For the last two years, I got curious. It’s in my nature. At the time, I refused to be deterred. I threw myself at my job and focused on my work. My job as a CSI was the stepping stone to a career I’ve been dreaming of. I couldn’t afford any distractions. So, I stayed away. But I only succeeded in pretending. The second that job ended, I was supposed to pack up the studio I was renting and drive to Virginia to look for an apartment near the academy.
Instead, I found myself extending my lease for one more month. For reasons I didn’t want to dive into, I stayed. I came on a random day and waited in the café like the awkward lonely teenager I used to be and I’ve come to realize I never really grew out of it.
I told myself if she was still here and I still felt that connection, then it meant there was something there.
Something worth figuring out.
There had to be a reason I was so drawn to her.
She says nothing, her eyes leave mine and drift towards my open laptop. I currently have the browser on searching apartments in Virginia.
The moment she sees it, her left eyebrow shoots up and she looks back at me.
Curiosity and a ton of questions swim in those gorgeous brown eyes. Up close, I can see the flecks of gold and amber in her seemingly milk chocolate-colored eyes.
A lock of jet-black hair falls on her face when a gust of wind follows someone entering the shop and I grab hold of my coffee just to keep my hands from reaching out to brush it away. With that comes a whiff of vanilla and roses, a scent utterly her own.
She shifts in her stool to face me entirely. Her knees brush my thigh. Though we’re both wearing jeans, heat seeps through and I instantly ignite.
My grip tightens on my cup, and my control wavers, belying the years of training I’ve had.
Her cheeks turn pink letting me know she’s not entirely unaware of the chemistry crackling between us. Whatever this is… it’s not one-sided.
Dropping her now empty plastic cup on the counter, she rests her chin on one hand while extending the other. “I’m Ria.”
“I know.” I grasp her hand firmly in mine, relishing in the warmth of it against mine.
Ria’s brow wrinkles and I grin at her, letting her hand go. I gesture towards her nametag.
“Oh!” The pink in her cheeks deepen and she lets out a laugh that has me zeroing in on the blush in her cheeks that now perfectly match the color of her mouth.
“I’m Noah.”
She bites her lip and points at my coffee cup. “I know. I make your coffee.” Or at least that’s what I think she says. I’m too fixated on the way she’s chewing on her bottom lip.
I know I’m about to tip the scales, and either this is the best decision I’ve ever made or this blows up in my face. But at this moment, I don’t care. I’ve always played it safe. It’s time I did something for myself not because I need to but because I want to. I want to get to know her.
I relax my shoulders and ease into the same position as her. I strategically place my left leg outside of hers and lean in close.
I give her my best grin and watch as she visibly swallows.
“Do you want to have dinner with me?”
Ria’s breath shallows. I let myself appreciate the way her chest rises and falls before meeting her now widened eyes. “But I… You… I mean I…”
She’s sputtering now. Probably wondering how she went from casually sitting next to me to being openly pursued or maybe it’s overthinking on my part. I do lowkey feel like a stalker after being here three times a week for the last three weeks.
“I’m going about this the wrong way. I don’t want you to feel like I’m pressuring you but I get the feeling you want to know why I’m always here, right?”
She looks away with hesitation, flicking a glance at my laptop.
“I’ll tell you about that, too.”
Ria tilts her head at me, unsure. “I don’t know the first thing about you and I’m not sure I’m comfortable going out with someone I don’t know.”
Now it’s my turn to raise an eyebrow at her.
“Then how will you ever get to know me?”