I blink. It’s not rude, not sharp. Just… sincere.
I laugh once, quick and disbelieving. “Wait—really?”
He nods. “Really.”
I shift in my seat. “Are you—what, married? In a complicated relationship? Secretly a priest?”
“No.” His smile is patient. “Nothing like that.”
“Then… why?”
Zachary tilts his head. “You seem great. You’re smart and interesting and… fun to talk to. But I’ve done the casual thing and it’s not really for me anymore. I’m not judging—I just know myself.”
I don’t know what to say to that. Even though we’re strangers, his rejection stings. I do respect his choice, though. I glance down at my sketchbook and close it gently, tucking my pencil inside the spiral binding.
I nod. “Okay,” I say. “Fair enough.”
Zachary doesn’t press. He doesn’t offer anything else. He just gives me that quiet, thoughtful look, like maybe he sees more than I meant to show.
I reach for my wine, finishing what’s left in a single, unbothered sip. But something inside me feels…unsettled.
And just like that, the night takes a turn.
Chapter Three
Maya
Zachary stands, and for a split second, I think he’s leaving. My stomach drops in a way I didn’t expect. But then he tucks his hands into his pockets and says, “How about a walk instead?”
I blink. “A walk?”
He nods toward the boardwalk, the beach just beyond. “It’s a warm night, the moon’s out, and honestly? I’m kind of enjoying talking to you.”
He looks so sincere and eager that I can’t say no. “Okay, let’s walk.”
I grab my sketchbook and stand, smoothing down my dress. I try not to feel embarrassed. I’d asked him to come back to my place expecting the usual—flirting that leads to forgetting. Instead, I got sincerity. A detour.
I fall into step beside him as we leave the bar. The laughter and clinking glasses fade behind us, replaced by the rhythmic crash of waves and the shuffle of our feet on the sand. The night smells like brine and sunscreen and driftwood. It’s honestly kind of perfect, which only makes me more suspicious that I’ve misread everything.
“So,” I say, wrapping my arms around myself despite the heat. “Did I completely misinterpret your vibe back there? Because you seemed into me.”
Zachary laughs, low and warm. “Oh, I am.”
I glance at him, surprised. “Then what’s with the wholesome beach stroll?”
“I like talking to you,” he says simply. “That doesn’t happen all the time. Thought I’d make the most of it.”
I smile shyly. “I like talking to you too.”
“So,” he continues, “what’s your favorite place you’ve ever traveled to?”
I hesitate. “That’s a surprisingly hard question.”
“Come on, world traveler,” he teases. “You’ve been everywhere, remember?”
I snort. “Fine, you got me. I haven’t actually been anywhere outside the States since before college.”
He lifts a brow but says nothing. Just waits.
