Love's Misstep

ouldn't wait for his text as since after the apologetic coffee outing he hadn't texted or called her as promised. It was a hot Thursday a

g, a girl's night with her friends this weekend so at least if Jake doe

the line before letting out a heavy sigh of disappointment as she st

tore room to get the last materials for the day, walking back to the

nner date with a gorgeous damsel like you is still open for me* All her disappoint

he clicked the send button

come pick you up tomorrow* She didn't hesitate in se

htly wrinkled button-up-he wanted to remind her tha

extending his arm in a

eyes playfully,

ithout me spilling something

e city. It's dim lighting and cozy booths made it feel intimate, but not intimid

e menus, Jake glan

ing for me to order that

iding her face

g to let me live t

Jake teased, his

as the best thing that's hap

er her menu, h

Mr. Coffe

h her grandmother, and Jake shared stories about his goofy golden retriever, Max. By the time their entrées arrived-Lily'

nstead of sugar

...memo

joked, twirling a bite

glass, and this time *he* spilled it, the contents

d, his face a mix of

been c

hing, blotting her

e declared

spill gods, and they

with towels, but Jake wa

n now," he said, h

ant to call t

aking his hand dramatica

ir was cool, and the city lights glimmered like stars. Th

me to drop you home?" Jake

sist" Lily

rubbing the ba

, but would you maybe want to do this again? Without spills n

gri

d before standing on her tiptoes

for dinn

n and drove away, Jake stood there, hands in his pockets, smilin

immediately she came down from the bus and i

anks for caring* she sent it as

cocktails. The fairy lights draped over Claire's living room gave the space a cozy, intimate glow, perfect for a girls' ni

ng her drink down and gi

y going to tell

nk, a sure sign that Cl

said, trying-and fail

ing her off the

bout Jake?' she says," Maya

like a lovesick pup

t tightly to her chest, her eyes d

guy," she sai

e sno

ustered was when Michael in eighth grade gave you a

urying her face

umbled, her v

. reall

echoed, raisi

n texting him non-stop, giggling like a

pillow, her lips twit

. He's... sweet and funny and...

a exchanged tr

re said, throwing

id you two

Lily admitted, her c

hectic day and just wanted to have a quick cup of coffee, and I

e," Maya teased, clasping her ha

laughed, tossing

mewhere that wasn't my work place, and... I don't know. He

rd, her eyes sparkl

gone on a

tated, th

iday. And he plans on takin

squealed, sha

l us? How dare you

... something real before I s

o easy to talk to, and he actuall

e gri

e someone's

ain, but her sm

But can we stop tal

wasn'

e said, her eyes gli

have a

ntlessly about Jake. But beneath all the jokes, Claire and Maya were genuinely happy for th

her hand glinted under the light, embossed with gold letters that read *Art Beyond Time: A Jour

not underdressed

gri

t me. Tonight's all about exp

d a mix of classic and contemporary works. But Jake had something special in mind

ily asked, her c

win

Let's just say it's an exc

e gallery lights were replaced by the warm glow of candlelight, and the air carried the faint scen

and resonant

visit

lding a palette smeared with rich colors. He had sh

whispered, her

ci," Jake confir

ream. Da Vinci gestured for them to come closer, pointing to

asked, his voice f

. Or is it? What do y

stamm

. Like she knows s

nci b

ould be more than an imag

ke guided her to another room, where the sound

ass of absinthe in hand, was a man with a

whispered, unab

ned to her and

! Do you

le," she s

he madness of it all,"

. Paint what you feel. Tha

burst. She was in the presence of legends-figur

a quiet moment with Claude Monet, who described the importance of capturing light in its purest form. Each i

epped through, the gallery returned to its modern state. The buzz of conversations and the cl

gan, her words trailing o

s eyes twinklin

h you love art. I wanted to gi

, tears pric

even begin to cover i

ook he

ou inspire me every day-just like

iry tale. In that moment, surrounded by art and love, she reali

ore they decided to call it a day. Jake drove Lily home b

dn't get this his exact words off her

t her parents parking yard. Jack turned

ank

starring right into her eyes with those beautiful set of green ey

her mesmerizing eyes once again he couldn't help himself. Before he could

with her lips, his cologne is so captiva