Love's Misstep

e'd tried to brush off the incident like it was no big deal. But for her, it was a moment she couldn't shake. The lingering heat of his smile, the way he'd waved it off

out, but there it was, an unexpecte

'd like to join me for coffee sometime this week.

had been. Her thumb hovered over the screen as she considered her reply. Was this casual? Friendly? Or was there a hint of some

perfect. I owe you on

ertips before she could second guess herself. She pr

ter, his re

How about 2 p.m.

ack, her fingers fly

. See yo

tried to shake off the nervous energy that kept bubbling up inside her. It wasn't like her to get jittery over a simple coffee date-especially not after meeting someone like Jake. But somethin

led hair, the easy way he leaned back in his chair. As she approached, he turned, and his face brok

, standing to pull out t

e I'm n

her head as she set

aid, his voice a little more

s properly this time," Jake

es sparkled with humor, but there was something el

ughed s

hope

y that was hard to ignore. It wasn't just the awkwardness of meeting again; i

by the window, "what's your usual coffee order when you're

ng more at ease tha

atte, extra

as night," Jake r

hink it matc

sed an e

a ray of sunshine, given how well you t

oice dropping to a co

rista act is just a cover. I'm actually

tween them with a warmth that had nothing to

oks-and Lily felt something inside her loosen. She hadn't felt this comfortable with someone in a long time, especially not in the

Killer Tomatoes'?" Lily asked, her

dded so

It's a cinemati

one else who appreciates true art," Lil

onnection. Lily found herself opening up about her passion

k it up again,"

ibe it, it's clear

words. When was the last time someone

self captivated not just by his words, but by the passion in his eyes.

heart race. It was the way Jake looked at her-like he was really listening. His gaze was

hadn't felt this way in years, and it made her wonder: Was this real? Or was it j

Jake said suddenly,

u've always wanted to do,

, but she liked it. It was personal witho

earn how to surf," she ad

andom, but I've always

, his eyes

ol. I can't surf myself, bu

sed an e

soul matches the color black. Now

gged pl

ow my

It was as if the world around them had faded into the background, and

versation had deepened, the laughter more genuine, and the connection unmistakable. Lily felt a flu

ng in slightly, his voice dro

o this. It's rare to meet some

her heart

ly, unable to hide the warmth tha

ngly lost in the moment, until Lily finall

t this comfortable with

ached for his drink, his fingers

he said, his voic

raced, and she could feel the heat building between them. It wasn't just the chemistry-they were beginning to underst

the fading light casting a warm glow on the table between them. The

've lost tra

ppointed. She hadn't wanted this t

looking at her for a moment, as if weighing something in his min

and before she could s

like

silence as they both seemed

, Jake

just met because you assaulted me with coffee..." He

g with you. Would you like to go

bility and potential. For a moment, she hesitated. She was unexperienced in things like this, she had never had someone starr at her with such warmth in t

eyes and warm smile, she felt something s

she said, her vo

face

w about Fri

he didn't

d, his eye

l tex

ldn't help but marvel at the strange twists of fate. Who wo

ndom coffee after all. Maybe it was the start of something more. For the first time in years, she felt the flutter of poss

unny gift for their first official date. As she entered her office building, Lily re