Chapter 6: A Glimpse into Max's Past
Sophia had been looking forward to her next encounter with Max all week. She had thought about him constantly, wondering what he was like when he wasn't being charming and witty.
As she arrived at the coffee shop, Sophia spotted Max sitting at a table by the window. He looked up and caught her eye, flashing her a warm smile.
"Hey," Max said, standing up to greet Sophia. "You look beautiful today."
Sophia felt a flutter in her chest as she smiled back at Max. "Thanks," she said. "You don't look so bad yourself."
As they sat down at the table, Sophia noticed that Max seemed a bit distracted. He kept glancing at his watch, and his eyes seemed to be a million miles away.
"Is everything okay?" Sophia asked, concern etched on her face.
Max nodded, forcing a smile onto his face. "Yeah, everything's fine," he said. "I just have a lot on my mind, that's all."
Sophia nodded sympathetically. "I know how that feels," she said. "Sometimes I feel like I have a million thoughts racing through my head."
Max looked at Sophia with a curious expression. "What do you do when that happens?" he asked.
Sophia thought for a moment before responding. "I try to focus on the present moment," she said. "I take a few deep breaths, and I remind myself that I can only control what's happening right now."
Max nodded thoughtfully, his eyes never leaving Sophia's face. "That's really wise," he said. "I might have to try that sometime."
As they continued to talk, Sophia noticed that Max seemed to be opening up to her. He told her about his childhood, about his parents and his siblings. He told her about his passions and his dreams, and Sophia listened with rapt attention.
As the afternoon wore on, Sophia felt like she was getting a glimpse into Max's past. She was seeing a side of him that she hadn't seen before, and she was fascinated.
As they parted ways, Max turned to Sophia and smiled. "Thanks for listening," he said. "It means a lot to me."
Sophia smiled back at Max, feeling a sense of connection with him that she couldn't ignore. "Anytime," she said. "I'm always here to listen."