Chapter 17 : The First Step

*Vanessa*

It takes me ages to fall asleep.

After the ceremony concluded, Shawn walked me back to my apartment. We just carried on talking, like we did on the roof. We spoke about everything and nothing at the same time, our conversation drifting in and out of seriousness until dawn broke.

As I lay there, my heartbeat refusing to settle down, questions began to break through the fog of tipsiness. He’d been so sweet with me, patient and willing to share something personal that he by no means had to.

I like him.

There’s no doubt about that now. I really, really like him.

But what did I want to do with that information? Shawn said we would go as slow as I needed to, and that he would wait for me. He’d been true to his word, but now I find myself at a crossroads. Do I move on and take the chance to have a relationship with him despite my fears, or do I do the safe thing and deny my feelings?

We went from being wary strangers to allies to friends, but a