Daniel’s POV.
I pulled into the parking lot of Aria’s apartment building, shifting the car into park and glancing at her. She hadn’t said much since we left campus, her focus seemingly on the passing streets outside the window. It wasn’t the first time I’d seen her retreat into her thoughts, and I was careful not to push her too much when she got like this. She was still finding her footing, and I respected that, but it didn’t stop me from wanting to break down those walls she kept so carefully built.
As she reached for the door handle, I got out of the car and walked around to meet her. She smiled faintly, but there was still a hesitation in her eyes, a flicker of something she wasn’t saying.
“Let me walk you up,” I said, my voice leaving no room for argument.
“You don’t have to,” she replied, though she didn’t resist when I gestured toward the stairs.
“I know I don’t have to,” I said, a small smile tugging at the corners of my lips. “But I want to.”
She sighed softly but didn’t argue further, and we ascended the stairs together, the sound of our footsteps echoing in the quiet of the late afternoon.
—
Aria’s POV.
Daniel walked beside me up the stairs, his presence steady and unshakable as always. I wasn’t sure if I found it comforting or overwhelming. Probably both. He was so sure of himself, so confident in the way he moved and spoke. It was no wonder everyone on campus noticed him.
When we reached the door to my apartment, he paused, leaning slightly against the wall as I unlocked it. His gaze lingered on me, and I felt it like a weight, not heavy but persistent.
“So,” he said casually, though there was an edge of something deeper in his tone, “what are your plans for tonight?”
I glanced at him, caught off guard by the question. “Uh, nothing much. Just going to settle in and maybe read over some notes for tomorrow.”
He tilted his head slightly, his lips curving into that easy smile of his. “How about dinner? At my place. I’ll cook.”
The suggestion hung in the air, and my heart gave a little flutter. Dinner at his house? Alone? The idea was… intimidating, to say the least.
“I don’t know, Daniel,” I said hesitantly, clutching my bag a little tighter. “I mean, you’re my lecturer, and-”
“And tonight, I’ll just be Daniel,” he interrupted gently. “No titles, no campus. Just two people sharing a meal.”
I bit my lip, looking away. He made it sound so simple, but it wasn’t. Not for me.
“Aria,” he said, his voice soft but insistent, “you’ve had a long day. Let me do something nice for you. No pressure, no expectations. Just dinner. What do you say?”
I hesitated a moment longer, then sighed. “Okay. But just dinner.”
He nodded, his smile widening slightly. “Just dinner. I’ll pick you up at nine.”
—
Daniel’s POV.
The clock struck nine, and I parked my car outside her apartment once again, stepping out and adjusting my shirt. I couldn’t help but feel a flicker of nervousness, something I hadn’t felt in years. I’d planned everything carefully-the food, the setting, even the flowers waiting at my villa. Tonight was about showing her how much she meant to me, even if she wasn’t quite ready to hear it yet.
When the door to her apartment opened, I froze.
Aria stood there in an elegant pink dress, the soft fabric hugging her frame and falling just below her knees. She looked… breathtaking. The kind of beauty that made the world fall silent, that left you utterly speechless. Her hair was loosely styled, and there was a faint blush on her cheeks that made her look effortlessly radiant.
“You look…” I trailed off, searching for the right words and failing. “Beautiful.”
Her blush deepened, and she gave me a shy smile. “Thank you.”
I opened the car door for her, and as she slid into the passenger seat, I couldn’t help but steal another glance. I’d always known she was beautiful, inside and out, but tonight, she was something else entirely.
—
When we reached my villa, I parked in the circular driveway and got out quickly, grabbing the bouquet of white lilies I had placed in the backseat earlier. As she stepped out of the car, I handed them to her, watching her expression shift from surprise to something softer.
“Flowers?” she asked, her voice filled with a mix of amusement and gratitude.
“For you,” I said simply.
She held them close, her smile small but genuine. “Thank you, Daniel. They’re beautiful.”
I led her to the door, opening it to reveal the scene I had spent hours preparing. The dining room was softly lit with candles, their warm glow casting flickering shadows across the table. A vase of fresh roses sat in the center, surrounded by carefully arranged plates and silverware. The faint aroma of the food I’d cooked filled the air-pasta with a rich tomato sauce, a fresh garden salad, and warm garlic bread.
Aria stepped inside, her eyes widening slightly as she took it all in. “You really went all out, didn’t you?”
I shrugged, trying to play it off even as a flicker of pride warmed my chest. “I wanted tonight to be special.”
She walked to the table, running her fingers lightly over the edge of the vase. “It’s beautiful,” she said softly. “Thank you, Daniel. This… this means a lot.”
I smiled, stepping closer. “You deserve it, Aria.”
But as her eyes drifted to the table, her expression shifted. I followed her gaze and saw what had caught her attention-the bottle of champagne sitting in an ice bucket near the center of the table.
Her posture stiffened slightly, and she looked at me, her eyes now guarded. “Daniel…” she started, her voice hesitant.
I frowned, stepping closer. “What’s wrong?”
She glanced away, her fingers tightening around the flowers in her hand. “I’m not ready for… this,” she said quietly, gesturing vaguely toward the table and the champagne. “For anything more. I can’t… I can’t give you what you might be looking for.”
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut, but I kept my expression calm, even as disappointment swirled in my chest. She wasn’t rejecting me entirely; she was just scared, uncertain. And I couldn’t blame her for that.
“Aria,” I said softly, reaching out to gently touch her arm. “This isn’t about expectations. I didn’t plan tonight to pressure you into anything. I just wanted to make you feel special.”
She looked up at me, her eyes searching mine. “I do feel special,” she admitted. “But I’m not ready for… a new man in my life. Not yet.”
I nodded, stepping back slightly to give her space. “I understand. And I’m not asking for anything more than what you’re ready to give. Tonight is just dinner. That’s all.”
She studied me for a long moment, then nodded slowly. “Okay. Just dinner.”
The tension eased slightly, and I gestured for her to sit. As she took her place at the table, I poured sparkling water instead of champagne, silently promising myself that I’d wait as long as it took for her to feel ready.
No matter how long it took, Aria was worth it.