Strums and Laughter
The next evening, Café Starlight was quieter than usual. Emma busied herself behind the counter, occasionally glancing at Ethan as he unpacked his guitar near the corner stage.
“Ready for our little duet?” he asked, flashing a teasing grin.
Emma hesitated, then smiled back.“I guess so… but don’t expect me to be professional.”
“Professional?” he said, strumming a soft chord.“I like amateur charm. Way more fun.”
Emma rolled her eyes, though the warmth in her cheeks betrayed her nerves. She pulled out a small keyboard from beneath the counter—the café’s old one, a bit out of tune but perfectly fine for a casual jam.
“Alright,” she said, pressing a few keys experimentally.“Let’s see if we can make this sound like music and not chaos.”
Ethan laughed, leaning over to peek at her hands.“I think we’re already halfway to chaos, and it’s only the first chord.”
The first few minutes were filled with playful missteps: wrong notes, missed beats, and bursts of laughter echoing across the café. But soon, they found a rhythm—Ethan’s guitar blending with Emma’s keyboard, the music flowing naturally.
As they played, Ethan’s eyes met hers, sparkling with mischief and warmth.“You’re really good at this,” he said softly, his voice barely above the notes.
Emma’s heart skipped.“You’re… not bad yourself,” she teased, though she felt her pulse quicken.
At one point, Ethan leaned closer to adjust a chord on the keyboard. Their hands brushed, lingering just a fraction too long. Emma caught her breath, realizing how much she enjoyed the closeness, the shared energy, and the easy connection that had grown between them in such a short time.
“Looks like we might make a good team,” Ethan said, smiling warmly.
Emma returned the smile, her eyes shining.“Yeah… I think we might.”
The rest of the evening passed in a blur of music, laughter, and playful teasing. When they finally stopped, breathless and smiling, the café felt brighter than ever—filled not just with the soft glow of lights and the aroma of coffee, but with the budding warmth of something new and undeniably exciting.
And as they packed up their instruments, Emma realized that every note they played together was a small step toward something bigger: a story of music, connection, and a romance that was only just beginning.
Chapter 7:
A Misheard Note
The following morning, Emma arrived at Café Starlight earlier than usual, ready to prep for a busy weekend. She hummed softly as she arranged pastries, lost in thought about last night’s jam session. Everything had felt perfect… until a glance at the café door brought an unexpected sight.
Ethan stood outside, chatting animatedly with a young woman she didn’t recognize. They laughed together, heads close, and for a moment, Emma felt a pang of jealousy twist in her chest.
“Just a friend, right?” she whispered to herself, trying to shake it off.
But when Ethan walked in moments later, Emma’s usual easy smile felt strained.“Morning,” he said cheerfully, oblivious to the tension she was holding.
“Morning,” Emma replied curtly, her voice sharper than she intended.
Ethan tilted his head, noticing her sudden coldness.“Emma… did I do something wrong?”
Emma hesitated, unsure if she should speak.“I… I saw you outside with someone. You looked… close.”
Ethan frowned, a flash of confusion crossing his face.“Oh! That’s my cousin, Lily. She’s visiting for the weekend. I didn’t realize you’d see us.”
Emma felt heat rise to her cheeks.“Oh… I—I’m sorry. I jumped to conclusions.”
Ethan’s expression softened, and he reached out to touch her hand lightly.“Hey, it’s okay. I get it. I’d feel the same if I saw you with someone else. But you don’t need to worry—there’s no one else.”
Emma looked down at their hands, feeling the tension dissolve slightly.“I guess I’m just… overthinking things,” she admitted.
“You’re not the only one who overthinks,” Ethan said with a small smile.“We’ll just have to promise to talk things through, yeah? No more misheard notes.”
