Chapter 4: The Invitation
1485 Words
By Wednesday, Sera had learned three things about Bennett & Cole.
First, nobody ever finished a coffee before it went cold.
Second, Nora Bennett could spot a bad design from across the room.
Third, Ethan Cole had a habit of appearing whenever Sera was struggling with something.
Not that she minded.
Much.
"You're doing that thing again."
Sera looked up from her screen.
"What thing?"
Ethan pointed at her monitor.
"Staring at the same line for five minutes."
"I've been thinking."
"That's what you said on Monday."
"And I was thinking then too."
"Maybe you think too much."
She gave him a flat look.
"Maybe you talk too much."
He smiled.
"See? We're becoming friends."
"Don't get ahead of yourself."
He laughed and pulled a chair beside her.
"What's wrong with the layout?"
Sera turned the screen slightly.
"The client wants more units without increasing the building's footprint."
"Impossible."
"That's what I thought."
"But?"
She pointed to the plan.
"We could change the communal space."
Ethan studied it.
"That would reduce the garden."
"Not completely."
"You'd have to convince Nora."
"I know."
"Good luck."
Sera smiled.
"I don't need luck."
He looked at her.
"You really don't."
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then someone called Ethan from across the office.
He stood.
"Coffee?"
Sera shook her head.
"I'm good."
"That wasn't for you."
She laughed.
"Right."
He walked away.
Sera watched him for a second before returning to her screen.
She didn't notice Nora watching from across the room.
That afternoon, Nora approved Sera's proposal.
Not completely.
But enough.
"You'll present the revised concept to the client next week," she said.
Sera blinked.
"Me?"
"You found the solution."
"I thought you'd present it."
Nora shook her head.
"You're the one who should defend it."
Sera nodded.
"Okay."
After Nora walked away, Ethan leaned over the partition.
"Congratulations."
Sera smiled.
"Thank you."
"First week and already presenting to a client."
"Don't remind me."
"You'll be fine."
"You said that yesterday."
"And I was right yesterday."
Sera laughed.
"You're very confident."
"Someone has to be."
She shook her head.
Ethan looked at her for another moment.
Then said casually, "There's a restaurant near the office. Friday night."
Sera looked at him.
"Friday?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
He smiled.
"Dinner."
She stared at him.
"That sounds suspiciously like a date."
"It might be."
Sera wasn't expecting the honesty.
She looked down at her desk.
"Ethan..."
"You don't have to answer now."
He stood.
"Think about it."
Then he walked away.
Sera watched him disappear into the hallway.
She didn't know whether to smile or panic.
Her phone buzzed.
Adrian: Need anything from the store?
Sera stared at the message.
She typed:
Sera: No.
Then deleted it.
Typed again.
Sera: Maybe cereal.
His reply came almost immediately.
Adrian: What kind?
She smiled.
Sera: The one I like.
Adrian: That's extremely helpful.
Sera: You know which one.
Adrian: I do.
She put her phone away.
For some reason, the exchange made her feel calmer.
Friday came faster than expected.
Sera spent most of the morning focused on work.
She had almost forgotten about Ethan's invitation.
Almost.
At lunch, Camille called.
"So?"
Sera frowned.
"So what?"
"Don't do that."
"Do what?"
"Pretend you don't know what I'm talking about."
Sera smiled.
"Ethan asked me to dinner."
There was a pause.
"And?"
"I haven't answered."
"Why?"
"I don't know."
"Do you like him?"
"I barely know him."
"That's not what I asked."
Sera leaned back in her chair.
"I think he's attractive."
Camille made a sound of approval.
"Okay."
"But..."
"But?"
Sera looked toward the window.
"I've been living with Adrian."
"Yes."
"And everything has been..."
She searched for the word.
"Comfortable."
Camille laughed.
"That's one word for it."
"What does that mean?"
"Nothing."
"Camille."
"You've spent years telling me Adrian is your safest person."
"He is."
"Exactly."
Sera frowned.
"So?"
"So maybe you're comparing everyone to him."
Sera went quiet.
Camille's voice softened.
"Just think about it."
"About Ethan?"
"About what you actually want."
The call ended.
Sera stared at her phone.
She hated when Camille made complicated things sound simple.
That evening, Sera arrived home later than usual.
The apartment was quiet.
She found Adrian in the living room with his laptop.
He looked up.
"Long day?"
"Very."
"You eat?"
"Not yet."
He closed the laptop.
"I'll make something."
"You don't have to."
"I know."
He stood.
Sera watched him disappear into the kitchen.
She smiled.
It was ridiculous how easily he did things for her.
No questions.
No expectations.
Just Adrian.
She followed him.
"You know, you don't have to keep feeding me."
"I know."
"Then why do you?"
"Because you forget."
"I don't forget."
"You forgot yesterday."
"That was one time."
"Three."
She laughed.
"You're keeping count?"
"I have evidence."
He opened the refrigerator.
"Chicken?"
"Sure."
"Rice?"
"Okay."
"Vegetables?"
"Fine."
He looked at her.
"You're very enthusiastic."
"I'm tired."
"I noticed."
She leaned against the counter.
Adrian started preparing dinner.
For a few minutes, they said nothing.
It was comfortable.
Too comfortable.
Sera's mind drifted back to Ethan.
Then to Camille's question.
What do you actually want?
She watched Adrian's hands as he worked.
The thought disappeared almost as quickly as it came.
"Adrian?"
"Yeah?"
"Ethan asked me to dinner."
The knife stopped.
Only for a second.
Then continued.
"Okay."
Sera watched him.
"That's all?"
He shrugged.
"What do you want me to say?"
"I don't know."
"You like him?"
"I don't know him well enough."
Adrian nodded.
"Then get to know him."
Something about the answer bothered her.
"You don't care?"
He looked at her.
"Of course I care."
"Why?"
"Because you're my best friend."
The words landed differently than they should have.
Sera looked away.
"Right."
Adrian returned to cooking.
Neither noticed the change in the room.
The next morning, Sera woke to the sound of rain.
She pulled the curtain aside.
The sky was dark.
Her phone showed eight missed calls.
All from the office.
She called Nora immediately.
"Hello?"
"Sera, I'm sorry to call you this early."
"What happened?"
"The client meeting has been moved."
"To when?"
"Today."
Sera stared outside.
"Today?"
"Yes."
"But I haven't finished the presentation."
"You have until noon."
Sera looked at the clock.
Nine thirty.
"Okay."
She hung up.
Then grabbed her laptop.
Adrian appeared in the hallway.
"What's wrong?"
"Work."
"What happened?"
"The presentation got moved to today."
"I'll drive you."
She shook her head.
"You have work."
"I'll be late."
"Adrian."
"I'm driving you."
She looked at him.
"Fine."
The presentation went better than Sera expected.
Not perfectly.
There were questions she couldn't answer immediately.
One client challenged the design.
Sera stood her ground.
She explained her reasoning.
She admitted where adjustments were needed.
By the end, Nora was smiling.
Outside the conference room, Ethan bumped her shoulder lightly.
"Not bad."
Sera laughed.
"Not bad?"
"You survived."
"I hate that word."
"I know."
He smiled.
Then his expression became more serious.
"So?"
"So?"
"Friday."
Sera hesitated.
"I'll go."
His smile returned.
"Good."
When Sera got home that evening, Adrian was already there.
He was sitting on the couch.
"You survived."
She stopped.
"How did you know?"
"You texted me."
She looked at her phone.
She had forgotten.
Sera: Presentation done. Didn't die.
She smiled.
"I forgot I sent that."
"I didn't."
She walked toward him.
"It went well."
"I knew it would."
She sat beside him.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Adrian said, "You're going out Friday?"
Sera looked at him.
"With Ethan."
"Right."
"You remembered."
"Of course."
She smiled.
"Are you going to interrogate me?"
"No."
"Good."
He nodded.
Then added quietly, "Have fun."
Sera studied him.
"Are you okay?"
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"I don't know."
He smiled.
"I'm fine."
She believed him.
At least, she thought she did.
She leaned back against the couch.
Their shoulders touched.
Neither moved.
The rain began tapping against the windows.
Adrian looked down at where their arms touched.
Sera noticed.
Their eyes met.
Neither spoke.
Then Sera's phone buzzed.
She reached for it.
Ethan.
Ethan: Looking forward to Friday.
Sera read the message.
When she looked up, Adrian was watching her.
His expression was impossible to read.
"What?"
"Nothing."
She put the phone down.
"You're doing that thing."
"What thing?"
"Going quiet."
He smiled faintly.
"I'm tired."
Sera nodded.
"Okay."
She didn't push.
But later that night, after Adrian had gone to his room, Sera lay awake thinking about Friday.
About Ethan.
About Adrian's silence.
And about the strange feeling that had settled between them when their shoulders touched.
For seven years, she had never questioned what Adrian was to her.
He was her best friend.
Her safest place.
The person she trusted most.
So why had she suddenly become aware of the warmth of his shoulder against hers?
And why did the thought of going on a date with another man suddenly feel more complicated than it should?
- Writer
