Melanie

My heart is pounding in my chest as I step into my new apartment. The excitement bubbling inside me feels almost too overwhelming. The anticipation of what today holds is enough to overshadow the restless night I spent tossing and turning in bed. It's strange; usually, lack of sleep would leave me tired, but today, adrenaline courses through my veins, and I feel wide awake.

I got an email confirmation arrived last night, confirming that my furniture will indeed arrive tomorrow. Today, it's the turn of the appliances, and to add the cherry on top, I get to spend the day with Marcus. I couldn't have asked for a better way to start this new chapter of my life. Although, a fleeting thought crosses my mind—should I have asked Marcus to help tomorrow instead? Assembling furniture together would mean more time together, but I quickly dismiss the idea. I can't possibly ask him to take another day off work.

I enter the living room, pacing nervously. Marcus will be here soon. Maybe I should've brought a couple of folding chairs from my parents' home. We'll have to wait standing up. Ugh, why didn't I think of that earlier? I let out a sharp breath and turn around. Cleaning. Yes, that's a good way to kill some time. There isn't much to clean, but it's a distraction.

Gathering my cleaning supplies, I hear the doorbell ring. My heart skips a beat; this has to be Marcus. I rush to the door and swing it open. There he is, standing on the other side, holding two cups in a paper tray and a warm smile on his face. I can't help but smile back, stepping aside to let him in.

"Good morning," I greet, my excitement evident in my voice.

"Good morning, beautiful," Marcus replies, stepping inside. He offers me a cup with a charming smile. "Hot chocolate?"

I close the door behind him, taking the cup from his hands. "Thank you," I say, savoring the warmth in my hands.

Marcus glances around, taking in the still mostly empty apartment. "Excited about today?" he asks.

Marcus glances around, taking in the still mostly empty apartment. "Excited about today?" he asks.

I nod enthusiastically, "Very. It's all coming together."

Taking a sip of the hot chocolate Marcus brought, I can't help but moan in pleasure. The rich warmth and the smooth chocolate flavor are delightful. Marcus looks at me, raising an eyebrow with a teasing smile.

"Please don't do that," he says, his tone playful.

I chuckle, realizing the sound might have been a tad too indulgent. "Oops, sorry. It's just really good."

Marcus grins, "I can see that."

He looks around, taking in the scattered cleaning supplies. "So, anything else we can do now?"

I glance around, realizing I just started cleaning the kitchen. "Well, I'm working on the kitchen right now. Getting it all clean and ready for the appliances."

"Great," Marcus replies. "I'll tackle the laundry room, then."

I start to protest, "Marcus, you really don't have to—"

He interrupts with a firm but gentle tone, "I'm here to help, Mel. Let me do my part."

I smile, appreciating his determination. "Okay, thanks."

I hand him some cleaning supplies, and we embark on our cleaning mission. Fifteen minutes later, we have finished cleaning. As I said, everything was pretty much clean already. Marcus puts away the last of the cleaning supplies, and I follow suit.

Moving to the kitchen, we sit on the kitchen counters, sipping hot chocolate, and Marcus's eyes meet mine in stolen glances.

The atmosphere is light, yet my heart beats erratically in my chest. I can't help but wonder why it took me so long to decide to give Marcus another shot. And then it hits me: Daniel. The memories of the pain and heartache caused by my past relationship with Daniel flood my mind. Right now, sitting here with Marcus, sipping hot chocolate, it seems like the dumbest thing I ever did was getting back together with Daniel. He only brought me pain, and it's a stark contrast to the warmth and comfort I feel with Marcus.

Marcus breaks the silence, his voice soft and inviting. "So, what's the plan after we finish with the appliances?"

I shrug, taking a sip of my hot chocolate. "I was thinking of going grocery shopping. And then, I'll come back here to put everything away."

He nods, genuinely interested. "Sounds good. And when's your furniture arriving?"

"Tomorrow," I reply, my excitement building. "They confirmed it last night."

Marcus grins, his eyes lighting up. "Great. I'll be there to help."

I look at him, stunned. "You'll be there to help?"

He chuckles, a warmth in his eyes. "Yeah, I asked for two days off instead of just one. Figured you might need the extra hand."

I'm left speechless for a moment, trying to process his thoughtful gesture. "Marcus, you didn't have to do that."

Marcus chuckles, a warmth in his eyes. "Well, I wanted to do it, but let's not pretend it's completely selfless. I get to spend more time with you this way."

I feel my cheeks heat up, and I'm left speechless once again. Marcus looks at me with such vulnerability that it makes my heart ache. I want to go to him, to express everything I'm feeling, but something is holding me back. Instead, I mutter, "I... I like spending time with you too."

Marcus smiles, his eyes still locked with mine. The moment feels both fragile and charged with so many unspoken emotions. However, his expression shifts, and his eyes darken slightly. He clears his throat, a serious note entering his tone. "There's something you should know."

I furrow my brows, my heart pounding with uncertainty. "What is it?"

Marcus takes a deep breath, his eyes never leaving mine. "I ran into Daniel last night."

For a split second, my heart stops beating, and my eyes widen in surprise. The mention of Daniel brings a rush of conflicting emotions. Marcus adds, "He approached me and talked to me."

"What did he say?" I ask, my voice a mixture of anxiety and anticipation.

Marcus takes a moment before responding, "He was angry. Accused me of getting between you two."

My heart skips a beat, panic flooding through me. For a moment, I feel lightheaded, as if the ground beneath me is shifting. "What did you say?" I manage to ask, my voice slightly shaky.

Marcus looks at me with sincerity in his eyes. "I told him that whatever happened between you and him wasn't because of me. That you're your own person, Melanie. You make your own decisions."

His words wash over me, and a genuine smile forms on my lips. My heart swells with gratitude, and I meet Marcus's gaze with newfound appreciation. "Thank you," I say softly.

He looks at me, pain lingering in his eyes, and asks, "Why didn't you tell me you broke up with Daniel?"

I drop my gaze to the floor, my fingers nervously playing with the rim of the cup. "I was still confused, Marcus. I needed time to think. I didn't want to lead you on or give you false hope."

He hops off the counter, approaching me. Marcus stands between my legs and gently lifts my chin with his finger, making me meet his gaze. His eyes are intense, searching mine, as he confesses, "False hope would've been better. I went insane over the weekend, thinking you might choose Daniel."

His vulnerability strikes a chord within me, and I feel a pang of regret. I never intended to cause him pain, and now, faced with the raw honesty in Marcus's eyes, I wish I had been more upfront.

"I'm sorry," I whisper, my voice barely audible.

Marcus shakes his head, a gentle smile on his lips. "You don't have to apologize, Mel. I just want you to be happy and well, even if it's not with me. My greatest concern was that you'd stay with Daniel, but I understand why you didn't say anything."

His words, so selfless and understanding, tug at my heart. He truly cares about my well-being, even if it means stepping aside for someone else. I offer a small smile, grateful for the depth of his character. God, he's so amazing.

I find myself unconsciously placing a hand on his hard chest, my fingers tracing the contours. I glance at my hand, the warmth of his body beneath my touch, and then I look up at Marcus. His eyes are on my lips, and a spark of raw desire glimmers in his gaze.

Our eyes lock, and I feel a magnetic pull between us. Marcus traces his thumb along my lower lip, his touch sending shivers down my spine. He licks his own lips, a gesture that adds fuel to the fire of desire. My heart is hammering against my chest, and a pool of heat forms in the pit of my stomach. Unable to resist, I place my hand behind his neck.

Leaning in, I pull him closer, the anticipation of our lips meeting becoming almost unbearable. The world around us blurs as we inch closer, and then, just as our lips are about to collide, an intrusive sound disrupts the moment—the doorbell rings.