Not My Type, But My Love

Chapter four

The days after that night felt like they had dragged on forever. I couldn’t stop thinking about Atlas—about his piercing gaze, his calm yet commanding presence, and the way he had spoken to me with that edge of intrigue. I couldn’t tell if he was interested or just humoring me, but the thought of him lingered. I couldn’t shake it.

I woke up early that morning, the sun barely peeking through my window, and the usual rush of thoughts flooded my mind. I hadn’t heard from him since that evening. Was I supposed to message him? Should I wait for him to make the next move? I didn’t know the rules of this kind of thing. My heart beat a little faster with every passing moment, and that same sense of unease clung to me.

Sitting on the edge of my bed, I decided to take the plunge. I opened my phone, glancing at the contact list. His name was still sitting there, innocently under the new conversation tab. I stared at it, unsure of what to do. Finally, I gave in and opened the conversation.

Hey, Atlas. I hope you're doing well. I just wanted to thank you for being so kind to me last night. It really meant a lot.

There. It was out there. I hit send before I could second-guess myself. My finger hovered over the screen, anxiously watching the three dots appear and disappear. Seconds passed like hours, and just as I started to believe I was being ignored, the reply came through.

No problem at all, Anika. It was good talking to you. You seemed... interesting.

His words made me smile, but at the same time, they left me questioning what exactly he meant. Interesting? I didn’t know how to respond, so I opted for something safe.

I hope you have a good day ahead. And yeah, it was nice talking to you too.

A pause. I waited, and waited... until finally, another message came through.

You have a good day too. We should grab coffee sometime. How does tomorrow sound?

I blinked at the screen in disbelief. Did he just suggest we meet up? Tomorrow? That was fast. My heart began to race as the butterflies in my stomach took flight. Could this be real? Or was I just imagining it?

I wanted to jump at the chance, but I forced myself to take a deep breath. No, I had to stay calm, take it slow. This wasn’t a fairy tale, and I wasn’t a naive girl waiting for a knight in shining armor to come sweep me off my feet. This was reality, and reality called for caution.

Sure. Tomorrow sounds good. Where?

He replied quickly. I know a place near your work. I’ll text you the details later. See you then.

I stared at the screen for a few more seconds, trying to process what just happened. It was happening. He was asking me out on a date, but I couldn’t let myself get too excited. I had to stay grounded.

The next day arrived, and I spent the morning lost in my thoughts. What was I going to wear? Should I act like myself? Or should I be someone else? The questions ran through my mind like a never-ending loop. I had never done this before—gone on a date with someone I didn’t really know.

When the time finally came, I stood in front of the mirror, smoothing out the wrinkles of my simple dress. It wasn’t too fancy, just something I felt comfortable in. I wanted to make a good impression but also show that I wasn’t trying too hard.

The moment I stepped out of my apartment and onto the street, my heart began to pound. What was I doing?

I walked to the café, keeping an eye on my phone, which pinged with a message from him.

I’m here. I’ll be waiting outside.

I looked up to see him standing near the entrance, looking exactly as I remembered—tall, broad-shouldered, his eyes sharp even from a distance. The sight of him sent a rush of excitement through me, and my steps faltered for just a second.

He didn’t seem to notice my hesitation as I approached. When he turned to face me, a small smile appeared on his lips.

“Anika, hey,” he greeted. “You look... nice.”

I blinked, a little taken aback by the compliment. He was always so blunt, but in a way that wasn’t rude. It felt almost... genuine.

“Thanks,” I replied, offering a shy smile. “You look great too.”

We stood there for a moment, unsure of how to proceed, before he broke the silence.

“Shall we go in?”

I nodded, and we entered the café, which was surprisingly cozy. The interior was filled with warm light, and the air smelled faintly of freshly brewed coffee. We sat down at a small table by the window, the city bustling outside.

“So, how’s work been?” he asked casually, stirring his coffee.

I hesitated for a second before answering, unsure of how much to reveal. “It’s been busy, but I’m managing. Still getting the hang of things, being an intern and all.”

He nodded. “I remember what it was like, being new to everything. It gets easier with time.”

We talked about various things—work, life, our interests—and despite my initial nerves, I found myself feeling more comfortable with him as the conversation flowed.

But there was something else in his eyes. A quiet intensity that lingered beneath the surface, like there was more to him than he was letting on. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but it was there, just out of reach.

As the evening wore on, I realized that, despite my reservations, I was enjoying myself. There was something about Atlas—something that drew me in. He was different from the people I was used to, and maybe that was what made him so intriguing.

After dinner, we stood outside the café, the cool evening air brushing against my skin.

“I had a good time tonight,” I said, my voice soft.

“Me too,” he replied, his tone sincere. “Maybe we can do this again sometime.”

“I’d like that,” I said, smiling.

And with that, he gave me a brief nod before turning to leave, disappearing into the night.

I watched him walk away, my heart still racing from the excitement of the evening. It was only the beginning, but somehow, I felt like this was more than just a casual meeting. I wasn’t sure where it would lead, but I knew one thing for sure: this was only the start of something unexpected