The next day, Quinn decided she was not going to let herself be affected by a box of chocolates or a cryptic note. Ethan was just a neighbor, and she'd laugh about the delivery incident with Ava later, then move on.
That was the plan, at least, until Ava invited herself over for a "friend intervention."
"You need this," Ava declared, dramatically waving a bottle of sparkling juice in one hand as she barged into Quinn's condo. "Girl time and gossip. And maybe a new plan to get you out of that single rut."
Quinn groaned, closing the door behind her. "I'm not in a rut."
Ava smirked, flopping onto Quinn's couch and pulling her down beside her. "Says the woman who hasn't been on a date in, what, months?"
"Because I've been busy," Quinn countered, crossing her arms defensively. But the look Ava shot her was loaded with suspicion.
"Right. Busy finding random delivery men to yell at?"
Quinn choked on her drink. "How did you know about that?"
Ava's grin was pure mischief. "Lucky guess. But come on, tell me what actually happened."
Reluctantly, Quinn recounted the entire ordeal, from the mistaken delivery to Ethan's nonchalant attitude and the mysterious box of chocolates that had shown up on her counter.
"Ohhh," Ava said, eyes lighting up. "He sent you chocolates? Girl, he's interested."
"It was probably just to avoid another lecture about delivery ratings," Quinn scoffed, trying to brush it off. But Ava was already scheming, that mischievous glint in her eye growing by the second.
"Let me get this straight," Ava said, holding up a finger as if ticking off items on a list. "Hot neighbor? Check. Unintentionally hilarious encounter? Check. Chocolate delivery? Double check. Quinn, this is the universe telling you to do something!"
Quinn rolled her eyes. "Yeah, like ignore him."
But Ava wasn't having it. "Oh no, you are not ignoring this opportunity. Look, next time you run into him, just… be yourself."
Quinn raised an eyebrow. "Myself?"
"Yeah!" Ava said, as if this was the most obvious solution in the world. "Be your confident, no-nonsense, boss-lady self. And maybe let him see that soft side you hide under all that CEO armor."
Quinn sighed, but secretly, Ava's words stuck with her. Maybe she had been putting up too many walls, both with her friends and everyone else.
---
That evening, Quinn found herself unable to shake Ava's words, and as she sat down to check her emails, she got a notification from her condo's chat board.
It was a reminder for the building's upcoming charity gala event—a semi-formal gathering for all the residents, hosted in the rooftop lounge. Quinn groaned. She usually skipped these things, but for some reason, she hesitated.
Then, as if on cue, her phone buzzed. A message from Ava: "You better be at the gala. I'm not letting you get out of it this time!"
It was an invitation she couldn't avoid, and deep down, she was curious.
Maybe, just maybe, she'd see Ethan there too.
---
As she closed her laptop for the night, a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips. She wasn't one for fate, but maybe the universe was stirring things up for a reason.
Quinn had no idea what the gala would bring, but she was beginning to feel… excited.
For the first time in a long while, something—or someone—was finally making her want to step out of her comfort zone.
!