Page 28 of Escape

I nod, staying silent.

“I’ve been running from anything that feels real since… since Tajikistan,” she says, her voice quiet but steady. “And now, I don’t know how to stop. I don’t know how to... how to let someone in without it all falling apart.”

Her shoulders slump slightly, and she glances away, her jaw tight. “I don’t expect anything from you. I just thought you should know. Because I don’t want you to think this is like the other guys. It’s not. You’re not.”

I reach out then, resting my hand gently over hers. She doesn’t pull away, but her fingers remain tense beneath mine.

“Mel,” I say softly, my thumb brushing against her knuckles. “You don’t have to figure this all out today or tomorrow or even next month. We can take it as slow as you need.”

She looks up at me, her eyes searching mine.

“I mean it,” I continue, my voice steady. “You set the speed. If you want to go on a date, you tell me. If you want me to kiss you, you say so. If you want more... I’ll wait for you to say when. As long as it takes, I’m here.”

Her lips part slightly, her breath catching as she stares at me. “You’d really wait?”

“For you?” I say, a small smile tugging at my lips. “I’d wait forever.”

She blinks, her eyes glassy with unshed tears, and then she lets out a shaky laugh. “You’re such a sap.”

“Yeah, well, someone’s got to balance out your tough exterior,” I tease gently.

A real smile breaks through then, and she squeezes my hand lightly. “I’m scared, Owen,” she whispers.

“I know,” I reply, my voice soft. “And that’s okay. I’ll be here, no matter what.”

The weight between us shifts, the tension easing just slightly as she leans into my side. I wrap an arm around her, pulling herclose, and for the first time since she’s come back, it feels like the walls between us are starting to come down.

We sit like that for a while, the silence between us warm and steady. And I know, deep down, that whatever this is, whatever it becomes, it’ll be worth the wait.

“You really mean it,” she says softly, breaking the silence.

“Mean what?” I ask, glancing down at her.

“That you’d wait,” she replies, her voice quieter now, like she’s testing the words as they leave her lips.

I smile, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. “Of course, I mean it. I’m in no rush, Mel. I can move at the speed of a snail.” I slow down all my movements like someone pressed slow-motion on a video.

She lets out a small huff of laughter, shaking her head. “You’re ridiculous, you know that?”

“Ridiculously patient,” I say with mock seriousness. “And ridiculously nerdy, in case you forgot.”

She snorts, the sound breaking through the lingering weight in the room. “And ridiculously hot,” she giggles.

“Don’t make me blush,” I reply, grinning. “But seriously, when you’re ready—whether it’s tomorrow, next week, or next year—I’m here.”

Mel pulls back slightly to look up at me, her expression softer now, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “You’re setting the bar pretty high, Owen. What if we are a disaster as a couple?”

“Then I guess we’ll go back to being friends,” I say, smirking. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily,” I add, nudging her lightly.

“Good,” she says, her smile lingering as she leans back into me. “Because I’m not sure I’d want to.”

The warmth in her voice sends a flicker of hope through my chest. It’s small, tentative, but it’s there. And it’s enough to make me believe that maybe, just maybe, this could be the start of something real.

“Now,” I say, shifting to a playful tone. “Are you going to make me watch another rom-com when we finally go on that date, or can I pick something with explosions and car chases?”

Mel tilts her head, pretending to consider. “Hmm... depends. How much popcorn are you buying me?”

“All of it,” I say immediately.

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