“Fancy seeing you here.” I sneak up on her, setting my bag down on the couch which has her breaking eye contact with her phone. As soon as she sees me, she lets out a squeal and gives me a hug.
“I have been so exhausted, Ineeda girls day with my favorite person.” Wren says and she breaks the hug and plops back down on the couch with a huff and looks around. “Also why is it so busy here today? I nearly ran over an old man to get to our couch.”
“How about I go grab us drinks while you continue to stake claim onourcouch?” I laugh at her dramatics. “Iced caramel latte with oat milk?”
“You know me so well.”
“Not like we’ve gotten the same drink since this place opened up or anything.”
She crosses her arms. “Actually, what if today I feel like changing it up?”
I eye her skeptically, both of us smirking. “Well, do you?”
“No, you’re right. I just wanted to give you a hard time.” Wren rolls her eyes and I shake my head. I make my way to the line while she pulls out her phone—but keeping an eye out for anyone trying to sit on “our couch”.
There’s a few people in front of me in line so I also pull out my phone and scroll mindlessly. I don’t entirely know what I’m looking at on my screen but I need something to do instead of stare at my feet.
Out of nowhere, I smell a strong scent of vanilla and… man?
“I think you forgot to put my phone number in there.” Butterflies fill my stomach at the masculine voice from behind me.
Henry.
Turning around, I have to look up to meet his eyes. He has a confident smile on his face like he didn’t just call me out forignoring the napkin with his phone number on it. The same napkin that may or may not be sitting on my nightstand while I debated texting it for what feels like weeks now.
I’ve wanted to reach out to him but at the same time I don’t want to be let down. Instead I didn’t even give him the option for either scenario.
I know I’m letting my insecurities get the best of me but this beautiful and confident man wants to know me. What is so special about me? As far as I’m aware, I’m just the girl who served him at a small town diner.
My eyes slowly trail him up and down. His hands are in the back pockets of his jeans that are worn and have dried white paint splatters decorating them. He’s wearing a backwards baseball hat and I wonder if he knows just how effortlessly attractive he looks right now.
Whatever God is above us really took their time on Henry.
“I, uh—” I don’t even know what to say. Partly because I can’t stop looking at him, and also because his statement caught me off guard.
“Here.” He puts his hand out and I realize I haven’t actually answered him. “Let me show you how.” His eyes find mine through his lashes and his lips quirk. “If you don’t mind.”
I don’t let a single thought process as I hand over my phone.
I’m putty in his hand.
I watch his fingers tap away at my phone so nonchalantly. The confidence he radiates is rousing. Usually this type of cockiness would be a turn off for me but he wears the trait well.
“I put my number in so you don’t have to. Is it okay if I text myself so I have your number?” He looks up from my phone, a shy smirk on his lips. “You can say no too, I won’t be hurt.”
“No, yeah.” I shake my head. “Sorry, yes, that’s okay.” I need to get it together.
I want the same confidence he has when he talks to me.
“Next!” the cashier calls and pulls me out of my Henry bubble that I’m stuck in—a bubble I don’t want to pop.
“C’mon, coffee is on me today—and for your friend over there.” Henry nods toward the fireplace and I look past my shoulder to Wren and her jaw nearly on the floor. “And please don’t say no, I’d really like to be your friend.”
I’d really like to be your friend.
Henry wants to be friends withme.
The words are simple and harmless but something in my chest twists anyway.
