Leon hadn't replied to her last message.
It was the third day.
Celeste stared at her phone again, fingers hesitating over the keyboard, then locking it without typing a word. Something had shifted. She could feel it—like a thread pulled too tightly between them.
She remembered their last conversation—Kalen's name had come up. Something about the tension in Leon's voice hadn't felt right. But he had kissed her forehead and said he'd call. He never did.
At first, she told herself he was busy. But now? She wasn't so sure.
So she got in her car and made the two-hour drive.
Leon's apartment was quiet—dim, save for the warm glow of a single lamp in the corner. He looked up from his place on the couch, clearly surprised when the door opened and she stepped inside without waiting for an invitation.
"Celeste?"
"You weren't answering," she said simply, walking in.
He blinked, then exhaled. "I was going to call."
She folded her arms. "When? After another three days?"
Leon stood, rubbing the back of his neck. "I didn't mean to disappear. I just needed… space."
Celeste tilted her head. "Space from me?"
"No. From my head," he muttered. "I've just been… off."
"Then you should've said that," she said softly. "Instead of leaving me to wonder if I did something wrong."
Leon moved closer but didn't touch her. "You didn't. I swear."
Her eyes searched his. "Then talk to me, Leon. Whatever it is—just say it."
A long pause.
"I'm afraid," he finally said.
"Of what?"
"Of how much I feel for you."
That caught her off guard. She blinked.
"I thought I could handle it. That we could keep things slow. But then Kalen came to see me and he said some things… things that made me question everything. And I didn't want to bring that mess into what we're building."
Celeste's expression softened, but her voice was still steady. "You don't get to decide for both of us, Leon. If we're building something real, we don't run every time it gets complicated."
He looked away. "I know. I just didn't want to hurt you."
"You hurt me by shutting me out."
That landed hard.
He nodded slowly. "I'm sorry."
Celeste stepped closer, finally reaching for his hand. "So what now?"
Leon squeezed her fingers, the weight of everything unsaid still pressing behind his eyes. "I want to make this work. With you. But I need you to be patient with me."
"I'm here, aren't I?" she said with a small smile.
Leon looked down at her like he couldn't believe she was real. "Yeah… you are."
They didn't kiss. Not yet. But something between them softened — a silent truce, a promise to keep showing up even when it's hard.