"Then just take a moment to really enjoy this here and now," he said, his tone relaxed but earnest. "Don't mess it up. And don't run away from what you're feeling." He wasn't sure why he felt the need to say that, but it just came out.
Zeynep paused for a second, trying to wrap her head around what he just said. Zayden noticed her reaction and quickly realized he had messed up. A wave of embarrassment hit him hard. They were totally on different wavelengths; he thought she might take his words as an invitation to spend the night together, while she was just focused on figuring out how to get out of the woods. In her mind, she figured he'd pick up on her vibe and understand that she wanted to leave without having to say it outright. The tension between them was thick, making it clear how off-track they really were.
