Chapter 3:
Coffee and Confessions
The next afternoon, Emma found herself at her usual corner café, hoping for a quiet escape from the bookstore’s endless stacks. She hadn’t expected to see Lucas sitting at a small table by the window, camera bag slung casually over his shoulder.
“Lucas!” she exclaimed, surprised.
He looked up, grinning.“Emma! Fancy seeing you here.”
“Was this… planned?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Maybe,” he said with a wink, though the nervous glint in his eyes gave him away.“Or maybe it’s fate. Coffee?”
Emma laughed and slid into the chair opposite him.“Coffee sounds perfect.”
They ordered, and the minutes stretched comfortably as they talked—about favorite books, films, and the quirks of Ashwood town. At one point, Lucas leaned over to show her a picture he’d taken of the river at night.
“It’s beautiful,” Emma said, genuinely impressed.“You really do see the magic in everything.”
Lucas shrugged, a faint blush coloring his cheeks.“I only see magic when I’m inspired… or when someone unexpected shows up and brightens my day.”
Emma blinked, her heart fluttering.“Is that… my cue to feel special?”
“Absolutely,” he said, his grin widening, though he quickly looked away, pretending to examine his camera settings.
They laughed together, and for a few fleeting moments, the world outside the café melted away. There was a rhythm to their conversation, a teasing, gentle back-and-forth that felt both familiar and exhilarating.
As Emma stood to leave, Lucas handed her a small slip of paper.“Just in case… maybe we can do this again sometime?”
She unfolded it to find his number scribbled in neat handwriting.“I’d like that,” she said softly, tucking it into her coat pocket.
Outside, the late afternoon sun caught the edge of the clouds, and Emma felt a spark of something new and exciting. It wasn’t instant love—this was something slower, deeper, a promise that had just begun to unfurl. And she couldn’t wait to see where it would lead.
Chapter 4:
Rainy Encounters
The sky was gray that afternoon, clouds heavy with rain. Emma hurried down the street, umbrella in hand, trying to stay dry on her way to the bookstore. She hadn’t expected to run into Lucas again—but there he was, standing under a café awning, looking equally damp.
“Emma!” he called, waving her over.
“Lucas!” she laughed, stepping under the awning beside him.“You’re soaked!”
He shrugged, water dripping from his coat.“I got caught in the rain while photographing the park. Didn’t expect to run into anyone I know.”
“You’ve got terrible luck with the weather,” Emma teased, shaking a few droplets from her hair.
“Or maybe I’ve got amazing luck,” he said with a grin, eyes twinkling.“I ran into you, didn’t I?”
Emma felt her cheeks warm.“I suppose… yes. That’s some good luck, then.”
The rain slowed to a drizzle, but neither of them moved. There was a quiet comfort in standing there together, listening to the soft patter of raindrops.
“You know,” Lucas said, glancing at her,“I was thinking about your bookstore. Maybe I could come by sometime—take somephotos of the shelves, the atmosphere. I want to capture it before the city wakes up and ruins the quiet.”
Emma smiled, heart fluttering at the thought.“I’d like that. It’s… not often someone appreciates the little corners of the world I love.”
He stepped closer, brushing a damp strand of hair from her face.“I do, Emma. I really do.”
