Stepping closer
849 Words
Chapter Five grok version
Kia let his gaze linger on her a second longer than necessary after she apologized for his mother’s death.
It caught him off guard.
Most people offered awkward sympathy or that hollow pity stare he hated. But Ava’s words carried real softness ,like his loss actually hurt her too.
And somehow, that sincerity cut deeper than anything else had in a long time.
“How did you know my name, sweetheart?”
The endearment slipped out, low and deliberate.
Ava blinked, then a shy smile curved her lips. “Oh, come on, Kia. You’re literally a famous basketball player.”
His mouth twitched with reluctant amusement.
“My dad is probably your biggest fan,” she continued, eyes sparkling. “He watches every game. Sometimes he drags me along, especially when he starts complaining about not having a son.”
Kia let out a quiet, genuine laugh — rare enough that it surprised even him.
Ava’s eyes widened, as if she hadn’t expected to pull that sound from him.
“The last time your team lost,” she added dramatically, “my dad refused to eat dinner. My mom had to scold him like a child: ‘David, you are a grown man. Eat your food and stop punishing Kia.’”
Another warm laugh rumbled from his chest.
“I like your dad already,” Kia said, leaning back in his chair, eyes never leaving her face. “He sounds like good people.”
Ava’s whole face lit up. “He is. Basically a human teddy bear.”
Something warm and unfamiliar settled deep in Kia’s chest as he watched her. No filters. No performance. Just pure, glowing honesty. It made him want to keep her in this moment longer than he should.
“I’ll send him tickets to our next home game.”
Ava blinked, stunned. “Seriously?”
Kia held her gaze, unblinking. “Yeah.”
“That would make him unbelievably happy,” she said with a soft laugh. “He might actually cry.”
“I respect that kind of loyalty.”
She laughed again, quieter this time, and the sound slid under his skin like a secret. He liked it far too much.
Ava tilted her head, studying him with new curiosity. “Can I be honest with you?”
“Depends,” he replied, one eyebrow lifting in challenge.
“The first time you walked in here,” she admitted carefully, “you looked terrifying. Barely spoke. Just this constant frown. And today you came in looking even grumpier.”
Fair enough.
“I thought you’d be one of those typical athletes,” she continued. “Cocky. Arrogant. Kind of rude.”
Kia’s expression remained neutral, but something tightened behind his ribs. Her words shouldn’t sting, yet they did.
“I guess I misjudged you,” she added softly.
He looked down at his coffee for a beat, then pinned her with his stare again. “Not everyone gets this version of me.”
The silence that stretched between them felt thick and charged.
Ava’s expression softened with guilt. “I didn’t mean,
“It’s fine,” he said, voice low and firm. “Most people judge. It’s okay.”
Weirdly, it was fine. Because for once, someone’s opinion of him actually mattered.
That realization irritated the hell out of him.
Before the silence could grow too dangerous, Kia reached into the pocket of his hoodie and pulled out his phone.
“Give me your number.”
Ava’s breath hitched. “For the tickets, right?”
A faint blush warmed her cheeks as she took his phone. Kia watched her small, delicate fingers move across the screen. Everything about her felt disarmingly real.
She handed it back. “There.”
Kia glanced at the contact: Ava. Simple. Sweet. Like her.
“I should probably get back to work,” she said, though she didn’t move right away.
“Yeah,” he replied, but neither of them seemed eager to end it.
Finally, Ava offered one last soft smile before turning away. The moment she disappeared behind the counter, her friend Mia practically pounced.
“Oh my God,” Mia whisper-shouted. “The tension between you two is insane. You need to get married already.”
Ava grabbed a towel, half-hiding her burning face. “Stop it.”
“I’m serious! That man was staring at you like he wanted to devour you.”
Ava’s mouth fell open. “He was not.”
“He absolutely was. Especially when you leaned forward.”
Heat flooded Ava’s cheeks. She swatted at Mia with the towel, laughing despite herself.
But even as the café filled with afternoon customers and the usual chaos returned, Ava’s eyes kept drifting toward the quiet corner where Kia sat.
Scrolling through his phone.
Looking far too comfortable in her space.
When he finally stood, their eyes locked across the room. A slow, unspoken current passed between them ,heavy and electric.
Then he walked out.
And just like that, the entire café felt strangely, painfully empty without him.
- Writer
