Hesitations 2

By the time he arrived at the restaurant, the clock read 6:30 p.m 

Looking through the glass door, he saw polished wood floors glowing softly under warm lights. The place was unpretentious—more focused on good food than flashy decor. 

He stepped inside, eyes scanning the room before moving toward the host. 

"Evening," he said, pulling up the reservation on his phone. 

The host glanced at it, then smiled politely. "Right this way, Sir." 

Terrence followed, keeping his pace. 

The table waited near a large window—the best seat in the house. 

Outside, the ocean spread wide, reflecting the pale moonlight and early stars. 

Waves lapped quietly, mixing with the piano's notes and the murmur of nearby voices. 

'Now this is what I call a good atmosphere.' 

While waiting, he scrolled through his crypto investments on his phone. 

Seeing the numbers made him happy. 

"Terrence." 

A soft, sweet voice called out to him, catching his attention. 

He looked up slowly. 

Effie stood there, bathed in the warm glow of the chandelier. 

For a split second, he almost lost his composure. 

She wore a white, strapless dress. Simple, but somehow unfair how perfectly it fit her. 

Her hair fell in soft curls that bounced slightly with each step, the glossy strands catching the light as she moved.

She tucked one behind her ear while smiling at him, revealing a pair of delicate earrings that shimmered just enough to draw attention.

"Is there something wrong with my outfit?" Effie asked when he didn't respond.

"No.. everything is fine," he stammered, still trying to collect his thoughts. "I was just taken aback. I didn't expect you to look this good."

Her cheeks flushed pink. 

Terrence took the opportunity to stand and pull out the chair for her, the simple gesture making her blushed more. 

They sat face to face, and the tension between them was hard to hide. 

"I..." She hesitated, searching for the right words. "I like your new haircut, and your clothes... You look more grown up."

Her gaze dropped briefly—she wasn't used to giving him compliments like that. 

Meanwhile, heat rose to his ears . Just looking at her now was throwing off his thoughts, making it hard to focus on anything else. 

It was clear she put in the effort to look this good for him, and that made him a very happy man. 

If this happened before he found out about his uncle's infidelity, he would resist the idea of getting too close to her.

Now, it felt different—like fate handed him a reason to be bolder 

Still, he needed to know what she really felt. 

Using her pain wasn't right. That's why he kept the affair a secret for now. 

The waiter arrived, setting down wine glasses and menus . 

They placed their orders. 

As expected, she chose something light. Terrence, however, went for a steak and some easy-to-eat seafood because his appetite was big now.

Silence stretched between them again until he asked about her day. 

Before she answered, she reached into her bag and pulled out a small red box. 

"Happy birthday," she said softly. 

He took it with a wide smile on his face. 

Getting a gift from her now, as an adult, felt different from all his past birthdays. 

"Can I open it now?" 

"Yes," she nodded, her eyes shining with excitement to see his reaction. 

He peeled back the red wrapping carefully, making sure not to tear it too fast. 

Underneath, a green leather box appeared, marked with a small golden crown. 

"No way..." His heart sped as he opened it. 

Inside was a Rolex watch—black case and bezel with a titanium strap. 

A card rested on top: Yacht-Master 42 Titanium. 

"This is expensive!" he almost shouted but stopped himself just in time. 

"Aunt Effie, it's amazing, but this feels like too much." 

She shook her head. "I think it's perfect for you. The black bezel matches your eyes." 

Terrence was speechless. 

He would have to be the most oblivious man alive to think she didn't have feelings for him. No woman would give a watch worth tens of thousands just out of pity. 

Even a woman who really loved her partner might hesitate. But in her eyes, there wasn't a trace of doubt or regret. It was the opposite. 

She look happier than him, as if her joy came from seeing his own happiness. It was selfless and genuine. 

"Thank you. I'll keep this safe forever." 

She smiled softly, a warm light shining in her eyes. "That means more to me than you know." 

Her words made his heart beat faster. 

'At this point, she's just asking for it.' 

He closed his eyes, gathering the courage to speak. "Aunt Effie, I lik—"

"Terrence," she cut him off, her expression turning serious. 

"Before you say something we both might regret, I need to know..." She paused, struggling to find the right words. 

"Are you saying that because it's how you really feel, or just because I'm the only girl who cared for you?" 

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Author's Note:

If you're enjoying the story, consider giving power stones. It helps me know I'm heading in the right direction and gives me more motivation to post more chapters per day.