supplies and started getting ready for their evening shift at work. Th

y wrinkles. "I'm so glad we had this sleepove

ding. "Anytime, Em. That

ore leaving, Elam's phone buzzed with a text from an

king forward to meeting you tonight, Elma .'" Elma's

intrigue. "Or maybe it's

try to figure out who sent this,"

e text. "No clues here

t. "I'm going to reply a

brow. "You sure th

, I want to know w

is?" – and sent it off. They waited for a fe

one who's looking forwar

ed. "This is gett

once more. This time, it was a

ing forward to o

's. "I think we have

a crush on Emma for a while and

in her chest. She had always thought of Alex as just a collea

ession and raised an eyebrow. "You oka

ff the feeling. "I'm fine, Jane

ex's texts. She found herself wondering what he was like outside of w

t when she saw Alex chatting with their manager. He cau

ing over to her. "Looking fo

ng to play it cool. "H

ng glances at Alex, noticing the way he moved with c

it. Was she develop

work. Her mind kept wandering back to Alex, and she couldn't hel

Jane aside and whispered, "Hey, Jane

with curiosity. "Of c

articulate her feelings. "I thi

htful. "Hmm, that's interestin

I love the way he smiles. But I'm trying to ignore i

it. But maybe it's worth exploring

good. I just need to focus o

say so, Em. But just remember, I

took a deep breath and headed back to work, determined to pu

e and more comfortable around Alex. They worked toge

ldn't shake off the feeling that she w

, their banter and laughter filling the air. Elma couldn't hel

t Elma's arm and pulled her aside. "Hey, can I talk to

at as she nodded, wonderi

unds of the restaurant fading into the background. A

ling slightly. "I've had feelings for you for a while now. I k

nt. She hadn't expected Alex to confess his feelings, but now t

o say," Elma stuttered, her che

ave to say anything, Elma. I just wanted to be honest with y

a surge of affection for him. She took a d

el the same way," Elma said, h

pulled Elma into a gentle hug. "Real

sense of excitement and

arms, Elma knew that her life was about to ch