Love In Chaos

te to go and avoid another humiliating encounter. But then Mrs.

voice carried across the room, drawing the at

uch for a s

aze flicker to her for a brief moment. She forced a smile and pra

id, trying to sound casual

ng in every day since you...well, since the incident. He's usu

sure the impression I made w

a her latte. "Why don't you go say hel

hen Mrs. Henderson's knowing smile lingered. With a resigned s

like a lifeline. "Mind if I join y

her face with mild surprise. He gestured

d uncomfortably in her chest. She took a sip of her latt

. "Still functioning. No

d. "I dese

ught she saw the tiniest flicker of amusement i

ma searched her brain for something-anything-to say. Then she noticed the notebook on the

she asked, nodding

'm designing a new app. Something to help peo

sive. I can barely manage my own schedule,

nd of the point. To make things easier f

e like me?" Emm

lied, his lips

cted common ground in their shared love of problem-solving-albeit in very different ways. Emma was surprised to

gone, and she was laughing at one of Nathan's quips about the absurdi

re?" she asked, her ey

siastically. "Bet

nd frowned slightly. "I shoul

ugh she masked it with a casual

paused and looked at Emma. "Thank

xpected kindness in his tone. "Yeah, it w

er a small sm

ed her things. Despite the initial awkwardness, the encounter had been...pleasant. More than

d been right. Maybe, just maybe, she had made an impression on Nathan.

_____________

cause of Nathan. She brought along her notebook, determined to sketch out ideas for her next freelance pit

e when a shadow fell over her table. She looked up to find Nathan st

asked, echoing her words

g to the seat across

g his cup on the table.

brainstorming. No

sip of his coffee. "You seem like th

sed by the complimen

han shared more about his app, explaining its features and the challenges he was facing with development. Emma,

tebook and raised an eyebrow. "Is that

e drawing with her hand. "Maybe.

, chuckling. "You're

ng into the background. By the time they parted ways, Emma felt lighter,

r the first time in a long time, she felt like something good w