Chapter 5: 5- Lingering Touches and Lingering doubts
The ride home felt longer than usual. Streetlights slipped past the windows, casting fleeting shadows across Elena's face as she sat quietly, her mind tangled in a thousand thoughts.
Damien's scent still clung faintly to her clothes, mingling with the soft night breeze. His fingers on her waist, the desperate way he'd kissed her—it all replayed in her mind like a secret film only she could see.
I remembered the way his breath quickened against her skin, the way he held her so close as if afraid she might vanish if he let go. Part of her shivered with leftover desire. Another part felt a hollow ache of doubt.
Her phone buzzed in her hand.
> Damien: "Text me when you get home safe. I miss you already."
I stared at the screen, thumbs hovering above the keyboard. She wanted to answer. She wanted to let herself drown in the warm glow of his words.
But a memory flashed—his laughter when his brother insulted her over the phone. The way he sometimes shifted cold and distant when his brother appeared.
She swallowed the lump rising in her throat.
> Elena: "I'm home now. Goodnight."
Almost immediately, another message popped up:
> Damien: "Goodnight, princess. Next time, I'm not letting you escape so easily."
She felt heat rush to her cheeks, equal parts flattered and apprehensive.
---The next day arrived with a bleary dawn, gray clouds dragging themselves across the sky. I lay on the bed, scrolling through old photos of herself and Damien. His arm around her waist, both of them laughing, caught mid-smile.
How did something so beautiful feel so complicated?
My phone rang. Damien's name lit up the screen. I hesitated, thumb trembling over the green button before finally answering.
"Hey, baby," he said, voice low and husky. "Did you dream of me?"
I had to forced a small laugh. "You wish."
Damien chuckled. "Don't pretend. I know you did."
I tried to keep it playful, but his voice held that note of possessiveness that sometimes thrilled me—and sometimes made my skin crawl.
"I want to see you again," Damien said. "This weekend. I can't wait any longer."
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Okay…" i said softly. "We'll see."
There was a pause. Then his tone shifted, sharp and sudden:
"You sounded weird. Are you talking to someone else?"
"No!" I blurted out, caught off guard. "Damien, stop it."
But he was already laughing again, as if it was all a joke.
"Relax, princess. I'm just messing with you. Anyway… I gotta go. I'll call you tonight."
And just like that, the call ended, leaving me staring at my phone, my pulse racing.
---
Later that day, i met up with Stella at a quiet café.
"Girl, why do you look like you've seen a ghost?" Stella demanded as she stirred her iced coffee.
I let out a shaky sigh. "I don't know what I'm doing anymore. Damien's… he's sweet, but he switches up so fast. And sometimes I feel like… like I'm not enough for him."
Stella leaned closer. "You are more than enough. Don't let any man confuse you."
"I keep thinking maybe he'll change," Elena whispered. "But I'm scared I'm fooling myself."
"You have to decide how much of your heart you're willing to gamble," Stella said gently. "Because guys like Damien… they'll take all of it if you let them."
Elena bit her lip, her thoughts spiraling. She wished she could switch off her feelings like a light.
But deep inside, she knew it wasn't that simple.
And as she sat there, she couldn't help wondering:
What if Damien was the biggest mistake she was ever going to make… and the one she couldn't walk away from?