all, rustic Italian restaurant tucked away in the heart of Everbrook. The restaurant's dim lighting, soft jazz music, and the smell of fr

ile lighting up his face. He greeted her with a warm hug, and they settled into their table by the window

like being a full-time writer? I'm picturing you at a desk in a big cozy sweater, sur

th, actually. Except, instead of endless cups of coffee, it's usually tea. A

n eyebrow playfully. "So

onestly, it can be isolating sometimes. That's why I volunteer at the bookstore and

of time spent alone, working on songs, practicing. But the performances... that's where the mag

e spoke about music, the way his eyes lit up when he talked about playing live. It reminded

his travels, the time he spent living in different cities, the people he had met along the way. Claire found h

oice softening. "After all the moving around, I realized that what I was searc

it? How we think we need to go out and find something to feel

eel her walls slowly coming down, piece by piece. With Adam, there was no pressure, no expectatio

ting the evening to end. When they finally left the restaurant, Adam

eating a little faster than usual, her mind swirling with thoughts of where this was all heading. But for the first time in a long w

ds casually tucked into his jacket pockets. "I had a r

her smile genuine. "It was

ly. "I was thinkin

t full of potential. Claire looked up at him, and in that instant, she could see the quest

his gaze locked with hers. "Wou

, but because she hadn't let herself feel this kind of connection since James. But as she looked at Adam, s

pered, her voic

ed in, his lips brushing hers gently. The kiss was soft, sweet, and filled with

she hadn't experienced in what felt like forever. Adam didn't say anything, but t

-

the local café or walking through the park, others more adventurous, like going to an outdoor music festival or visi

ust again. He was patient, allowing their relationship to unfold naturally, without any pressure. It was a stark contrast to how things had been

r she had come since the breakup with James. She had spent so much time healing, rediscovering he

eight of his absence, no longer carried the sadness that had once consumed her. Instead, she was filled with a se

h, her phone buzzed wi

cooking dinner, and I thought we could hang out. Maybe

time with him. She had grown to love their quiet moments together-the ones whe

sounds perfect. I'

-

d cookies she had made earlier that day. When he opened the door, he greeted her wit

her inside. "Dinner's almost read

ied, following him into the cozy l

Adam said, his eyes lighti

projects they were working on, about random little things that made them laugh. After dinner, they settled onto

n naturally pulling them away from the screen. Adam reached for her hand, lacing hi

Adam-how safe. For the first time since James, she felt like she could

filled with affection. "You know," he said q

, her heart f

beautiful. Something real. She wasn't sure where their story would lead, b