EMILY

Chapter Thirteen: Coffee Without Expectations

They met on a Saturday afternoon at a small café in Brooklyn.

Emily arrived five minutes late, carrying a notebook and apologizing for the subway.

Ethan was already seated beside the window.

“I ordered coffee,” he said. “I wasn't sure whether you still liked it.”

“I've never stopped liking coffee.”

“Excellent. One thing remains unchanged.”

They laughed.

For the first half hour, they spoke about ordinary things. Ethan described an embarrassing presentation at work. Emily told him about Jake's disastrous attempt to bake a cake.

Then she mentioned Everlight.

“I've decided to start small,” she said. “Online sales first. Maybe a studio later, if I can afford it.”

Ethan listened as she explained her plans.

“You've thought about the risks.”

“I have.”

“And you're still going ahead?”

“Yes.”

He smiled.

“Then I hope it works.”

She studied him.

“That's all?”

“What else should I say?”

“You could offer advice.”

“I could. But you didn't ask for it.”

Emily looked down at her coffee, hiding a smile.

After lunch, they walked through a nearby bookstore. Ethan found a book about architectural design, while Emily discovered an old fashion photography collection she had wanted to read for years.

They spent nearly an hour browsing.

When they finally left, the afternoon sunlight had softened.

“I enjoyed this,” Emily said.

“So did I.”

Ethan hesitated.

“Would you like to do it again?”

She smiled.

“Yes.”

They arranged to meet the following weekend.

On the journey home, Emily realized that she had not spent the afternoon worrying about whether Ethan liked her.

She had simply enjoyed being with him.

That felt new.

And perhaps, she thought, it was a better place for something meaningful to begin.