Chapter 67: A Glimmer of Relief

I take a deep breath, feeling a sense of relief wash over me as I type out a response to Hawks. "Thank you for reassuring me and sorry for bothering you," I send, trying to sound sincere. As I wait for his response, I glance over at Mina, who's watching me with a knowing glint in her eye. I try to play it cool, but my heart is still racing from the earlier conversation. My phone buzzes, and I quickly grab it, my eyes scanning the screen for Hawks' response. "You never a bother, Vesper," he texts, his words sending a warmth through my chest. I blush, feeling a flush rise to my cheeks as I read his message. Mina notices my reaction and raises an eyebrow, a sly grin spreading across her face. "What's going on, Ves?" she asks, her voice laced with amusement. I try to brush it off, but Mina's not having it. She leans in, her eyes fixed on my phone. "Let me see that," she says, snatching the phone from my hand. I try to grab it back, but she's too quick. She reads the message, and her grin widens. "Aww, Hawks is being sweet," she teases, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Looks like someone has a crush on you, Ves." I roll my eyes, feeling my blush deepen. "Mina, stop," I say, trying to sound stern. But Mina just laughs, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "I'm just saying, Ves. You're not as immune to Hawks' charms as you think you are." I shake my head, trying to clear the thoughts that are swirling in my mind. I know Mina's just teasing me, but a part of me can't help but wonder if there's more to Hawks' words than meets the eye. As I take my phone back from Mina, I notice that Hawks has sent another message. "By the way, want to meet up for dinner tonight? I heard there's a new restaurant in town that's pretty good." My heart skips a beat as I read his message. Is this a friendly gesture, or something more? I look over at Mina, who's watching me with an expectant expression. "What do you say, Ves?" she asks, her voice barely above a whisper. I take a deep breath, trying to make a decision. "I think I'll go," I say finally, my voice firm. Mina nods, a smile spreading across her face. "I'll come with you," she says, her voice matter-of-fact. I hesitate for a moment, unsure if that's a good idea. But Mina just winks at me, and I know that she's not going to let me go alone.