rsations were still tentative, but there was something undeniably comfortable about their shared silences. At night, Emily often found herself reflecting on the strange turn of events that had led

er concentration as she sat on her couch,

pressure. Maybe get to know each other a bit better. I know it's been a

. Honest? It made her wonder what exactly he wanted to be honest about. Was he feeling the same way she did-un

Dinner sounds

talian place on 5th? Y

my favorites. I'll

fect. I'l

a peaceful ambiance. She was early, so she decided to take a seat by the window and wait. Her thoughts were racing, and she couldn't shake the feeling that this din

hair was slightly tousled, as though he'd run his hands through it in the car. He smiled w

nto the chair across from

though she quickly masked her reaction with a

s company. His humor, his subtle kindness, and even the way he carried himself-it all drew her in more than she want

, the conversation grew more relaxed. At first, they talked about trivial things-movies they liked, random facts about their ch

How's your life going, outside of this... this marriage, I mea

on my career. I've been doing a lot of self-reflection recently, trying to figure out what I w

place of figuring things out, in some way or another." He leaned forward slightly. "B

ng for a moment, and something shifted between them. The air seemed

r. "It's... complicated. But I can't deny that something has change

've been feeling the same way," he said quietly. "I didn't expect thi

Part of her wanted to deny it, to push away the growing feelings she had for Alex. But another part of her-the part that

nt, the reality of the conversation settling over them. They ate, but the air between t

than she had been in a long time. The walls she had built around herself were starting to crum

hers. "Getting married, even if it's just on paper, is a big deal. But... I'm starting to realize that this

ings simple, to keep her emotions at bay. But the more time she spent with

tly, looking up at him. "But I

on't have to figure it all out right now. But I want to take things slow.

on her skin, and for a moment, Emily found herself leaning into him without thinkin

hat," she said soft

th of them were unsure of what to do. But as their lips met again, the kiss deepened, a spark igniting between them that neither c

s she had so carefully built around her heart were slowly coming down. She wasn't ready to admit

a sense of peace settle over her, as though everything-despi