Chapter 11
694 Words
Chapter 11: After the Surprise
The door had barely closed behind Kailey when silence filled the room.
Not awkward.
Just… new.
Monica stood near the couch, arms loosely folded, still trying to process everything that had just happened. Her best friend had walked in, seen everything—and instead of chaos, there was acceptance.
Relief.
Kian exhaled softly, running a hand through his hair. “Well… that went better than expected.”
Monica let out a small laugh. “Way better. I thought she was going to panic at least.”
Kian smirked. “Please. That’s Kailey. She already figured us out before we did.”
Monica smiled, shaking her head.
“Yeah… she knows you too well.”
“She’s my twin,” Kian said casually. “She reads me like a book.”
“And now she’s going to use that against you forever,” Monica teased.
Kian groaned. “Don’t remind me.”
He stepped closer to her then—naturally, like it was already a habit.
“You okay?” he asked softly.
Monica nodded, though her eyes lingered on his. “Yeah… I think I’m just… catching up.”
“With what?”
She hesitated, then smiled faintly. “With us.”
Something in Kian’s expression softened instantly.
He reached for her hand, their fingers fitting together like it had always been that way. “Then take your time. I’m not going anywhere.”
Monica looked at him, her grip tightening slightly. “Good. Because I’m not letting you either.”
A few minutes later, they were sitting side by side on the couch.
No rush.
No pressure.
Monica leaned lightly against him, and Kian adjusted without thinking, his arm settling comfortably behind her.
It felt… easy.
“You know,” Kian said after a while, “she’s happy for us.”
Monica glanced up. “Yeah. I could tell.”
“She wouldn’t fake that,” he added. “If she didn’t like this, she would’ve said something right away.”
Monica smiled softly. “That’s what I like about her.”
Kian chuckled. “That’s what everyone likes about her… until she starts teasing.”
As if on cue, Monica laughed. “Too late.
She already started.”
Her phone buzzed.
Monica reached for it, but as she read the message, her expression shifted slightly.
Kian noticed immediately. “Work?”
She nodded. “Yeah… looks like I can’t disappear for two days without consequences.”
“What do they need?”
“Everything,” she said, half amused, half resigned. “Reports, approvals, decisions… the usual.”
Kian tilted his head. “Back to being in charge.”
Monica leaned back into the couch, exhaling slowly. “Yeah… back to reality.”
He studied her for a moment. “You don’t sound excited.”
“It’s not that,” she said quietly. “It’s just… everything changes when I step in there.”
“How?”
She looked at him. “There, I’m not just Monica. I’m expected to be perfect.
Decisive. In control all the time.”
Kian didn’t answer right away.
Instead, he reached out, gently brushing his thumb over her hand.
“And here?” he asked.
Monica’s expression softened. “Here… I can just be me.”
Kian smiled slightly. “Then don’t lose that.”
She held his gaze. “I won’t… as long as you’re around.”
“Always,” he said simply.
There was a quiet pause.
Then Kian smirked. “So… tomorrow you’re busy?”
Monica raised an eyebrow. “Why?”
“Just asking,” he said casually. “Trying to figure out how much I’ll miss you.”
She laughed. “You’re impossible.”
“And?”
She leaned closer, her voice playful now.
“You’ll survive.”
Kian shook his head. “Doubt it.”
“Drama,” she teased.
“Honesty,” he corrected.
The room settled into silence again—comfortable, steady.
Monica rested her head lightly against his shoulder, and this time, neither of them questioned it.
No hesitation.
No second thoughts.
Just something real.
And for now—
That was enough.
- Writer
