Love In Chaos

warding an embarrassing email to her editor, or burning her breakfast while brainstorming ideas, Emma's life was a whirlwind of mishaps. Yet,

but instead of tackling them from the comfort of her cluttered apartment, she decided to work from her favorite corner cafe: Perk & Quill. The place off

e window. The table was small, almost comically so, and barely had enough space for her cup, notebook

e. "10 Ways to Declutter Your Life." The irony wasn't lost on her as she shoved a half-e

ly with the focus of someone trying to out

umped against the cup's cardboard sleeve, tilting it ever so slightly. Before she could react, the cup toppled over, sending a stream of caramel-colored

ging forward with a handful of

monthly rent-took the brunt of the coffee's assault. He sprang to his feet, his chair scree

eyboard. He turned to Emma, his piercing blue eyes narrowing

e a deer caught in headlights. "I...I'm so

hand as if to ward off further di

table, though the damage was already done. "I'll pay for the cleani

, and Emma noticed for the first time how ridiculously sharp it was. Not that it ma

is?" he said, his voice tight with frustration.

up?" she asked, immediately regretting

e snapped. "But tha

ner, appeared by their side. A petite woman in her sixties with an uncanny ability to

ve you done now?" she a

Emma mumbled, avoiding

smile. "Nathan, dear, let me get you a towel.

s laptop perched precariously on a stack of napkins. Mrs. Henderson disappeared into the back, lea

, "I really am sorry. I did

ession softening just a fraction.

biggest klutz. As she sat down and reopened her laptop, she caught a glimpse of Nathan wiping down his own. He loo

instead on her work. But as she packed up to leave, she couldn't help but sn

ay, her cheeks flushing. As she stepped out of the cafe, she couldn't sh

having to endure his withering glare haunted her every time she entered Perk & Quill. Yet, for some inexplicable reason, she kept returning. Maybe

was seated at the same table as before, his sleek replacement laptop glowing softly under the warm light. His expression wa