Chapter Sixteen

AIDEN

I watch Solana as she takes another sip of her drink, her eyes catching the light from the window as she glances outside. There’s a calm about her, something I didn’t expect when we first started talking. Back then, she seemed so out of reach, like she lived in a world I could never enter.

But now?

She’s here, sitting across from me, laughing at my stupid jokes, asking about my painting. She’s so much more real, so much more human than I ever thought.

She keeps surprising me.

And it’s not just her beauty—it’s how effortlessly she exists. There’s this quiet strength in her, a calmness that makes it easy to talk to her. To open up.

I can’t help but admire it.

“So,” she says, setting her cup down. “What else do you do when you’re not painting?”

I blink, not having expected her to ask. I take a moment to think, but honestly, I haven’t really thought about what I do when I’m not painting. I’m either at class or… trying to survive the weirdness of my own head.

“I don’t know,” I say, shrugging a little. “I watch a lot of documentaries. Read. I guess I… like learning random stuff.”

She raises an eyebrow. “Like what?”

“Anything,” I say with a small smile. “I get obsessed with things. Like, one week I’ll be all about the history of ancient Egypt, and the next week, I’ll be reading up on black holes.”

She laughs softly, the sound light and easy. “That’s actually kind of adorable.”

I feel my face flush a little. “I mean, I wouldn’t go that far…”

But she’s still smiling, and the way her eyes crinkle at the corners makes my chest tighten, like my heart can’t decide if it wants to race or just stop entirely.

She leans back, tapping her fingers on the side of her cup. “I think it’s cool,” she says. “It’s not boring.”

I grin. “Yeah? Well, maybe I’ll start reading your books sometime.”

Her eyes flicker up to meet mine, and there’s a soft, almost amused spark in them. “Do you really want to read a bunch of romance novels?”

I smirk. “If they’re as interesting as you are, sure.”

She pauses, her smile faltering just slightly, and my heart lurches. Did I go too far?

But she just shakes her head, that amused spark still there. “You really like to flatter people, huh?”

I shift in my seat, suddenly unsure of how to play this. “I don’t know… I just… like being honest.”

She raises her eyebrows. “Honest, huh? I thought guys only said things like that to get something.”

I feel the weight of her words settle in my chest, and for a moment, I’m unsure how to respond. But then I realize—she doesn’t know me. She doesn’t know how I operate.

“I’m not trying to get anything, Solana,” I say, my voice quieter than before. “I just think you’re… well, interesting.”

She looks at me, and for a moment, I think she sees something in my eyes, something more than just casual flattery.

Then she looks down, biting her lip. “Okay, well, if you really want to learn about something, maybe you should try reading some of those romance novels.”

I blink at her, surprised. “You’re serious?”

She nods. “It’s like a science, if you ask me. There’s definitely a formula to it.”

I laugh, and for a brief moment, it feels like the world narrows down to just the two of us in this little coffee shop, talking about books and life and whatever else comes to mind.

And just like that, I realize how much I want to keep talking to her. Keep learning about her.

Because every time I do, I find a little more about her that makes me… like her more.

The conversation flows effortlessly, and before I even realize it, an hour has passed. I should probably check the time, but I don’t want to.

Not when she’s looking at me like this—curious, engaged, comfortable.

Not when she’s smiling in a way that makes my chest feel tight, like I can’t get a full breath.

I should probably say something, break the silence, but for once, I just let it sit. Let myself exist in this moment, across from a girl I never thought I’d have the chance to talk to like this.

Then she glances at her phone and sighs.

“I should probably head home,” she says, sounding almost reluctant.

I nod, trying not to show my disappointment. “Yeah, makes sense.”

She finishes the last sip of her drink before standing, and I follow suit. We toss our cups in the trash and head out into the crisp afternoon air.

For a second, we just stand there. Neither of us moves, as if we’re both waiting for the other to say something first.

“So,” she says finally, shifting on her feet. “Thanks for the coffee.”

I smirk. “You mean thanks for my black coffee and your sugar drink?”

She rolls her eyes, but there’s amusement in them. “Yes, Aiden. Thanks for my sugar drink.”

I chuckle. “Anytime.”

She hesitates, then glances at me, something unreadable in her expression.

Then she clears her throat and takes a step back. “I’ll see you in class?”

I nod. “Yeah. See you in class.”

She gives me one last small smile before turning and walking away.

I stand there for a moment, watching her go, before running a hand through my hair with a quiet exhale.

I can’t believe that just happened.

And I definitely can’t believe how much I already want it to happen again.

As soon as Solana disappears around the corner, I pull out my phone and call Mia.

It barely rings twice before she picks up.

“What do you want, nerd?” she teases, but there’s a knowing lilt to her voice. She probably assumes I’m calling about school or something random like I usually do.

“I just had coffee with Solana,” I blurt out, skipping the greeting entirely.

Silence. Then—

“Wait. What?”

I run a hand through my hair, pacing slightly. “Yeah. She… she sat with me in lit class, and then we got coffee after.”

Mia lets out a dramatic gasp. “Aiden James Coleman, did you just hang out with your long-time, borderline-hopeless crush? Voluntarily?”

I groan, regretting calling her. “Mia—”

“Oh my gosg,” she interrupts, laughing. “Are you breathing? Are you okay? Do you need CPR?”

I roll my eyes, but a small smile tugs at my lips. “I’m fine.”

“This is huge,” she continues, like I didn’t say anything. “Like really huge.”

I sigh, rubbing the back of my neck. “Yeah. I mean… I don’t think it’s a big deal.”

“Are you insane?” Mia practically shrieks. “It’s the biggest deal Aiden, this is progress. Actual, real-life progress.”

Mia must sense my silence because she suddenly softens. “Okay, but seriously. What was it like? Was she nice? Did she seem interested?”

I hesitate, replaying the whole thing in my head. “Yeah. I mean… she was so easy to talk to. I wasn’t expecting that.”

Mia hums knowingly. “She’s a special one.”

I swallow. “Yeah. She is.”

Another pause, then Mia sighs. “So… what now?”

I frown. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, are you going to talk to her again? Or was this a one-time thing?”

I hesitate, but then shake my head. “No. I want to talk to her again.”

“Good.” I can practically hear her smile. “Because if you don’t, I will force you to.”

I chuckle. “Yeah, yeah.”

But then she asks, more serious this time, “Was her boyfriend okay with it?”

That makes me pause.

When I asked Solana that same question before we got coffee, she had just shrugged and said, ‘Tyler’s home. The whole football team has a week off.

I repeat her words to Mia, and she lets out a low hum. “Huh.”

“What?” I ask.

“Nothing, it’s just…” she pauses for dramatic effect, then snickers. “You might be a side piece, bro.”

I groan. “Mia—”

“I mean, think about it, Aiden.” she teases. “She didn’t give you a straight answer. That means she’s keeping secrets. That means you might be her dirty little secret.”

I rub my face, exasperated. “You’re the worst.”

“I might be the worst, but am I wrong?”

I don’t answer that.

Because deep down, I have no idea.

Mia’s laughter fades into a smug hum, and I can already picture the annoying smirk on her face.

“Come on, Aiden,” she presses. “Admit it. The thought crossed your mind.”

I shake my head, sighing. “I don’t think she’s like that.”

Mia scoffs. “And how do you know? Because she sat with you in class one time? Because she got coffee with you once? For all you know, she could’ve been bored.”

Her words should make me second-guess everything. Should make me take a step back.

Instead, I feel defensive.

Because Solana didn’t seem bored. Not even a little. She was engaged in the conversation, asking me questions, genuinely seeming interested in my art.

“Look,” I mutter. “I don’t know what’s going on with her and Tyler, but I don’t think she’s that kind of person.”

Mia hums, unconvinced. “Alright, alright. I’ll drop it.”

But I know she won’t.

Not really.

There’s a pause before she asks, “So, when are you seeing her again?”

I hesitate, the thought of actually planning to see her again, sending a weird mix of nerves and excitement through me.

“I don’t know,” I admit. “Maybe tomorrow?”

“Maybe?” Mia repeats dramatically. “God, you’re so helpless. You should text her. Right now.”

I roll my eyes. “I’m not texting her right now.”

Mainly because I don't have her number.

“Oh my gosh, Aiden, just—”

“I have to go,” I cut her off, already walking toward my car.

“Lame,” she groans. “But fine. Keep me updated. And don’t fall too hard before you know what you’re getting into.”

I don’t answer, just mumble a goodbye and hang up.

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