As Anne walked past the guest room, she caught a glimpse of movement through the slightly open door. Pausing, she peeked inside and saw her daughter, Kim, slipping a fresh pillow cover onto the guest bed.
Anne leaned against the doorframe and asked, "What are you doing, Kimmie?"
Kim startled slightly at the sound of her mother's voice but quickly composed herself, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Oh, just setting up the bed," she replied casually, though the faint pink dusting her cheeks betrayed her nonchalance. "Ron's staying the night."
Anne raised an eyebrow. "I thought he left after dinner."
"He did… but he came back about twenty minutes ago." Kim glanced down, her lips curving into a helpless smile. Even though she was trying to suppress it, the joy in her expression was unmistakable. "He got caught in the rain, though." she added, her voice softer now. "He's taking a shower now. He was already starting to sneeze," she chuckled.
Anne stepped further into the room, folding her arms as she observed her daughter's demeanor. There was a lightness in Kim's posture, a quiet kind of happiness that Anne hadn't seen in days.
"And that smile you're trying to hide from me… does it have anything to do with this little story you just told me?"
Kim finally looked up, her eyes shimmering with emotions too big to contain. "You were right, Mom…" she admitted, "he has feelings for me too. He came back to tell me."
For a heartbeat, Anne just stared at her, then, with an elated gasp, she opened her arms wide. "Oh, honey, I'm so happy for you!"
Kim didn't hesitate—she all but threw herself into her mother's embrace, clinging to her like she had when she was a little girl. Anne held her tightly, pressing a kiss to her temple, feeling the way Kim's heart still raced with excitement.
"Thanks, Mom," Kim murmured, her voice muffled against Anne's shoulder.
Just then, a gentle knock came from the open door.
"Hey, Mrs. Dr. P. I'm back," Ron said, standing just outside the room, rubbing the back of his neck with a sheepish smile. His hair was still damp from the shower, and he was dressed in a borrowed T-shirt and sweatpants that were just a little too long for him.
Anne turned to greet him as she pulled away from Kim. "Hey, Ron. Kimmie told me you're staying the night. Did you let your mom know?"
"Yeah, I let her know. I hope it's alright—I don't want to overstay my welcome," he said with a sheepish smile.
"You know you're always welcome here, Ronnie," Anne reassured him with a warm smile. "Besides, it's not safe to walk home in this weather—I think it's going to rain all night." She stepped closer, resting a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Just don't stay up too late, you two."
With a playful glance between them, she gave Kim one last squeeze before leaving the room, closing the door just enough to give them privacy.
Ron turned back to Kim, his expression softer now. "Hey," he said, his voice a little quieter.
"Hey…" Kim replied, suddenly feeling the shyness creep back into her chest.
They stood there for a moment, neither quite sure how to bridge the gap between the old normal and the new. Finally, Ron cleared his throat.
"So… did you tell your mom about… us?" he asked hesitantly.
"I did," Kim exhaled, shaking her head with a small laugh. "But I swear, she knew before I even said a word. I just mentioned you were here, and she gave me this look—like she could see right through me."
Ron let out a small chuckle. "Wow. Moms are something else…"
"Yeah, but, you know, after seeing me cry the whole week—" She froze, realizing too late what she had just admitted.
Ron's smile faded. He took a step closer, concern clouding his eyes. "Did you… cry? Because of me?" His voice was so gentle, it nearly undid her.
Kim tensed, her heart pounding. He wasn't supposed to know that.
"No! I mean…" She exhaled sharply, her shoulders sinking. "I did… a little…" she finally confessed, her gaze dropping to the floor, embarrassment heating her cheeks.
Before she could say anything else, she felt warmth envelop her. Ron had stepped forward, closing the distance, and wrapped his arms around her without hesitation.
"I'm so sorry," he whispered, his breath against her hair.
Kim melted into his embrace, her arms slowly finding their way around his back. She rested her forehead against his shoulder, breathing him in, grounding herself in his presence.
"You don't have to be sorry," she murmured after a moment.
They held each other in silence, feeling the steady rhythm of their heartbeats, the rain tapping gently against the window. Neither wanted to move, afraid that even the slightest shift would wake them from this perfect moment.
Finally, when they pulled apart, Kim tilted her head up to look at him, a small smile playing on her lips. "It's okay," she assured him. "You've spent the last twelve years making me smile. Your credit score is still pretty high." She chuckled softly, trying to lighten the mood.
Ron laughed lightly, his eyes warm with affection, his expression softening. After a brief hesitation, his hands found her waist, gently pulling her closer.
Kim barely had time to react before he leaned in, his lips brushing hers in a kiss so gentle, so unhurried, that it made her heart swell. She sighed softly against his lips, her hands resting against his chest as she let herself sink into the moment.
When they finally parted, Ron's forehead rested lightly against hers. His smile widened.
"There's just one problem here," he murmured, his voice teasing. "I'm not the type to go around kissing my female friends like this." He pulled back slightly, his expression playful. "I think we're gonna have to update some terminology. How about 'girlfriend' instead of 'best friend'?"
Kim smiled, her eyes glowing with happiness. She cupped his cheek, her thumb running over his skin.
"Sounds perfect."
Hello again. This time I'm back with a collection of one-shots highlighting some sweet moments of a new, young relationship. It's set in the same universe as my last story, Lovesick. I might slip in some Drakgo interactions as well.
If you like it, please leave a review. Thanks.