It was Saturday afternoon, and Camille sat in her bedroom, staring at her phone. She had been going over and over the conversation she needed to have with Josh in her head. Every time she thought about the moments when he’d been laughing with Heather, it twisted her stomach into knots. She wanted to be mature about it, but jealousy had a way of clouding everything.

Maya had told her to be honest, Riley had reminded her that Josh liked her, but it wasn’t that simple. Camille wasn’t used to feeling this way—so vulnerable and unsure of what to say. What if Josh thought she was being dramatic? What if he didn’t see things the way she did? What if she was reading everything wrong?

Her phone buzzed, interrupting her thoughts. It was a text from Josh.

Josh: Hey, can we talk? Meet me at Topanga’s in 15?

Camille’s heart skipped a beat. He wants to talk. It was like he could sense everything that had been building inside her. She didn’t know whether to feel relieved or terrified, but she knew she couldn’t avoid this conversation any longer.

Camille: Sure. See you soon.

She took a deep breath, grabbed her jacket, and headed out, her mind racing. The walk to the café felt longer than usual, her nerves growing with each step. By the time she pushed open the door to Topanga’s, her heart was pounding.

Josh was already there, sitting in their usual booth by the window. He looked up as she entered, giving her a small, easy smile, but there was something different in his expression—seriousness mixed with concern. Camille’s stomach fluttered with both anticipation and anxiety.

“Hey,” Josh greeted as she slid into the seat across from him.

“Hey,” she replied, trying to keep her voice steady, even though her pulse was racing.

Josh leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. “So, I’ve been thinking… something’s been off lately, and I don’t want to pretend like I haven’t noticed.”

Camille swallowed, her eyes flicking down to the table. She hadn’t expected him to be this direct, and now that the moment was here, she didn’t know where to begin.

Josh continued, his voice gentle but probing. “I don’t want to make assumptions, but it seems like you’ve been… upset. Maybe with me?”

Camille shifted uncomfortably. She hated how transparent she had been, how easily Josh had picked up on her feelings. She bit her lip, gathering her thoughts, before finally looking up at him. “I guess I have.”

Josh’s brow furrowed, his expression softening. “Why?”

There it was—the question she had been dreading. But Camille knew she couldn’t dodge it anymore. She took a deep breath, feeling her heart pound in her chest. “I know it’s probably dumb, but… I didn’t like seeing you with Heather.”

Josh blinked, clearly taken aback. “Heather?”

Camille nodded, her voice growing quieter. “She was flirting with you. And it bothered me… a lot. I couldn’t stop thinking about it.”

Josh leaned back slightly, a look of understanding dawning on his face. “Camille, I had no idea. Heather’s just… I don’t know. I thought she was being friendly. I didn’t realize it upset you.”

Camille shook her head, feeling a rush of embarrassment. “It’s not your fault. I just… I hate feeling like this. Jealous and insecure. I know we haven’t really talked about what we are or what you meant the other day, but I just can’t help it.”

Josh’s expression softened even more, and he reached across the table, gently touching her hand. “Hey, don’t feel bad for how you feel. It’s not dumb.”

Camille met his gaze, her emotions finally spilling out. “But I don’t even know if I have the right to be jealous. We haven’t really defined anything, and maybe I’m just overthinking it. But when I saw her with you, it just… it hurt.”

Josh’s thumb lightly brushed against her hand, his touch reassuring. “Camille, listen to me. You’re not overthinking it, and you definitely have a right to feel the way you do.”

He paused, his eyes searching hers for a moment before he continued. “The other day, when I told you I’ve been seeing you differently, I meant it. I’ve been noticing you—*really* noticing you—for a while now. And I don’t want you to think that Heather, or anyone else, changes that.”

Camille’s heart skipped a beat. “You mean that?”

Josh nodded, his voice steady. “Yeah, I do. I’ve always thought you were cool, but lately… I’ve realized that you’re more than just Riley’s friend to me. I don’t want to mess with your feelings, Camille. If you’re jealous, that means this matters to you. And it matters to me, too.”

Camille felt a wave of relief wash over her, but there was still a small part of her that was uncertain. “So… what does that mean? For us?”

Josh smiled softly. “It means we should figure that out together. If you want this to be something more, I’m all in. But I also don’t want to rush you. I just want to be honest with you.”

Camille’s heart swelled at his words. She had been so wrapped up in her jealousy and insecurity, worried about losing something she wasn’t even sure she had. But now, hearing Josh lay it out so clearly, she realized how much she wanted this—wanted him.

“I do want this,” she admitted quietly. “I want to see where this goes. But I also want to make sure we’re on the same page.”

Josh nodded, his eyes never leaving hers. “We are. And if Heather—or anyone else—ever makes you feel like that again, you can always tell me. I’ll make sure you know you’re the one I’m focused on.”

Camille smiled, a warmth spreading through her chest. For the first time in days, the knot of jealousy and uncertainty unraveled. “Thanks, Josh. I guess I just needed to hear that.”

Josh squeezed her hand gently. “I’m glad you told me. I don’t want there to be any confusion between us. I care about you, Camille. And I want to do this right.”

Camille’s smile widened, her heart lighter than it had been all week. “I care about you too, Josh.”

For a moment, they sat there, the tension between them finally easing, replaced with something softer, something that felt real. The café buzzed with quiet chatter around them, but for Camille, it felt like the world had shrunk down to just the two of them.

Josh gave her hand one last squeeze before letting go, leaning back in his seat with a relaxed smile. “So, now that we’ve got that out of the way… how about we grab some hot chocolate and enjoy the rest of the afternoon?”

Camille laughed, the weight in her chest lifting completely. “That sounds perfect.”

And just like that, the uncertainty was gone, replaced with the promise of something new, something exciting. Camille knew there would be challenges ahead, but for now, she was exactly where she wanted to be—with Josh, and with the truth between them out in the open.