Lucinda was in the zone, her feet pounding the pavement as she jogged through the park. She loved exercising outdoors, feeling the sun on her skin and the wind in her hair.
As she rounded a bend, she failed to notice a figure standing on the path. She collided with him, apologizing profusely as they both stumbled backward.
"I'm so sorry!" Lucinda exclaimed, as the stranger grasped her arms to steady her.
As she looked up, her eyes met Chris's intense gaze. She felt a jolt of surprise, followed by a sense of unease.
"Chris," she said, trying to sound casual. "What are you doing here?"
Chris smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Just enjoying the scenery," he replied, his voice low and smooth.
Lucinda raised an eyebrow, unsure if he was flirting with her or just being friendly. They stood there for a moment, awkwardly, until Chris spoke up.
"Hey, I'm buying. How about a coffee?" he asked, nodding toward a nearby café.
Lucinda hesitated for a moment, unsure if she should spend time with this stranger who seemed to be everywhere she went. But something about Chris's warm smile put her at ease.
"Okay, sure," she agreed, and they walked together to the café.
Over coffee, they talked at length, discussing everything from their jobs to their favorite books and movies. Lucinda found herself feeling more and more at ease around Chris, despite the initial awkwardness.
As they chatted, Lucinda realized that Chris was easy to talk to, listening intently to what she had to say and asking thoughtful questions. She found herself opening up to him in ways she never thought possible.
After an hour or so, Lucinda glanced at her watch and gasped. "I'm so sorry, Chris, but I've taken up so much of your time. Let me treat you to lunch instead."
Chris smiled, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "I'd like that," he said, and they walked together to a nearby restaurant.
As they sat down at a table, Lucinda couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. She had no idea what the rest of the day would bring, but she was eager to find out.
As they sat in the restaurant, Lucinda suddenly had a change of heart. "You know what, Chris? I think I'd rather cook for you myself."
Chris raised an eyebrow. "Oh, you don't have to do that."
But Lucinda insisted. "No, really, I want to. It'll be fun."
Chris hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Okay, if you're sure."
Lucinda smiled, feeling a sense of excitement. "I'm positive."
They walked to Lucinda's apartment, chatting and laughing together. As they stepped inside, Lucinda gestured to the kitchen. "Okay, let's get cooking."
Chris leaned against the counter, watching as Lucinda expertly chopped vegetables and marinated meat. "You're really good at this," he said, impressed.
Lucinda smiled. "Thanks. I love cooking."
Together, they prepared a delicious meal of grilled chicken and roasted vegetables. As they sat down to eat, Lucinda felt a sense of pride and accomplishment.
The meal was a huge success, with both of them eating in awe of the flavors and textures. "This is incredible," Chris said, closing his eyes in rapture.
Lucinda laughed, feeling happy and content. "I'm glad you like it."
As they finished their meal and cleared the table, Lucinda realized that she had had a wonderful time with Chris. Despite her initial reservations, she had found herself feeling more and more at ease around him.
As Chris prepared to leave, Lucinda walked him to the door, feeling a sense of reluctance. "Thanks for coming over," she said, smiling.
Chris smiled back, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Thanks for the amazing meal. I had a great time."
Lucinda nodded, feeling happy and content. "Me too."
As Chris turned to leave, Lucinda felt a sudden pang of disappointment. She didn't want the evening to end.
"Hey, Chris?" she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Chris turned back to her, his eyes questioning. "Yeah?"
Lucinda hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Would you like to stay for a bit? We could watch a movie or something."
Chris's face lit up with a warm smile. "I'd love to."
Lucinda's heart skipped a beat as she smiled back at him. She couldn't believe how much she was enjoying his company.
As they settled in on the couch, Lucinda realized that she felt more comfortable around Chris than she had with anyone in a long time. It was as if they had known each other for years, not just a few hours.
As they watched the movie, Lucinda found herself stealing glances at Chris, admiring the way the dim light highlighted his features. She felt a flutter in her chest, and suddenly, she was aware of a spark of attraction between them.
But as the evening drew to a close, Lucinda couldn't help but wonder if she was reading too much into things. Was Chris just being friendly, or was there something more between them?
As Chris stood up to leave, Lucinda walked him to the door once again. This time, however, the atmosphere felt different. The air was charged with a sense of possibility, and Lucinda couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement.
"Thanks again for the amazing evening," Chris said, his eyes locking onto hers.
Lucinda smiled, her heart racing. "No problem. I had a great time."
As Chris turned to leave, Lucinda called out to him. "Hey, Chris?"
He turned back to her, his eyes questioning. "Yeah?"
Lucinda's voice was barely above a whisper. "Would you like to do it again sometime?"
Chris's face lit up with a warm smile. "I'd love to."
As Chris walked away, Lucinda turned her attention back to her phone. That's when she saw it: 13 missed calls from Des.
Her heart sank as she realized she had been so caught up in her time with Chris that she had ignored Des's calls.
Lucinda quickly tried to call Des back, but it went straight to voicemail.
"Des, where are you?" Lucinda said, leaving a message. "I saw you called me 13 times. What's going on?"
But as she waited for a response, Lucinda couldn't shake the feeling that something was off
WAS IT THAT SAME GAME?
OR SOMETHING IS ACTUALLY OFFFFF😕😕😕