change of heart 7

Liam had always been fine on his own. Relationships weren't really his thing. He'd had flings, sure, but nothing that lasted, and he'd always told himself that was just the way he was.

But lately?

Lately, he was starting to wonder.

It started after Daniel's third date with Josh. Liam had never seen him like this before—giddy, cracking stupid jokes, texting nonstop. It was weird. And, if Liam was being honest, kind of nice to see.

Then one night, after a few beers, Daniel smirked at him and said, "Alright, enough about me. When was the last time youwent on a date?"

Liam snorted. "Pass."

Daniel raised an eyebrow. "Dude. It's been, what? A year?"

Liam shrugged. "I've been busy."

Daniel shook his head. "That is such a lame excuse."

Liam rolled his eyes. "Not all of us are out here living rom-coms, Dan."

Daniel leaned forward, grinning. "Okay, but hear me out—what if you did?"

Liam frowned. "Did what?"

Daniel pulled out his phone. "Let me set you up."

Liam groaned. "No."

"Oh, come on," Daniel said. "I know people. I could find someone you'd actually like."

Liam gave him a look. "Last time you set me up, it was with your friend's cousin who only talked about cryptocurrency."

Daniel winced. "Okay, that was a mistake. But I can do better."

Liam sighed, rubbing his face. "Why do you care so much?"

Daniel hesitated, then shrugged. "Because you're my best friend. And I think maybe you don't realize how good it feels to actually let someone in."

Liam was quiet for a moment.

He could've brushed it off. Could've cracked a joke or told Daniel to drop it. But the thing was… he had been thinking about it lately.

Not in a lonely way, exactly. But in a way that made him wonder if maybe—just maybe—he'd been keeping people at arm's length for too long.

Finally, he sighed. "Fine. One date. But if it's another crypto bro, I'm never listening to you again."

Daniel grinned. "Deal."

A few days later, Liam found himself sitting at a coffee shop, waiting for his blind date to show up.

He still wasn't sure why he'd agreed to this.

Maybe it was Daniel's annoying persistence. Maybe it was curiosity. Maybe—just maybe—it was because he was starting to believe that change wasn't such a bad thing after all.

And when the door opened, and a woman walked in with a confident smile, he thought…

Alright. Maybe this won't be so bad.