CHAPTER 4 — THE FIRST DATE
1240 Words
Adrian waited until the next morning to ask Elena out.
He had spent the previous night thinking about it.
He could have called.
He could have sent a long message.
Instead, at 8:03 a.m., he sent:
Good morning.
Elena saw the message while making coffee.
She smiled before she could stop herself.
Good morning.
His response came almost immediately.
Did you get the job?
She frowned.
Which one?
The interview.
No. They froze hiring.
There was a pause.
I'm sorry.
It's okay.
You'll find something better.
She smiled.
That's very confident.
I'm usually confident.
I noticed.
She expected the conversation to end.
It didn't.
They kept talking.
About work.
About music.
About food.
About places they wanted to visit.
Eventually Elena realized she had been smiling at her phone for almost an hour.
That was dangerous.
She barely knew him.
But there was something about Adrian.
He was calm without being boring.
Confident without constantly trying to prove himself.
And beneath the polished exterior, she sensed something lonely.
Something she couldn't quite reach.
At noon, her phone vibrated again.
Dinner tonight?
Elena stared at the message.
Her heart beat faster.
She typed:
Is that a date?
Three dots appeared.
Disappeared.
Appeared again.
Finally:
Would you like it to be?
She smiled.
Maybe.
His answer came quickly.
I'll take that as a yes.
She laughed.
You're very confident.
I told you.
At seven that evening, Adrian arrived outside Elena's apartment.
He wasn't wearing a suit.
That surprised her.
Instead, he wore a dark shirt with the sleeves rolled slightly above his wrists.
He looked less like a CEO.
More like a man.
When Elena opened the door, Adrian forgot whatever he had planned to say.
She wore a simple dark blue dress.
Nothing extravagant.
But she looked beautiful.
“You look…”
He stopped.
Elena smiled.
“Beautiful?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you.”
He cleared his throat.
“You ready?”
“Yes.”
She grabbed her bag.
Then noticed the coat.
His coat.
She picked it up.
“I washed this.”
“You didn't have to.”
“I know.”
She handed it to him.
He took it.
“Thank you.”
She smiled.
“Now I don't owe you anything.”
“I didn't say you did.”
“You gave me a ride.”
“And a coat.”
“And now dinner.”
“You're keeping score?”
“Maybe.”
He smiled.
“Then I'll have to find another reason for you to owe me.”
She laughed.
“Careful.”
“Why?”
“I might start thinking you like me.”
He looked at her.
“I do.”
The smile disappeared from her face.
For a moment, neither moved.
Then she looked away.
“Let's go.”
The restaurant was elegant but quiet.
Elena looked around.
“This is beautiful.”
“I thought you'd like it.”
“How did you know?”
“I remembered what you said.”
“What did I say?”
“You like quiet places.”
She smiled.
“You actually listen.”
“I told you.”
They sat across from each other.
Dinner was easy.
They talked for hours.
Adrian told her about his childhood.
His father had always expected perfection.
His mother had died when he was young.
After that, his father had raised him with one lesson:
Never become dependent on anyone.
Elena listened quietly.
“That sounds lonely.”
“It was.”
“Were you close to your mother?”
“Yes.”
“What was she like?”
Adrian smiled.
“She laughed a lot.”
“Like you?”
“I don't laugh that much.”
“You do around me.”
He looked at her.
“Maybe.”
She smiled.
Then it was her turn.
She told him about growing up in a modest home.
About her mother working long hours.
About learning to make things beautiful even when she didn't have much.
“My mother always said that a home doesn't need expensive things,” Elena said. “It just needs people who make you feel safe.”
Adrian was quiet.
“Do you feel safe with me?”
The question surprised her.
She looked into his eyes.
“I think I do.”
Something changed in his expression.
Neither spoke for a moment.
Then Elena smiled.
“Don't make that face.”
“What face?”
“That serious face.”
“I wasn't making a face.”
“You were.”
He laughed.
“Maybe I was.”
After dinner, they walked along the waterfront.
The city glittered around them.
Elena hugged herself against the wind.
Adrian immediately removed his jacket.
She stared.
“Again?”
“You're cold.”
“You really like giving me your clothes.”
“Maybe.”
He placed the jacket around her shoulders.
She looked up at him.
“Thank you.”
“You're welcome.”
They continued walking.
After a while, Elena stopped.
“Adrian.”
He turned.
“What's wrong?”
“Nothing.”
She looked at the water.
“I just…”
She hesitated.
“Why me?”
He understood the question.
Why her?
Why was he interested?
Why had he stopped that night?
Why had he asked for her number?
Why was he standing there now?
“I don't know,” he admitted.
She smiled faintly.
“You really don't know?”
“No.”
“That isn't very romantic.”
“I'm not good at romance.”
She laughed.
“You're reading romance books wrong, then.”
“I don't read them.”
“I know.”
He stepped closer.
“I just know that when I'm with you, I don't feel like I need to be someone else.”
Elena's smile faded.
Her heart began beating faster.
“That's…”
She couldn't finish.
Adrian looked at her.
“I like being around you.”
She looked down.
“I like being around you too.”
They stood close.
Very close.
He could have kissed her.
She could have leaned toward him.
Neither did.
Instead, Adrian reached for her hand.
His fingers slowly intertwined with hers.
Elena looked down.
Then up at him.
She didn't pull away.
They continued walking hand in hand.
Neither said anything.
But both knew.
This was no longer just coincidence.
When Adrian drove her home, neither wanted the evening to end.
They sat inside the car outside her building.
Elena looked at him.
“I had a good time.”
“So did I.”
“I was nervous.”
“Why?”
“Because I didn't know what to expect.”
“And now?”
She smiled.
“Now I know.”
“What?”
“That you're less intimidating than you look.”
He laughed.
“I'll take that as a compliment.”
“It is.”
She reached for the door.
“Good night.”
“Good night.”
She stepped out.
Then turned around.
“Adrian?”
“Yes?”
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For tonight.”
He smiled.
“You're welcome.”
She walked inside.
Adrian waited until the door closed.
Then he looked down at his hand.
He could still feel hers.
He smiled to himself.
Something was happening.
Something he hadn't planned.
And for once, he wasn't trying to stop it.
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