didn't move.
Neither did Asher.
Finally, Kael leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to Asher's forehead. "Goodnight, Asher."
Asher's brain short-circuited. "G'night," he managed, then practically fell out of the car in his haste to escape before he did something embarrassing like combust.
He made it to his front door, turned to wave, and watched Kael drive away before floating inside.
His mer dad was waiting in the living room, trying to look casual while clearly staying up on purpose. "Good time?"
"The best time," Asher breathed.
"He seems nice. Respectful. Got you home on time."
"He is nice." Asher couldn't stop smiling. "Really nice."
His fer father appeared from the kitchen with tea. "Just be careful, sweetheart. Boys like that—"
"I know, I know. I'm being careful." Am I though? "Can we talk about this tomorrow? I'm exhausted."
They let him escape upstairs, where he immediately called Elliot.
"It's almost midnight," Elliot groaned into the phone.
"He kissed me!"
Elliot was instantly awake. "What?! Where? Details! Now!"
"Okay, technically he kissed my forehead, but it was the most romantic thing that's ever happened to me!"
"A forehead kiss? That's actually... kind of sweet. Disgustingly sweet."
"And he asked me out again tomorrow! To an art gallery!"
"Kael Everhart is taking you to an art gallery." Elliot's tone was skeptical. "That seems very out of character."
"Maybe you don't know him as well as you think."
"Maybe. Or maybe he's just really good at becoming whoever you want him to be."
The comment stung. "Why can't you just be happy for me?"
"I am happy for you! I'm just..." Elliot sighed. "I'm worried. This all feels very fast. Very intense. And guys like Kael—"
"Not all popular guys are bad people, El."
"No, but most of them are. Especially the ones who've spent their entire lives getting everything they want."
"You're being unfair."
"And you're being naive."
"I'm sorry," Elliot said finally. "That was harsh. Look, I hope I'm wrong. I really do. I hope he's genuine and this works out and you live happily ever after. I just don't want to see you get hurt."
"I won't. He's not like that."
"Okay. Just... promise me you'll be careful? Guard your heart a little?"
"I promise." Another lie. My heart is already his.
They said goodnight, and Asher lay in bed, replaying every moment of the evening. The way Kael had looked at him. The way his hand had felt against his cheek. That forehead kiss that had sent electricity through his entire body.
This is real, he told himself. It has to be real.
Meanwhile, across town, Kael sat in his car outside his house, staring at nothing.
His phone buzzed with messages from Jax and River.
JAX: So? Did you close?
RIVER: Party seemed like the perfect opportunity
JAX: Don't tell me you chickened out AGAIN
Kael stared at the messages, that familiar nausea rising in his throat.
Because tonight, watching Asher's face light up when they talked, feeling him relax into his touch, seeing that pure, unguarded trust—Kael had completely forgotten about the bet.
For hours, it hadn't even crossed his mind.
He'd just been... happy. Genuinely happy in a way he hadn't felt in years.
And that terrified him.
KAEL: Making progress. Stop rushing me.
JAX: You have three more weeks. Clock's ticking.
RIVER: Better make your move soon. At this rate you'll still be "building trust" when we graduate
Kael threw his phone onto the passenger seat.
Three more weeks.
He could end this now. Could tell Jax and River he was out. Could confess everything to Asher and hope for forgiveness.
But that would mean admitting defeat. Admitting he'd started something cruel and couldn't finish it. Facing the mockery from his friends and potentially losing Asher anyway once he knew the truth.
Or he could keep going. Could follow through on the bet, win, and then... what? Continue dating Asher like nothing happened? Build a relationship on a foundation of lies?
There's a third option, his conscience whispered. Tell him everything. Now. Before it goes any further.
But the thought of seeing Asher's face crumble, of losing those soft smiles and gentle touches.
Kael couldn't do it.
Just a little longer, he told himself. I'll figure out how to fix this. How to make it right.
But deep down, he knew: there was no making this right.
There was only choosing which way to break Asher's heart.
And like the coward he was, Kael chose to postpone the decision for another day.
The next afternoon, Kael picked Asher up for their gallery date.
Asher had agonized over his outfit—settling on a soft gray sweater and his nicest jeans. Still nothing compared to Kael's effortless style, but it would have to do.
The gallery was small but beautiful, showcasing local artists. Kael hadn't been lying—he genuinely didn't know much about art. But he listened attentively as Asher explained the pieces, asked thoughtful questions, and seemed genuinely interested in his interpretations.
"I like this one," Kael said, stopping in front of an abstract piece—swirls of blue and gold that seemed to move even while standing still.
"Why?" Asher asked.
"I don't know. It feels like... chaos and calm at the same time. Like everything's falling apart and coming together."
Asher looked at him in surprise. "That's actually really insightful."
"Don't sound so shocked," Kael teased. "I can be deep sometimes."
"I'm learning that."
They wandered through the exhibit, and somewhere along the way, Kael's hand found Asher's. Their fingers intertwined naturally, like they'd been doing this for years instead of weeks.
This is a date, Asher realized. A real, actual date. He's holding my hand in public.
The thought made him giddy.
After the gallery, they grabbed ice cream and walked through the park.
"Can I ask you something?" Asher said as they sat on a bench overlooking a pond.
"Anything."
"Why me?"
Kael turned to look at him. "What do you mean?"
"I mean... you could date anyone. Literally anyone. Models, influencers, people in your world. So why..." Asher gestured at himself. "Why me?"
Kael was quiet for a moment, and Asher immediately regretted asking.
"Sorry, that was—"
"You're real," Kael interrupted softly. "Everyone else in my life wants something from me. Followers, connections, money, status. But you..." He squeezed Asher's hand. "You just want me. The actual me. Not the Instagram version or the Everhart heir or the basketball captain. Just... Kael."
"That's because the real you is the best version," Asher said without thinking.
Kael's expression did something complicated. "You don't know all of me yet."
"So let me get to know all of you."
"What if you don't like what you find?"
"Impossible." Asher said .
"You have a lot of faith in me."
"You've earned it."
No, I haven't, Kael thought, guilt eating at him. I really, really haven't.
But out loud, he just pulled Asher closer and said, "Thank you."
They sat like that for a while, Asher's head on Kael's shoulder, watching ducks glide across the pond. It was peaceful.
Over the next two weeks, they became inseparable.
Tutoring sessions turned into dinner dates. Text conversations lasted until dawn. Kael showed up at Asher's locker every morning with coffee. Asher started attending Kael's basketball games, cheering louder than anyone else in the stands.
The school noticed, of course. The gossip was relentless.
"Kael Everhart is actually dating the nerd."
"I give it two weeks before he gets bored."
"Must be a publicity stunt or something."
But Kael didn't seem to care about the whispers. He was openly affectionate—holding Asher's hand in the hallways, kissing his temple between classes, pulling him onto his lap during lunch.
Elliot remained skeptical but saw how happy Asher was and kept most of his concerns to himself.
Jax and River, however, were getting impatient.
"One week left," Jax said during practice, his voice low enough that only Kael could hear. "You're running out of time."
"I know."
"Do you? Because you're acting like this is a real relationship."
"Maybe it is," Kael shot back.
"Then you need to decide—are you going to tell him about the bet, or are you going to finish it?"
"Those aren't my only options."
"Actually, they are. Because if you don't close this week, you lose by default. And I guarantee River and I will make sure everyone knows that Kael Everhart got played by a nerd."
Kael's jaw clenched. "I'll handle it."
"You better. Otherwise, this whole thing was for nothing."
That night, Kael lay awake, staring at his ceiling.
If I go through with it, Kael reasoned, I can tell him the truth afterward. Once we're together for real. Once he knows I actually love him. Maybe then he'll understand. Maybe then he'll forgive me.
It was flawed logic and he knew it.
But it was the only plan he had.
So he made a decision.
Next weekend. His parents were going out of town for some influencer event. The house would be empty.
He'd invite Asher over.
And he'd seal the deal.
Then—and only then—would he figure out how to fix the mess he'd made.
It's the only way, he told himself.
Author's Note: Oh no. OH NO. Kael is making terrible decisions and justifying them to himself. Asher is completely in love and has no idea what's coming. This is going to hurt SO much. Next chapter: Kael invites Asher over for their first time, and it all starts to fall apart. Get your tissues ready 😭 -AzureSkies