Late Nights On Lenox…. Part 1

The park was quieter than Naomi remembered.

Same cracked sidewalk trails, same rustling trees that leaned in like they were trying to listen in on old memories. But everything between her and Blaze felt different now—heavier, like time hadn’t really healed anything, just stretched it thin.

Naomi sat on the bench first, fingers wrapped around a cup she wasn’t really drinking from. She kept glancing at Blaze, like if she looked too long, she might lose her nerve… or her composure.

Blaze stood instead of sitting. That was her way. Always had been. Hands in her jacket pockets, shoulders squared, masc energy steady—but her eyes told a different story. Nervous. Honest. Unusually soft.

“I’ve been rehearsing this in my head for weeks,” Blaze admitted with a short laugh that didn’t fully land. “And I still don’t got it right.”

Naomi’s chest tightened. “Then just say it how you mean it.”

That did it. Blaze nodded like she was accepting a challenge she couldn’t back down from.

“I lost you once,” she said, stepping closer, “and I spent years pretending I was good. Like I didn’t feel that gap every time something good happened and I had nobody to tell.”

Naomi looked away first, like she needed air that wasn’t tied to the moment.

Blaze continued anyway.

“I’m not asking for friendship anymore, Naomi.”

Silence hit between them—sharp, real.

Blaze finally reached into her jacket pocket, pulling out a small box. Not flashy. Not staged. Just real.

“I’m asking if you’ll be mine. For real. No more almost. No more ‘what if we tried.’” Her voice dipped lower, steadier now. “Be my girlfriend.”

Naomi blinked fast, like her mind was trying to catch up to what her heart already understood.

“You’re serious,” she whispered.

Blaze gave a small nod. “I’ve never been more serious about anything.”

The wind moved through the trees like it was trying to speak for Naomi, but she didn’t need it to. Her voice came out softer than she expected.

“You disappeared on me,” she said. Not accusing. Just truth.

“I know,” Blaze replied immediately. No excuses. No dodging. “And I’m not asking you to forget it. I’m asking you to see who I am now… and decide if I still get to be in your life.”

Naomi finally looked at her fully.

And Blaze didn’t flinch.

That was the difference.

Naomi stood up slowly, closing the distance between them until there wasn’t much space left to pretend they weren’t still something.

“You don’t get to break me and then show up with a box like everything’s simple,” Naomi said quietly.

Blaze swallowed. “I know.”

A pause.

Then Naomi exhaled—like she’d been holding her breath for years instead of seconds.

“But…” her voice softened, “I never stopped loving you either.”

Blaze’s expression changed instantly. Like something inside her had finally been allowed to breathe.

Naomi reached for the box, not taking it yet—just touching it.

“So if I say yes,” she said, eyes locked on Blaze, “you’re not doing that disappearing act again.”

Blaze shook her head once. Firm. “Never again.”

Another beat of silence.

Then Naomi gave the smallest nod.

“Yes,” she said. “I’ll be your girlfriend.”

Blaze didn’t celebrate loudly. She didn’t even move at first.

She just looked at Naomi like she was something sacred she didn’t deserve to hold—but would protect anyway.

Then she stepped forward and finally pulled her in.

Not rushed. Not unsure.

Just home, after years of being lost.

Blaze’s arms were still around Naomi when the words settled in the air.

“I need you to relax a little bit. I am not leaving you, Blaze. I love you.”

Naomi didn’t even seem to realize how fast she said it—like it slipped out before she could filter it, before fear could catch up and pull it back.

Blaze went still.

Not in a cold way—more like her whole body forgot what to do next. Her ears turned red first, then her cheeks followed like a slow wave. She pulled back just enough to look at Naomi properly, like she needed confirmation she didn’t hallucinate the whole thing.

“You… said that like it was nothing,” Blaze muttered, voice low, almost disbelieving.

Naomi blinked. Then sighed, rubbing her forehead like she was surprised at herself too.

“I didn’t mean to say it like that,” she admitted. “It just came out.”

Blaze’s mouth twitched—half smile, half shock. “You just dropped an ‘I love you’ like it was a casual sentence in a group chat.”

Naomi rolled her eyes, but there was no real bite in it. “Don’t do that.”

“I’m not doing anything,” Blaze said quickly, raising her hands slightly in surrender, though her face was still red. “I’m just… processing.”

Naomi stepped back toward the bench, trying to reset the moment, but Blaze wasn’t done.

“I just asked you to be my girlfriend,” she said, still staring. “And now you’re out here saying you love me like it’s been ready on your tongue.”

Naomi hesitated, then sat back down slowly.

“It has,” she said more quietly. “It’s just… I don’t say things I can’t take back lightly.”

That softened Blaze instantly.

The teasing faded. The shock stayed, but it turned warmer.

Blaze sat beside her this time, closer than before. “I asked you to move in because I don’t want distance between us again,” she said honestly. “I don’t want to lose time with you.”

Naomi immediately shook her head.

“No.”

Blaze blinked. “No?”

“No,” Naomi repeated, firmer now, but not angry. “Blaze, we just got back to each other. We just became girlfriends five minutes ago in emotional time.”

Blaze let out a quiet breath, leaning back like she was trying not to take it personally.

Naomi continued, softer now.

“I need space to rebuild this with you. Not jump into living together like we’re trying to make up for lost years in one week.”

That hit something real in Blaze’s expression. She nodded slowly.

“…Okay,” she said after a pause. “I hear you.”

Naomi studied her carefully. “You actually hear me?”

Blaze glanced over, eyes still a little warm from embarrassment but steady now. “Yeah. I do. I just… get ahead of myself when it comes to you.”

Naomi’s lips curved slightly. “Yeah, I noticed.”

Blaze scoffed lightly, but there was no defense in it anymore.

A beat passed between them—different from before. Less tension. More understanding.

Then Blaze nudged her shoulder gently.

“So,” she said, quieter, “you love me, huh?”

Naomi groaned immediately, covering her face. “Don’t start.”

Blaze smiled now for real. “Too late. I already heard it.”

Naomi peeked through her fingers. “Blaze…”

“I’m just saying,” Blaze continued, leaning a little closer, voice softer now, “I’m not gonna forget that.”

Naomi dropped her hand, meeting her eyes again.

“Good,” she said. “Just don’t rush me.”

Blaze nodded once, serious this time. “I won’t.”

Then, after a pause, she added with a small grin:

“…But I am definitely texting you good morning every day now.”

Naomi laughed under her breath. “You already did that before we were together.”

Blaze shrugged. “Now it’s official.”

And for the first time in a long time, neither of them felt like they were catching up to the past.

They were finally starting something new.

Naomi was still staring at Blaze, waiting for an explanation that made sense—something she could grab onto and pull herself back to solid ground.

But Blaze wasn’t looking at her anymore.

Her eyes were locked past Naomi’s shoulder.

The color drained from her face so fast it was almost unreal.

“Naomi…” Blaze said quietly.

That tone alone made Naomi’s stomach twist.

“What?” she snapped, turning slightly. “Blaze, what is it?”

Blaze didn’t answer.

She just stood up.

Slow. Careful. Like sudden movement might trigger something.

Naomi turned fully now—following Blaze’s line of sight.

At first, she didn’t see anything unusual.

Just the park.

Kids in the distance. Joggers on the path. Trees moving gently like nothing in the world had changed.

Then she saw it.

A man standing near the edge of the walkway.

Too still.

Too focused.

He wasn’t looking at the park.

He was looking at them.

Naomi squinted slightly. “Do you know him?”

Blaze didn’t blink.

“…I hoped I’d never see him again,” she said under her breath.

Naomi turned back sharply. “Blaze, who is that?”

Blaze finally reached for Naomi’s wrist—not tight, but urgent.

“We need to leave. Now.”

Naomi pulled back a little. “No. Not until you tell me—”

A sound cut through the air.

A sharp click.

Metal.

Familiar enough to freeze instinct before thought even formed.

Blaze moved fast—pulling Naomi down behind the bench just as the sound cracked again.

A nearby lamp post shattered.

Glass exploded across the walkway.

Screams erupted somewhere in the distance.

Naomi’s breath caught in her throat as everything turned sharp and unreal.

“Get down,” Blaze hissed, shielding her completely now.

Naomi’s voice broke. “Blaze—what the hell is happening?!”

Blaze didn’t look away from the direction of the shots.

But her answer came low.

Controlled.

Terrifyingly honest.

“I told you,” she whispered. “My past isn’t finished with us.”

Another shot rang out.

Closer this time.

And Blaze tightened her grip on Naomi like she already knew this wasn’t going to end in a conversation.

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