Days had gone by since their coffee date, with each day strengthening the bonds. Serena could hardly take her mind off him, and he was such a darling; sending gifts to her while she was in the office, call her frequently and the conversation just flowed like water.
Serena sat cross-legged on her bed, her laptop open on her lap but completely ignored. The soft glow of her bedside lamp illuminated her room, casting warm shadows on the walls. The time on the bedside clock displayed that it was twelve minutes after one; she'd been scrolling aimlessly through her emails when her phone vibrated beside her, the screen lighting up with a name she was eager to see but hadn't expected at this hour.
'Ryan.'
Her heart did a little flip, and she hesitated for just a moment before answering.
"Hey," she said, trying to keep her voice casual, though her pulse quickened.
"Hi," Ryan replied, his voice softer than usual, like he was hesitant to disturb her. "I hope I'm not calling too late."
"No, not at all," she assured him, setting her laptop aside and shifting to lie on her stomach. "What's up?"
There was a pause on the other end, filled with the faint sound of rustling and the occasional creak of a chair. "I don't know," he admitted finally, a smile evident in his tone. "I just... felt like talking to you."
Her cheeks warmed at the admission, and she bit her lip to keep from grinning too wide. "Well, here I am," she said lightly. "What's on your mind?"
For the next hour, they talked about everything and nothing. Ryan told her about the chaotic day he'd had at work, a mix of minor triumphs and annoying setbacks. Serena shared a funny story about her neighbor's dog, who'd managed to escape and cause mild havoc in their apartment complex when she had returned from her workplace.
"Honestly, it was like a scene out of a movie," she said, laughing. "The little guy was weaving through everyone's legs while the owner was chasing after him with a leash and a bag of treats."
Ryan chuckled, his laughter warm and infectious. "I would've paid to see that. Did they catch him?"
"Eventually. I think he just got tired of running."
Their conversation ebbed and flowed naturally, as if they'd been doing this for years. At one point, Serena shifted the phone to her other ear and stretched out on her back, staring up at the ceiling as Ryan talked about his childhood.
"...and my mom used to make these incredible blueberry pancakes every Saturday morning. She'd let me and my brother help, but we mostly just made a mess. I think she secretly loved it, though."
"That's so sweet," Serena said, her voice soft. "It sounds like you had a great childhood."
"I did," he said. "What about you? Any fond Saturday morning traditions?"
She hesitated, a pang of nostalgia washing over her. "My dad used to take me to this little diner down the street from our house. We'd sit at the counter and order the same thing every time—scrambled eggs for him, chocolate chip pancakes for me. It was our thing."
Ryan didn't respond immediately, but when he did, his tone was gentle. "That sounds really special."
"It was," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
The conversation took on a quieter, more intimate tone after that. They shared pieces of themselves they hadn't shared before—fears, dreams, memories that shaped who they were.
"I always wanted to open a little bookstore," Serena admitted at one point, surprising herself. "I don't know why. I just love the idea of being surrounded by stories all day, helping people find their next adventure."
"I can totally see that," Ryan said. "You'd make a great bookstore owner. And hey, you could sell coffee, too. Combine the two things you love."
She smiled, the image of her dream becoming a little clearer in her mind. "Maybe one day."
As the night wore on, their words grew softer, their silences more comfortable. Serena glanced at the clock and was shocked to see it was nearly 4 a.m.
"We've been talking for hours," she said, a hint of disbelief in her voice.
"I guess we have," Ryan said, sounding just as surprised. "I didn't even notice."
"Me neither."
There was a pause, but it wasn't awkward. It was the kind of pause that felt like a shared smile, a silent acknowledgment of the connection they'd forged.
"Serena," Ryan said eventually, his voice low, "I'm really glad I met you."
Her heart skipped a beat, and she found herself gripping the phone a little tighter. "Me too."
They lingered on the line for a few more minutes, neither wanting to be the one to end the call. Eventually, though, Serena's eyelids grew heavy, and Ryan noticed.
"You should get some sleep," he said gently.
"Yeah, I probably should," she admitted, though she didn't want to hang up.
"Goodnight, Serena."
"Goodnight, Ryan."
As she placed her phone on the nightstand and turned off the light, Serena couldn't stop the smile that spread across her face. For the first time in a long time, she felt a spark of something she hadn't realized she'd been missing.
Hope.