14. Judd

Judd

I’m pacing the living room when Athena and Lars show up, Stevie bouncing excitedly behind me. She’s been chattering about “movie night” and “marshmallows” since lunchtime and her energy is infectious—even if my own nerves are working overtime.

Athena strides in first, her usual air of authority softened by the way she immediately scoops Stevie up, laughing as my daughter squeals with delight. Lars follows behind her, easygoing as ever, his hands stuffed into his pockets and a lazy grin on his face.

“Uncle Lars! Auntie Thee-na!” Stevie wiggles in Athena’s arms before Lars takes her, tossing her lightly into the air. I hold my breath until she safely returns to Lars’ arms even if I know he won’t drop her. Her giggles ring out like bells, a smile taking over my face.

“Movie night!” Stevie proclaims, her little fists pumping in the air. “And marshmallows!” Her r’s and l’s get all twisted but we all know what she wants.

Athena raises an eyebrow at me as she sets down a tote bag filled with who-knows-what. “Marshmallows, huh?”

“Just not too many,” I say, trying to sound firm, though my grin probably undermines the whole thing. “And bedtime is strictly 8 p.m., okay?”

“Of course,” Athena says, far too innocently. She shoots a glance at Lars, who shrugs and mutters, “We’ll see.”

I give them both a look, but Lars just laughs, setting Stevie down so she can dart toward her toy chest. Then he turns to me, his grin widening.

“So,” Lars says, drawing out the word like he’s about to share the world’s biggest secret. “You’re dating Nakul now, huh?”

I sputter, my face heating up immediately. “What? No. We’re just—we’re doing dinner. That’s it. To see where it goes.”

Lars looks unconvinced. “Sure, sure. Dinner. That’s how it starts, my man. Didn’t think you’d snag one of the popular boys, though. Everyone wanted to be with one of them back in the day.”

“Lars,” Athena says sharply, though there’s a glimmer of amusement in her eyes. “Don’t embarrass him.”

Lars raises his hands in surrender, still grinning. “I’m just saying! Besides, princess— ,” He jokes, calling Athena by his nickname for her. “You were one of those that had eyes for some of the—” Athena cuts him off with a light jab to his shoulder, all three of us bursting out in laughter.

I get ready to leave, trying to grab Stevie’s attention but she’s always one-track-minded when it comes to sweets. Stevie runs back over, tugging on Athena’s hand. “Movie and marshmallows! You promised!”

“Okay, okay!” Athena laughs, letting Stevie drag her toward the couch. She pauses long enough to glance back at me. “You’ve got this. Do what feels natural and remember—you have all of us to support you.”

***

The restaurant is fancier than anything I’m used to—soft lighting, white tablecloths, the works. I spot Nakul near the entrance and my breath catches. He’s wearing a dark button-down and tailored slacks, and while he looks incredible, I can tell he’s as out of place as I feel.

“Hey,” he says, smiling as he pulls out my chair for me. “You look great.”

“Thanks,” I mumble, sitting down and trying not to feel self-conscious in my sweater and dress pants. “You too.”

We both glance at the menu, the silence between us heavy. When the waiter arrives, Nakul gestures for me to order first and I choose something simple—a grilled fish dish that seems safe. Nakul does the same and when the waiter leaves, we’re left with the awkwardness of trying to navigate whatever this is.

“So,” Nakul says after a moment, his smile a little strained. “What do you think of the place?”

“It’s… nice,” I say, though my voice wavers slightly. “Definitely… fancy.”

He chuckles, glancing around. “Yeah, maybe a little too fancy for us?”

The first course arrives and I immediately feel overwhelmed. The portions are small, the presentation meticulous, and I’m not even sure what half of it is. I glance at Nakul, who looks equally baffled and then suddenly starts laughing.

“I’m sorry,” he says, setting down his fork. “I thought… I don’t know, I thought a date was supposed to be nice. But I don’t think this is us.”

Relief washes over me and I can’t help but laugh too. “It’s definitely not us.”

He leans forward, his grin widening. “If you could go anywhere right now, where would it be?”

I meet his gaze, a spark of mischief igniting in my chest. “Do you trust me?”

His expression softens and he nods. “Yeah, I trust you.”

Fifteen minutes later, we’re pulling into the parking lot of a little burger joint on the edge of Windsor Creek. The neon sign flickers above the door and the smell of grease and salt hits me the second I step out of the car. It’s perfect.

We order greasy burgers, fries, nachos, and a couple of beers, then sit at a picnic table overlooking the icy water. The cold bites at my cheeks, but I barely notice. The atmosphere feels lighter here, more natural.

“This,” Nakul says, taking a bite of his burger, “is so much better.”

I laugh, nodding in agreement. “I thought the same thing. Ava was always the one with extravagant tastes. Fancy dinners, designer clothes, outlandish ideas.”

Nakul snorts. “She was like that with me too. Always chasing some fantasy life.”

As we talk, I realize how much of my life Ava managed to warp. Her expectations, her selfishness—it all left scars I’m still learning to recognize. But at the same time, I see Nakul differently now. He’s not just someone Ava left in her wake. He’s thoughtful, grounded, and there’s a quiet strength in him that I find myself drawn to more and more.

The conversation eventually slows, the noise of the water and the distant hum of traffic filling the space between us. Nakul leans in slightly, his eyes searching mine.

He hesitates, his lips hovering just a breath away. And then I close the distance, kissing him softly. His hands find my waist, pulling me closer, while mine grip his shoulders. It’s passionate but controlled, the kind of kiss that makes the world fade away.

When I finally pull back, my breathing is unsteady. “We should stop,” I murmur, though the words feel like a betrayal.

“Why?” he asks, his voice low and rough.

“Before I don’t want to.”

His eyes soften and he nods. “I don’t know where this leads,” he admits, his hands still resting on my hips. “But I don’t want to mess this up.”

“Me neither,” I say, though doubt creeps into my mind. “Are you sure this isn’t just… because of Ava? Because we have her in common?”

He shakes his head firmly. “No. This has nothing to do with her. I would like to date you, Judd Stathis. Officially. Not just go on dates or see each other.”

The sincerity in his voice hits me and I can’t stop the smile spreading across my face. “I'd like that,” I say softly. “Let’s see where this goes.”

He leans in for another kiss, and this time, it’s slower, sweeter. For the first time in a long time, I feel like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. “Let’s take a walk by the wharf, yeah?”