When Emily received her order, she grabbed it and quickly made her way to an empty table by the window, trying to put some distance between herself and Julian.
As she sat down and began to sip her coffee, Emily couldn't shake the feeling that Julian was still watching her. She glanced around the coffee shop, trying to seem casual, and that's when she saw him – Julian was packing up his guitar and standing up, his eyes locked on hers.
Emily took a deep breath and tried to focus on her coffee, pretending she hadn't noticed Julian getting up and walking towards her. She stared out the window, watching as people walked by on the sidewalk.
As Julian approached her table, Emily could feel her heart beating faster, but she refused to look up. She took a sip of her coffee, trying to seem nonchalant.
Julian stopped in front of her table, his presence making Emily feel even more nervous. "Mind if I join you?" he asked, his deep voice sending shivers down Emily's spine.
Emily looked up at Julian, trying to seem calm and curious. "Why do you want to join me?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Julian raised an eyebrow, seemingly taken aback by Emily's question. For a moment, he just stared at her, his eyes searching hers. Then, he smiled, a small, enigmatic smile. "I wanted to get to know you better," he said, his voice low and smooth. "You seem... interesting."
Emily felt a shiver run down her spine as Julian's words sent a flutter through her chest. No one had ever noticed her like that before. She wasn't sure if she should be flattered or intimidated.
Suddenly, Julian's gaze dropped to Emily's sketchbook, which was lying open on the table. "You're an artist," he said, his voice filled with surprise. "I didn't know that."
Emily's curiosity got the better of her, and she asked, "Are you interested in art?" She leaned in slightly, her eyes locked on Julian's.
Julian's gaze lingered on Emily's sketchbook for a moment before he looked up at her. "I appreciate it," he said. "I've always been fascinated by the creative process. Music, art, writing... it's all about expressing yourself, isn't it?"
Emily nodded, feeling a spark of connection with Julian. "Exactly," she said. "It's like tapping into a part of yourself that you can't quite explain."
Julian smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I know exactly what you mean," he said. "Sometimes, when I'm playing music, I feel like I'm channeling something deeper and more meaningful than just notes on a page."
As they talked, Emily found herself feeling more and more at ease with Julian. She couldn't believe how easy it was to talk to him, how much they seemed to have in common.