The café was tucked into a corner of Ridgeport's winding streets, its red door almost hidden beneath a canopy of ivy. Inside, it smelled of roasted coffee beans and warm cinnamon, the kind of place that invited people to linger.
"This is my favorite spot," Elliot said as he held the door open for Harper.
She stepped inside, her eyes sweeping over the mismatched furniture and shelves lined with books. A small fireplace crackled in the corner, its warmth welcoming. "I can see why," she said, smiling.
Elliot led her to a table by the window, where the light streamed in, golden and soft. After ordering—black coffee for him, a latte for her—they settled into their seats, an easy silence between them.
"So, Ridgeport," Harper began, stirring her drink. "It's nothing like I imagined. It's...quaint."
Elliot smirked, taking a sip of his coffee. "Not the word I'd use, but yeah, it has its charm. Especially if you know where to look."
"Did you grow up here?"
He shook his head. "No, I came here a few years ago. Needed a fresh start."
"Fresh start?" Harper prompted, her curiosity piqued.
Elliot hesitated, his fingers tracing the rim of his cup. "I was living in the city before this. Had a band, gigs lined up, the whole deal. But things fell apart. We wanted different things, and I needed to get out before I lost myself in it all."
Harper nodded, sensing the weight behind his words. "Do you miss it?"
"Sometimes," he admitted. "But Ridgeport's been good for me. Gave me space to figure things out. Plus, the view doesn't hurt."
She smiled, glancing out the window at the ocean glinting in the distance. "No, it doesn't."
"And you?" Elliot asked, leaning forward slightly. "What's your story, Harper? Why corporate law?"
Harper laughed softly, though it lacked humor. "It wasn't exactly my dream. But I was good at it—school, debates, all of it. So I kept going. One achievement after another. Somewhere along the way, it just...became my life."
"And now?"
"Now…" She paused, staring into her cup. "I'm not sure. Lately, it feels like I'm chasing something I don't even want anymore."
Elliot studied her, his gaze thoughtful. "That sounds lonely."
The honesty in his words caught her off guard, and she felt a lump rise in her throat. "It is," she admitted quietly.
They fell silent, the sounds of the café filling the space between them. Harper found herself surprised by how easy it was to talk to Elliot, a man she'd only just met. He didn't push or judge; he just listened.
"You know," Elliot said after a moment, "I used to think success was all about the big moments. The record deals, the sold-out shows. But now, I think it's about the small ones."
"Like what?" Harper asked, curious.
"Like this," he said simply, gesturing to the table. "A good cup of coffee. A decent conversation. Something that reminds you why life's worth it."
Harper felt a warmth spread through her chest, the simplicity of his words grounding her. "That's a nice way to look at it," she said softly.
They sat there for a while longer, trading stories and quiet laughter as the world outside continued on. Harper felt herself letting go, the tension of her job, her ambitions, her doubts melting away in Elliot's presence.
As they left the café, the sun was beginning to dip toward the horizon, casting the streets in a soft, golden glow.
"I should get back," Harper said reluctantly, holding up the folder in her hand. "Work waits for no one."
Elliot chuckled. "That it doesn't."
They stood there for a moment, the air between them charged with unspoken words.
"Thanks for this," Harper said finally.
"Anytime," Elliot replied, his green eyes meeting hers.
As she turned to leave, Harper couldn't help but glance back, finding Elliot watching her with a quiet intensity.
Something was changing, she realized. A twist in her carefully planned life that she hadn't seen coming.
And for the first time, she didn't want to stop it.
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