Moments Between Us
1014 Words
Chapter 11 – Moments Between Us
The morning sunlight streamed softly through the curtains, casting golden hues on the wooden floor of Alicia’s small but cozy apartment. She stirred gently beneath the light sheet, blinking up at the ceiling with a strange flutter in her heart. A few days ago, she had no idea Travis would become such an important part of her thoughts, her mornings… her life.
He wasn’t there, not physically—not yet—but the way his presence lingered was undeniable. Her heart still remembered the way he’d looked at her during her birthday surprise, the way his hand had brushed hers, how carefully he seemed to choose every word, afraid to break the fragile line forming between them.
It had been days since then, and things were slowly changing.
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They had started spending time together in the quietest, most unintentional ways. Sometimes he would drop by her place after work just to hand her a warm cup of coffee and talk about his day. Other times, Alicia found herself walking beside him in the park, their conversations ranging from the stars to their dreams.
Travis, despite being a CEO of a massive company like Vireon Industries, seemed to savor those little moments with her. It was as if she brought peace to his otherwise stormy world.
Today was one of those days. Alicia had an early shift at the clinic, but Travis had texted her the night before.
> “I’ll walk you to work in the morning. Just want to see you before we both drown in our responsibilities. –T”
A smile tugged at her lips just thinking about it. She quickly showered, dressed in her soft lavender nurse scrubs, and tied her hair into a neat ponytail. The moment she stepped outside, he was there.
“Good morning, beautiful,” he greeted, offering her a thermos. “Chamomile tea. I remember you said coffee makes you jittery during shifts.”
Her heart skipped.
“You remember everything,” she whispered, taking the tea.
Travis didn’t say anything. He just gave her that look. The one that made her feel like he wasn’t just looking at her—but into her. They walked down the street together, their shoulders brushing occasionally, laughing about little things.
“Tell me something no one knows about you,” Alicia asked, glancing up at him with a teasing smile.
Travis laughed softly. “Alright. I used to be obsessed with puzzles as a kid. Like, hardcore puzzle addict. I had to solve one before I could sleep.”
Alicia grinned. “That’s adorable.”
“And you?” he asked, bumping her shoulder gently.
She looked ahead, thoughtful. “I used to talk to plants after my parents died. It made me feel less alone. I still do sometimes.”
He didn’t laugh. He just nodded, as if cherishing that part of her.
When they reached the clinic, Travis lingered at the door.
“Text me when you’re done?” he asked.
“Only if you don’t forget about me when you get to your billionaire tower,” she teased.
“I could never forget you, Alicia.”
With that, he left, heading off toward his car. Alicia stood frozen for a moment, her cheeks warm, before stepping into her workplace.
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Her supervisor, Nurse Marion, greeted her with a smile. “You’re glowing this morning. Got yourself a new moisturizer or something?”
Alicia chuckled. “No, just… I guess I’m having a good day.”
The day passed quickly. Alicia focused on her rounds, helping patients, assisting with checkups, and managing files. Yet, somewhere in the back of her mind, she thought of Travis. How calm he made her feel. How patient he was. How he listened.
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Meanwhile, Travis was buried in meetings at Vireon Industries. The boardroom buzzed with conversations about logistics, structural plastic production models, and new supply chain routes. But through it all, he found himself glancing at his phone, waiting for Alicia’s message.
When her text finally popped up—“Just finished. Heading home now.”—he smiled. It felt like sunshine breaking through clouds.
Later that evening, he surprised her at her apartment again.
“Don’t you ever get tired of work?” she teased as she opened the door.
“Work exhausts me,” he said, stepping inside with a takeout bag. “But you… you recharge me.”
They sat on the floor, eating noodles from cartons, laughing at his horrible chopstick skills. And then, there was a moment.
Silence.
The kind that wasn’t awkward.
Just filled with possibility.
He looked at her, gently setting his carton aside. “Alicia,” he began softly.
She raised her brows, heart pounding.
“I like you. I really like you,” he said, his voice vulnerable. “I know I’m not the easiest person. My life’s complicated. But you… you make everything feel simple. Like I can breathe again.”
Her eyes glistened.
“I don’t want to rush you,” he continued. “But I want to be with you. I want to call you my girlfriend. If… if you feel the same.”
Alicia’s throat tightened.
She had never imagined this moment. Not with someone like him. But as she looked into his eyes, she saw not a billionaire, not a CEO—but a man who was trying, truly trying, to offer her his heart.
“Yes,” she whispered. “Yes, I want that too.”
Travis reached out, taking her hand in his. “So, we’re official?”
She smiled. “We are.”
They didn’t kiss—not yet. Instead, they sat together, fingers laced, hearts open, enjoying the rare peace of two souls finally colliding in the right way.
Outside, the city moved like it always did. But inside Alicia’s apartment, time slowed down. And for the first time in a long while, love didn’t feel like a distant dream.
It was here.
And it was real.
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End of Chapter 11
- Writer
