There were a thousand things I could've said to him in that moment. I didn't know why, out of everything, I said what I did. "Jayden told me once, after the day in the garage, that he looked up to you and Hector. I...I just thought you should know that was real."The skin around his eyes and mouth tightened. I did something else I didn't really think about. I stretched up once more and kissed his cheek. I felt his sharp inhale, and with one last look at him, I turned.
In a moment filled with unspoken emotions, the protagonist reflects on the overwhelming number of things they could have expressed. Instead, they share a significant acknowledgment about Jayden's admiration for the person they are addressing, revealing the depth of that feeling. This admission serves to connect them, highlighting a bond formed through shared respect and experiences.
The tension in the atmosphere escalates as the recipient reacts visibly to the unexpected revelation....