Ethan couldn't get the conversation with Emma out of his mind. It had been brief, awkward even, but it was more than he'd ever had before. Hearing her voice, knowing her name—it was enough to set his mind spinning. He replayed every word, every glance, every hesitation. She hadn't outright rejected him, he told himself. She was just guarded, careful. That only made him want to know more.
For the next few days, he found himself thinking about her constantly. He started noticing the small details he hadn't paid attention to before—the way she tucked her hair behind her ear when she was focused, the faint line of concentration between her brows when she was reading. He started to imagine her life outside the coffee shop. What kind of books did she read? What music did she listen to? Did she live alone, or was there someone else?
The thoughts were intrusive, but he didn't stop them. He couldn't.
When he saw her again, it was almost by accident. She wasn't at the coffee shop this time. She was walking down the street, her bag slung over her shoulder, her pace brisk as if she had somewhere important to be. Ethan hadn't planned to follow her—at least, that's what he told himself. But his feet moved before he could stop them, keeping a safe distance behind her, his heart pounding in his chest.
She turned the corner into a bookstore, and he hesitated for a moment before stepping inside. The air was warm and filled with the scent of paper and ink. He watched as Emma moved through the aisles, her fingers trailing along the spines of books. She seemed at ease here, her shoulders relaxed, her guard down.
Ethan lingered near the entrance, pretending to browse, though his eyes never left her. She picked up a book and flipped through the pages, her lips curling into a small smile at something she read. Ethan's chest tightened at the sight. He wanted to know what had made her smile. He wanted to be the reason for it.
Before he could think better of it, he moved closer, his steps careful and measured. He picked up a book at random, pretending to read the back cover as he stood just a few feet away from her. She didn't notice him at first, too absorbed in her own world. But then she glanced up, her eyes meeting his.
Her expression shifted—subtle but noticeable. There was a flicker of recognition, followed by something else. Confusion? Unease? Ethan couldn't tell.
"Hi," he said, his voice soft, almost hesitant.
Emma's brows furrowed slightly. "Hi."
"I didn't expect to see you here," he said, forcing a smile. "Small world, I guess."
She gave a polite nod, her hand tightening slightly around the book she was holding. "Yeah. I guess so."
There was a pause, an uncomfortable silence that stretched between them. Ethan wanted to say something more, to bridge the gap, but he could see the way her posture had shifted, the subtle way she angled her body away from him.
"I didn't mean to bother you," he said quickly, stepping back. "I just... it's nice to run into you."
Emma's lips pressed into a thin smile. "Right. Well, I should get going."
She moved past him before he could respond, heading toward the register. Ethan watched as she paid for her book and left the store without looking back. He stood there for a moment, the weight of her reaction sinking in.
She wasn't interested. Not yet.
But that didn't mean he would give up.