The Next Step

                                    

                                          

The day after the awards show, Ethan couldn’t shake the excitement from the night before. He had just wrapped up an interview and was now eagerly dialing Lily's number. As the phone rang, he replayed his acceptance speech in his mind, hoping she’d be as moved by it as he had hoped.
When Lily answered, her voice was still warm from sleep. “Hey, Ethan. What’s up?”
Ethan’s tone was light but filled with anticipation. “Hey, Lily. I just wanted to check in and see what you thought of my speech last night. I wouldn’t have been standing there receiving that award if it wasn’t for you.”
Lily’s laugh was soft but sincere. “You were amazing, Ethan. You’ve got real talent, and I’m glad I encouraged you to give it a shot. But you’re the one who made it happen.”
Ethan smiled, leaning back in his chair. “Thanks. That means a lot. But I’ve been thinking about the part where I said I hoped we could be more than friends. What do you have to say about that?”
There was a brief silence on the other end of the line. Lily’s heart raced as she processed Ethan’s question. She took a deep breath before responding, her voice steady.
“I heard you, Ethan. And I’ve thought about it a lot since last night. I want to give us another shot. I can see how much you’ve changed and grown, and I believe you’re serious about us.”
Ethan’s voice was filled with relief and joy. “Really? That’s amazing to hear. I’ve been hoping for a chance to show you how much I’ve changed and how much you mean to me.”
Lily’s smile was evident in her voice. “Yeah, I think we could make it work. I just needed to be sure about my feelings and your intentions. And I can definitely see that you’re better now.”
They continued talking, sharing their thoughts and feelings. Ethan was thrilled at the prospect of exploring their relationship further, while Lily felt a renewed sense of hope. They both knew that they had come a long way and were ready to face whatever came next together.