Outside, the late afternoon air was crisp and clear.
“Can I drive you home?” Archie asked. “If it’s not too far.”
I cleared my throat, suddenly very aware of how that sounded. “I think I’m good with the subway,” I said, trying to sound casual.
His mouth quirked. “Am I moving too fast?”
“What makes you think we’re moving at all?”
“Instinct.” He stepped slightly closer, close enough that I had to tilt my head back to look at him properly. “Something tells me I’m going to see you again. And maybe next time we could do dinner instead of coffee?”
The invitation was clear. I wanted to tell him that I had finals coming up, a massive case to prepare, a million reasons why dating anyone right now was a terrible idea.
But when I opened my mouth, what came out was: “Dinner sounds good.”
His smile could’ve lit up the entire street. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“Give me your number so I can actually contact you this time instead of hoping I randomly run into you again.”
I recited my number and watched him type it in, his fingers quick and sure on the screen. My phone buzzed a second later with a text that just said:
Archie
It’s Archie. In case you forgot.
“I didn’t forget,” I said.
“I know.” He looked at me for a long moment. “I’m really glad I ran into you today.”
“So am I,” I replied.
“I’ll see you soon.”
I walked toward the subway with my heart beating faster than it should.
I met Sam at our usual spot an hour later, a place called The Redwood that his boyfriend Tyler owned. It was tucked into a basement in the Village, all exposed brick and warm lighting with a bar made from reclaimed wood. Tyler had bought it two years ago and turned it into the kind of place that attracted professionals who wanted craft cocktails and actual conversation instead of club music.
Sam was already there when I arrived, sitting at the bar and talking to Tyler about something that was making them both laugh. He saw me walk in and immediately stopped mid-sentence, his eyes tracking me as I crossed the room.
“Well, well,” he said as I approached. “Look who’s glowing.”
“I’m not glowing.”
“You’re definitely glowing. Tyler, is she glowing?”
Tyler looked up from the glass he was drying. “She looks happy.”
“Exactly. Suspiciously happy.” Sam patted the stool next to him. “Sit. Spill.”
I slid onto the stool. “Can’t I just be in a good mood?”
“After a full day of classes? Absolutely not.” He leaned closer. “Something happened.”
Tyler poured me a drink without asking what I wanted, something amber that he’d probably been experimenting with. “Maybe she just had a good day.”
“Or,” Sam said, “something interesting happened. And she’s going to tell us what.“
