My Billionaire Ex Beg For A Second Chance-Chapter 11: Touch Too Close

Katherine shifted in her seat at the food court, the remnants of their lunch neatly piled on the trays between them. She gave Felix a sheepish smile, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

"I’m really sorry about Irene earlier," she said, voice low. "She’s usually not that blunt. I think... she’s just being protective, that’s all."

Felix leaned back casually, one arm resting along the back of the chair, his other hand cradling a paper cup of coffee. His expression softened, the corners of his mouth lifting into a warm smile.

"I didn’t think she was rude," he said easily. "Honestly, I think it’s nice. Shows she cares about you a lot."

Katherine exhaled a small laugh, the tension she’d been carrying finally dissolving a little. "She does. Maybe... a little too much sometimes," she teased, swirling her straw absentmindedly in her drink.

They sat there a moment longer, a comfortable silence settling between them as the bustle of the food court continued around them—families chatting over meals, the clatter of trays, the distant hum of conversation.

After tossing their trash away, they started walking side by side through the mall. Katherine assumed they’d be heading toward the exit, but instead, Felix gave her a bashful look, rubbing the back of his neck. "Actually... would you mind terribly if I did a little grocery shopping? I’m running low on a few things."

Katherine blinked, then smiled. "Sure. I don’t mind. I still have some energy left in me."

As they entered the bright, expansive supermarket on the second floor, Katherine noticed how natural it felt, strolling with him between the neatly arranged aisles. "So... you live alone?" she asked lightly, picking up a packet of pasta and pretending to examine it.

Felix chuckled, selecting a jar of marinara sauce with practiced ease. "Yeah. Bachelor life," he said with a mock sigh. "No wife, no girlfriend, no secret family in another country either."

Katherine laughed, and Felix glanced at her, looking pleased to have made her laugh. "Good to know," she said playfully.

As they continued, she realized how at ease Felix was—no flashy attempts to impress, no awkward fumbling. Just a quiet, easy presence. It was... nice. Comforting, even.

But her momentary peace was shattered when, from the corner of her eye, she spotted a familiar figure down the same aisle.

Miranda.

Katherine stiffened immediately, heart lurching. Miranda hadn’t noticed her yet, her attention fixed on her shopping cart. Panic gripped Katherine before she even had time to think. Instinctively, she spun toward Felix, reaching up and placing her hand against his cheek.

Felix froze at the sudden contact, his eyes wide with surprise. His skin was warm beneath her palm, a faint stubble brushing against her fingertips.

"Katherine...?" he asked, voice low and slightly breathless.

"Just... stay like this for a minute," Katherine whispered hurriedly, locking her eyes onto his so she wouldn’t be tempted to look elsewhere—and risk Miranda recognizing her. She prayed her hand covered enough of her face, pretending to be absorbed in an intimate moment.

Felix, to his immense credit, didn’t move. He just stared back at her, his cheeks turning faintly pink under her touch. There was a tense, electric charge in the air between them, made all the more intense by the way they stood so close, the world narrowing to just the two of them.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Katherine peeked over his shoulder and saw Miranda moving further down the aisle, oblivious.

Katherine let out a heavy sigh and dropped her hand, retreating half a step back. Her face was flaming. "I—I’m so sorry," she stammered, mortified.

Felix shook his head quickly, offering a shy, lopsided smile.

"No, it’s okay. Really. Just... unexpected."

Katherine covered her face with her hands, groaning. "You must think I’m insane."

Felix chuckled, the sound low and oddly reassuring. "No. Not at all."

Katherine lowered her hands, shooting him a grateful but embarrassed smile. "There was... someone I really didn’t want to deal with today."

"Well, if pretending to be madly in love with me helped," Felix said, nudging her shoulder playfully, "I’m honored."

She laughed again, her earlier tension loosening bit by bit.

They finished gathering groceries—milk, eggs, a few vegetables—and made their way to the checkout line. As they exited the supermarket, Felix turned to her. "I can give you a ride home, if you want," he offered.

Katherine hesitated, automatically opening her mouth to refuse, but then paused. Her feet ached from all the walking, and the thought of cramming herself onto a crowded bus wasn’t exactly appealing. "...Okay," she agreed finally, offering him a small smile. "Thank you."

They made their way to the parking lot, the afternoon sun dipping lower. Felix’s car was neat, smelled faintly of cedarwood and something citrusy, and had a few empty coffee cups tucked in the side compartment—clear signs of someone who lived alone but cared about appearances at least a little.

The ride was quiet at first, both of them still processing everything that had happened. But it wasn’t an uncomfortable silence; it was companionable, filled with the soft background hum of the road.

When they reached Katherine’s small apartment building, Felix parked by the curb. Katherine unbuckled her seatbelt, gathering her small shopping bag. She turned to thank him, but before she could open the door, Felix gently reached out and caught her hand.

His fingers curled around hers with careful, almost hesitant tenderness, like he was afraid he might scare her off if he wasn’t careful.

Katherine looked at him, startled, her breath catching slightly.

"I’ll see you again," Felix said softly, his thumb brushing lightly over the back of her hand before he let go.

Katherine nodded, a warmth blooming in her chest that she hadn’t felt in a long, long time. "Yeah," she murmured, smiling. "See you."

She slipped out of the car, waving once before heading up the steps to her building. As she closed the door behind her, she leaned back against it, pressing a hand over her heart.

It was racing wildly—and not from panic this time. For the first time in what felt like forever, it was beating with something dangerously close to hope.