daring love

As our lips collided, Michael suddenly pulled away, leaving me breathless and bewildered. I furrowed my brows, my mind racing with questions. "What's wrong?" I asked, my voice laced with concern, as I cupped his face in my hands.

Michael gently pulled my hands away, his eyes avoiding mine. "Umm... it's getting late, I should take you back now," he said, his tone detached and formal.

I was stunned. This had never happened before. Michael was always passionate and affectionate, but now he seemed distant and aloof. I felt a pang of uncertainty and insecurity.

"Umm... okay, then," I said, trying to sound casual, as I followed him back to his black Mercedes.

The ride back to my apartment was awkward and silent. I couldn't help but wonder what was wrong. Didn't he like the way I kissed him? He didn't even try to touch me or hold my hand, which was unusual for him.

As we drove, my mind wandered back to our previous encounters. We had been intimate, and I thought everything was fine. But now, I wasn't so sure.

Before I knew it, we arrived at my apartment. "Lexi," Michael called out, breaking the silence.

I snapped out of my thoughts and turned to face him. "We're here," he said, his eyes still avoiding mine.

I felt a pang of disappointment and hurt. He didn't even kiss me goodbye or say goodbye. I gulped, trying to compose myself. "Oh... thanks," I said, trying to sound casual, as I got out of the car.

As soon as I closed the door, Michael zoomed off, leaving me standing alone in the darkness. I watched him go, feeling a mix of emotions: confusion, hurt, and uncertainty.

What did I do wrong? I wondered. Was it something I said or did? I couldn't shake off the feeling that I had somehow messed up.

As I stood there, trying to make sense of what had just happened, I realized that I needed to talk to Michael. I needed to know what was going on and why he was acting so strangely.

I took a deep breath, pulled out my phone, and sent him a text. "Hey, what's going on? You seemed really distant tonight. Is everything okay?"

I waited anxiously for his response, hoping that he would clarify what was going on and reassure me that everything was fine.

After what felt like an eternity, my phone buzzed. I quickly grabbed it and read Michael's response.

"Hey, I'm sorry if I seemed distant. I've just got a lot on my mind right now. Let's talk about it tomorrow, okay?"

I felt a mix of emotions: relief, concern, and uncertainty. I was glad that he had responded and acknowledged my concerns, but I was still worried about what was going on.

I decided to respond and try to reassure him that I was there for him. "Okay, no problem. I'm here for you, and I want to support you. Let's talk tomorrow."

I sent the text and waited for his response. After a few minutes, my phone buzzed again.

"Thanks, Lexi. I appreciate it. I'll talk to you tomorrow."

I felt a sense of relief wash over me. At least we were going to talk about it tomorrow. I just hoped that everything was okay and that we could work through whatever was going on.

With that thought, I went to bed, feeling a mix of emotions but also feeling hopeful that tomorrow would bring clarity and resolution.

~~~~~~~

The sun's warm rays danced across my face as I slowly emerged from slumber. Today was a big day – the culmination of weeks of hard work and dedication. I stretched my arms, feeling a slight soreness from the awkward position I'd slept in.

My phone pinged, breaking the silence. I smiled as I saw Lila's name flash on the screen. "Select one, red or black," she typed.

I thought for a moment before responding, "Black."

Lila immediately initiated a video call. I answered, and her face appeared on the screen, with her face already made up with make up and looking stunning. Behind her, I saw two gorgeous gowns – one black, one red.

"It's difficult," Lila said, pouting. "The black one makes my boobs feel larger, while the red one makes my ass look bigger."

I tried to stifle a laugh. "Trust me, girl, the black one."

Lila stared at me, her eyes narrowing. "Why the heck haven't you dressed?" she gasped. "Don't tell me you haven't showered."

I chuckled. "Well, what do you expect? I slept late."

Lila's expression turned incredulous. "Huh? What...?"

I took a deep breath, launching into the story of my date with Michael. "Well, I went on a date last night."

Lila's eyes sparkled with excitement. "With Michael?"

I nodded, and Lila's face turned serious. "So... you guys had sex."

I shook my head. "No, unfortunately."

Lila's brows furrowed. "What? He didn't even try to make a move?"

I filled her in on the details – the brief kiss, Michael's sudden withdrawal, and the awkward goodbye. Lila listened intently, her expression growing increasingly outraged.

"What an asshole!" she exclaimed. "He didn't even say goodbye to you?"

I shrugged. "I know, right? But I called him after a few minutes, and he said he had a lot on his mind."

Lila snorted. "Save it, Lexi. I think he's cheating on you."

I rolled my eyes. "Lila, don't be ridiculous."

But Lila was undeterred. "I'm just telling you this because I'm your best friend. Don't believe everything men say."

I chuckled, shaking my head. "I believe him, anyway."

Lila sighed dramatically. "Anything you say, princess."

I glared at her, laughing. "Shut up."

As we continued to chat, I started getting ready for the big day ahead. Lila watched me through the screen, offering advice and encouragement.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I was ready. I struck a pose in front of the mirror, feeling confident and beautiful.

Lila whistled through the screen. "You look stunning, Lexi. Go out there and crush it!"

I grinned, feeling a surge of gratitude toward my best friend. "Thanks, Lila. I couldn't have done it without you"