Chapter 6: Different Worlds
844 Words
The drive back to Willow Creek should have felt relaxing.
Instead, Emma spent most of it staring out the passenger window while replaying every conversation she'd had with Alexander Kingston.
It was ridiculous.
She had known him for less than an hour.
Yet somehow she couldn't stop thinking about him.
"You're doing it again."
Emma looked over.
"Doing what?"
Sarah smirked.
"Thinking about him."
Emma groaned.
"I am not."
"Emma."
"Okay, maybe a little."
Sarah laughed.
"A little?"
Emma sank lower in her seat.
This was hopeless.
By Sunday evening, life had returned to normal.
Or at least it appeared to.
Monday morning arrived with its usual rush of patients, paperwork, and responsibilities.
Emma welcomed the distraction.
She had convinced herself that the gala was over.
A nice memory.
Nothing more.
People like Alexander Kingston didn't become part of her life.
They existed in completely different worlds.
By lunchtime, she had almost stopped thinking about him.
Almost.
Then her phone buzzed.
Emma glanced at the screen.
Unknown Number.
She nearly ignored it.
Nearly.
Instead, she opened the message.
Her heart immediately stopped.
I think I deserve compensation for my ruined suit.
Emma stared.
Then read it again.
And again.
A second message appeared.
Maybe a coffee that doesn't end up on my jacket this time?
A laugh escaped before she could stop it.
There was only one person who would send a message like that.
Alexander.
Her fingers hovered over the screen.
Finally, she typed:
You somehow got my number. That's slightly concerning.
Three dots appeared instantly.
I made a donation large enough to sponsor half the hospital. They were surprisingly helpful.
Emma rolled her eyes.
That sounds like bribery.
I prefer "creative problem-solving."
She couldn't stop smiling.
Across the city, Alexander sat in his office staring at his phone.
For the first time all day, he wasn't thinking about business.
Or meetings.
Or quarterly reports.
He was thinking about a nurse from a small town.
A nurse who wasn't impressed by him.
A nurse who treated him like a normal human being.
A nurse who had accidentally ruined his favorite suit.
His phone buzzed.
So what exactly does this compensation coffee involve?
Alexander smiled.
His assistant walked into the office and immediately froze.
"You look happy."
Alexander looked up.
"Do I?"
"That's usually what smiling means."
He laughed.
For once, she wasn't wrong.
Over the next week, the messages continued.
One conversation became three.
Three became ten.
Before either realized it, talking had become part of their daily routine.
Emma would message him during lunch breaks.
Alexander would text her between meetings.
Some nights they talked for hours.
About everything.
And nothing.
One evening, Emma sat on her porch watching the sunset while texting him.
What are you doing?
His response arrived seconds later.
Sitting in a board meeting pretending to listen.
She laughed.
That sounds productive.
It's not.
Another message followed.
What about you?
Emma looked out at the quiet street.
Children were playing nearby.
A dog barked in the distance.
The familiar comfort of Willow Creek surrounded her.
Watching the sunset.
Several seconds passed.
I'm jealous.
Emma smiled.
Of a sunset?
Of the peace.
For a moment, she understood exactly what he meant.
Alexander's life seemed glamorous from the outside.
But underneath it all was pressure.
Expectations.
Constant responsibility.
Things Emma never had to worry about.
Their lives couldn't have been more different.
Yet somehow, they understood each other.
A few days later, Alexander called unexpectedly.
Emma answered while driving home from work.
"Hello?"
"Hi."
His voice immediately made her smile.
"Shouldn't you be running a company?"
"I am."
"You don't sound busy."
"I'm hiding."
Emma laughed.
"From what?"
"My father."
"That sounds serious."
"It is."
She could hear amusement in his voice.
"What did you do?"
"I disagreed with him."
"How brave."
"Thank you."
They both laughed.
Silence followed.
Comfortable silence.
The kind that only happened when being around someone felt natural.
"Emma?"
"Yeah?"
Alexander hesitated.
Then spoke carefully.
"I was wondering something."
Her pulse quickened.
"What?"
"I'm visiting Willow Creek tomorrow."
She nearly dropped her phone.
"What?"
"There are some company projects nearby."
His voice sounded suspiciously casual.
"And?"
"And I was wondering if you'd like to have dinner."
Emma's heart instantly accelerated.
Dinner.
Not coffee.
Not texting.
Dinner.
An actual date.
Well...
Maybe.
She wasn't sure.
Was it a date?
The thought alone made her nervous.
"Emma?"
She realized she hadn't answered.
"Oh."
Alexander laughed softly.
"That's either very good or very bad."
"No."
She smiled.
"It's good."
His voice warmed.
"So that's a yes?"
Emma looked out at the road ahead.
At the small town she loved.
At the life she'd always known.
A life that suddenly felt like it was changing.
"Yes."
A grin spread across her face.
"I'd like that."
For the first time since they met, neither of them could hide how excited they were.
Because tomorrow wouldn't involve text messages.
Or phone calls.
Or chance encounters.
Tomorrow, Alexander Kingston was coming to Willow Creek.
And both of their worlds were about to collide.
- Writer
