“Hehehe…”

“God, you’re so drunk.”

“No! Definitely not. I’m an American! I can hold my liquor.”

“Yes, I know. It’s the only reason you haven’t passed out yet. I mean, five bottles…”

Rayla chuckled wryly as she practically carried John.

Recalling the night, although it seemed like he just wanted to let a little loose, she felt something was off.

It was when he was left alone. It only took a glance to see the hollow stare. And it was only when she moved into his line of sight that he would perk back up and drink a bit more.

He downed hard liquor like water, impressing even the Knights of the Tavera Family. And for some reason he made it known that he was what they called an ‘American.’ That’s what everyone was calling him by the end of the night.

Now here he was, basically slung over her shoulder as she dragged him back to her house.

And there was one other thing that concerned her.

On their way out of the Black Spider Market, she passed by the Key Master. The two were acquainted.

It was his words that made her think.

“You have something good, Rayla Nolavich.”

“Sorry?”

His comment had made her heart constrict.

Nolavich. That was her late husband’s surname. After he died, she no longer kept it since she couldn’t carry that family name without him.

So that name triggered deep memories that she didn’t want to remember.

She glanced at his oddly gentle face.

“A true friendship is an amazing thing, but still nothing more.”

“...”

She didn’t respond to that.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

But she still thought about it deeply as she unlocked the door to her apartment.

“Oh, am I actually in a girl’s house?”

“Are you 12? Here, just lay on the couch.”

“I’m banished to the couch…”

She rolled her eyes as John sighed, lowering him onto the cushions.

Then she sat on the armrest by his head. He was already dozing off.

When he shifted, she could see him glance at her through half closed eyes.

She reached down, brushing back some of his hair.

The two were quiet, simply staring at each other.

There were so many things that both of them wanted to say, but there was much more that was better left unsaid. Both of them had straightforward personalities, but in this moment, their desire to carefully tread an invisible line took hold.

What they wanted and what they knew they should do conflicted.

In the end, Raya spoke first.

“Why didn’t you go talk to those girls?”

It seemed like a joking question, but it made John’s mind spin.

He could say he didn’t talk to them because he’d rather be with her. It would give him exactly what he wanted, which was to take that step forward. But it wouldn’t align with what he wanted for Rayla, which was to maintain their friendship

Rayla didn’t know that Libitus told John about her late husband. She didn’t know that he had been thinking for hours about what was best for both of them.

She surely had the same conflict in her mind. Was she ready to get into a serious relationship? Would she mess it up because of her past? And before all that, did she want to chain John to herself? Or did she want him to be with someone that didn’t have all the baggage she did?

And her question meant one thing.

She was leaving the decision to him. If he wanted it, then she would do it. If he didn’t…

“Maybe…”

John mumbled lightly, stopping for a moment as he relaxed his tightening throat.

“...I think I was just nervous.”

“Nervous…”

“...Yeah. Indecisive. Afraid. I can’t say I’m the smoothest talker. Maybe I would mess things up.”

“...”

She was silent, but after a while, John asked.

“Did you want me to talk to them?”

“Well…”

Her voice was unusually soft, yet filled with emotion that threatened to burst.

Taking a deep breath, she slipped off the arm of the chair and kneeled on the floor in front of the couch. Her head leaned on the cushion.

She didn’t respond for close to a minute. And when she finally lifted her head, she had a small sorrowful smile.

“I was just… trying to get you a girlfriend. A lot of those chicks come from rich families. They would be good picks.”

“...That’s true. Not that I care about that.”

“Yeah… Promise me something.”

She lifted her head and leaned forward.

“I need this, but… Promise me… this will never happen again.”

She said that, and after moving forward, she locked her lips with his.