Chapter 7: Dinner in Willow Creek
965 Words
Emma checked her reflection for the third time.
Then the fourth.
Then immediately told herself she was being ridiculous.
It was just dinner.
One dinner.
With Alexander Kingston.
The man she'd been texting every day for nearly two weeks.
The man whose smile somehow lived rent-free in her thoughts.
The man she definitely wasn't developing feelings for.
At least that was what she kept telling herself.
"You're nervous."
Emma looked up to find Lily standing in the doorway.
"I'm not nervous."
Lily laughed.
"You changed outfits three times."
"Four."
"That isn't helping your case."
Emma groaned.
"Fine. Maybe I'm a little nervous."
"A little?"
Emma threw a pillow at her.
Lily caught it easily.
"Mom and I approved the blue dress."
"You had a committee?"
"We had concerns."
Emma shook her head.
Her family was impossible.
A knock sounded at the front door.
Instantly, her stomach flipped.
Lily's eyes widened.
"Oh my God."
"Don't."
"Oh my God, he's here."
Emma stood.
Her heart was beating entirely too fast.
Alexander stood on the porch holding a bouquet of flowers.
Simple flowers.
Not extravagant.
Not overly expensive.
Just beautiful.
Exactly the kind Emma would appreciate.
The front door opened.
And for a second, Alexander forgot what he was about to say.
Emma looked stunning.
Not because of the dress.
Or her hair.
Or anything superficial.
She simply looked like Emma.
And somehow that was enough.
"Hi."
His smile appeared instantly.
"Hi."
For a moment, neither moved.
Neither looked away.
Then Emma noticed the flowers.
"Those are for me?"
Alexander looked down.
"Oh. Right."
He handed them over.
"I figured showing up empty-handed would probably be a bad idea."
Emma laughed.
"They're beautiful."
Something about seeing her smile made the three-hour drive completely worth it.
A few minutes later, introductions were underway.
Alexander had expected Emma's family to be welcoming.
He had not expected an interrogation.
"So," Lily said.
Alexander immediately recognized trouble.
"So?"
"Do you always wear suits?"
Emma groaned.
"Lily."
"What?"
Alexander laughed.
"Only when people are paying me."
Lily nodded thoughtfully.
"Smart."
Emma's mother smiled.
"We've heard a lot about you."
Alexander glanced at Emma.
Her cheeks immediately turned pink.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Eventually, they escaped.
Much to Emma's relief.
Willow Creek looked completely different at night.
The streets glowed beneath old-fashioned streetlights.
Small businesses lined the sidewalks.
People greeted each other by name.
Everything felt warm.
Comfortable.
Real.
Alexander loved it immediately.
"This place is exactly how I imagined it."
Emma smiled.
"Is that a good thing?"
"It's a very good thing."
They walked side by side toward a local restaurant.
Unlike the expensive establishments Alexander usually visited, this place was simple.
Family-owned.
Cozy.
Perfect.
The owner greeted Emma the moment they entered.
"Emma!"
"Hi, Mrs. Parker."
The older woman immediately smiled at Alexander.
"And who is this?"
Emma looked slightly embarrassed.
"This is Alexander."
Mrs. Parker's grin widened.
"Ah."
Alexander recognized that look instantly.
Everyone in town was going to know about him by tomorrow.
Maybe by morning.
Emma clearly knew it too.
"Let's sit down."
"Good idea."
Dinner was easy.
Comfortable.
Natural.
They talked about everything.
Funny hospital stories.
Childhood memories.
Favorite movies.
Travel dreams.
Hours seemed to disappear.
At one point, Alexander realized he hadn't looked at his phone once.
Not once.
That never happened.
"Can I ask you something?" Emma said.
"Anything."
"What was your childhood like?"
Alexander leaned back.
"Complicated."
Emma smiled.
"You use that word a lot."
"Because it's accurate."
He thought for a moment.
"My family was loving."
"But?"
"There were expectations."
Emma nodded.
She already knew that part.
"Good grades."
He counted on his fingers.
"Perfect behavior."
"Leadership."
"Success."
"No pressure then."
Alexander laughed.
"Exactly."
Emma looked thoughtful.
"That sounds exhausting."
"It was."
His expression softened.
"But it also taught me a lot."
She admired that.
Despite everything he'd been given, Alexander wasn't entitled.
If anything, he worked harder than most people she knew.
That surprised her.
After dinner, they walked through the town square.
The evening air was cool.
Comfortable.
For a while, neither spoke.
They simply enjoyed being together.
Eventually, they reached the small lake at the edge of town.
Moonlight danced across the water.
The view was beautiful.
Emma sat on a nearby bench.
Alexander joined her.
Silence settled around them.
Not awkward.
Peaceful.
The kind of silence that felt meaningful.
"I like this."
Alexander looked at her.
"The lake?"
"Tonight."
Her smile was soft.
"Being here."
His chest tightened unexpectedly.
Because he felt exactly the same way.
"I do too."
Their eyes met.
Neither looked away.
The world seemed quieter somehow.
Smaller.
As if everything else had faded into the background.
Emma felt her heartbeat quicken.
Alexander's gaze lingered.
For a moment, she wondered if he felt it too.
That pull.
That connection.
That growing feeling neither of them had named yet.
A sound interrupted them.
Fireworks.
Both turned toward the sky.
Bright colors exploded above Willow Creek.
Red.
Blue.
Gold.
The reflection shimmered across the lake.
Emma laughed.
"What are the chances?"
Alexander smiled.
"Pretty good."
She looked at him.
"What does that mean?"
His eyes held hers.
"It means every important thing that's happened to me lately started because of an accident."
Emma's breath caught.
The coffee.
The texts.
The calls.
Tonight.
Everything.
For a second, neither moved.
Neither spoke.
The distance between them suddenly felt very small.
Very, very small.
Then Emma's phone rang.
Both blinked.
The moment shattered.
She looked at the screen.
Sarah.
Of course it was Sarah.
Alexander laughed.
Emma groaned.
"Perfect timing."
"I should probably thank her."
"You absolutely should not."
They both laughed.
But as they stood to leave, something had changed.
Neither could deny it anymore.
This was no longer friendship.
And it was becoming harder with every passing day to pretend otherwise.
- Writer
