ARIA
Still trying to grasp everything that was happening, I quickly opened my eyes and pulled away from him, releasing myself from his grip. My back hit the wall again as I stared at him, my heart racing too fast for my thoughts to keep up. “Wait,” I said, lifting my hands slightly as if to stop the moment. “Is this real?”
He looked startled by my sudden movement but did not step back. His eyes stayed on me, steady and serious. I laughed, a sharp, almost hysterical sound that surprised even me. “One moment you were stopping me from entering your apartment. The next moment, Karen was in my apartment, marking her territory. And now this,” I said, shaking my head. “Really, wait. Are you for real right now?”
“Yes,” he answered without hesitation, his voice calm but firm.
“Why now?” I asked
