Chapter 7 - A Weird Request

Emma had been staring at her wardrobe for almost ten minutes.

She wasn't trying to impress Daniel.

At least, that's what she kept telling herself.

It was just coffee.

Just two people who had spent the last week talking every day.

Still, she changed from a blue blouse into a white one, then added a cream cardigan when she decided the café might be a little chilly.

Better.

She glanced at the clock.

12:45 p.m.

She still had plenty of time before she needed to leave.

Her phone vibrated.

A smile appeared before she even looked at the screen.

Daniel: Good afternoon.

Emma: Good afternoon.

Daniel: Ready?

Emma looked down at her outfit and smiled.

Emma: Almost.

You?

A few seconds passed.

The typing bubble appeared.

Disappeared.

Then appeared again.

Finally—

Daniel: I have a weird request.

Emma frowned.

Emma: Should I be worried?

Daniel: Probably not.

Emma: That's not very reassuring.

Another message appeared.

Daniel: Can I call you?

Emma blinked.

A phone call?

Now?

She looked at the clock again.

There was still more than an hour before they were supposed to meet.

Maybe hearing his voice first would make everything less awkward.

Or maybe it would make her even more nervous.

She smiled despite herself.

Emma: Okay.

Her phone rang almost immediately.

She took a slow breath before answering.

"...Hello?"

Silence.

Then a soft laugh.

"So that's your voice."

Emma smiled.

"And that's yours."

"I imagined it differently."

"So did I."

Another pause.

Daniel cleared his throat.

"I had something clever planned."

"Oh?"

"I forgot all of it the moment you answered."

Emma laughed.

"That actually makes me feel better."

"It does?"

"I thought I'd be the awkward one."

"I think we're tied."

They laughed together.

The nervousness that had lingered all morning quietly disappeared.

"So," Daniel said, "how's your Saturday?"

"Busy."

"Bakery?"

Emma nodded instinctively before realizing he couldn't see her.

"Mrs. Alvarez had me helping since early this morning."

"Worth it?"

"I got to bring home fresh salt bread."

Daniel sighed dramatically.

"I'm still jealous."

"You've never even tasted it."

"I know."

"Then why are you jealous?"

"Because you keep talking about it."

Emma smiled.

"I'll bring you some."

The words slipped out before she could stop them.

There was a brief silence.

"I'd like that," Daniel said.

Heat crept into Emma's cheeks.

She quickly changed the subject.

"What about you?"

"I've been trying to convince myself not to leave an hour early."

She laughed.

"No, you haven't."

"I have."

"You sound like you're exaggerating."

"...Maybe a little."

"I knew it."

Daniel chuckled.

"I was hoping you'd believe me."

"I've gotten pretty good at telling when you're exaggerating."

"Already?"

"It's one of your talents."

"I didn't know I had one."

"You have several."

"Oh?"

"You're good at changing the subject."

"I feel attacked."

"You should."

Daniel laughed again.

He liked how easily she teased him now.

A week ago, she barely sent more than one sentence at a time.

Now she was making fun of him.

He considered that progress.

The conversation drifted naturally.

Emma told him about architecture studio and the professor who always asked for "one last revision."

Daniel admitted he'd once assembled a bookshelf backward and only realized it after the shelves kept falling out.

"It collapsed?"

"Completely."

Emma laughed so hard she had to sit down.

"I wish I'd seen that."

"I don't."

"You must've looked so confident."

"I did."

"And then?"

"It betrayed me."

She laughed even harder.

"I shouldn't be laughing."

"But you are."

"I am."

Daniel smiled to himself.

He liked hearing her laugh.

It was brighter than he'd imagined.

"So..." Emma asked.

"What are you wearing?"

"A blue shirt."

"That's all?"

"And jeans."

She smiled.

"I meant..."

"I know what you meant."

"And?"

"You'll find out in a little while."

Emma shook her head.

"You're impossible."

"I've heard that before."

Still talking, she slipped on her sneakers and picked up her bag.

"I should leave."

"Me too."

Neither of them hung up.

Emma locked her apartment door and started walking toward the station.

On the other end of the call, Daniel started his car.

"I think I'll get there first."

"I wouldn't be so sure."

"You're taking the train."

"And you're driving on a Saturday."

Daniel laughed.

"Fair point."

The conversation continued.

Favorite movies.

Books they never finished.

Whether cereal counted as dinner.

Neither noticed how quickly time was passing.

Emma had just stepped onto the station platform when she looked up at the digital clock.

1:54 p.m.

She stopped walking.

"...Daniel?"

"Hm?"

"What time is it?"

She heard the faint click of his turn signal before he answered.

"One fifty-four."

Emma laughed under her breath.

"We're supposed to meet at two."

"I know."

"I thought this was going to be a five-minute call."

"So did I."

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Neither seemed eager to be the first to end the conversation.

Finally, Daniel broke the silence.

"Can I make a selfish suggestion?"

Emma smiled.

"What is it?"

"If we leave now, we'll probably spend the next hour apologizing for being late."

"...That's true."

"I don't want our first meeting to feel rushed."

Emma looked toward the approaching train.

She understood exactly what he meant.

"So..."

Daniel hesitated.

"What if we make it three instead?"

Emma pretended to think about it.

"Hmm."

The silence stretched just long enough to make Daniel nervous.

Then she laughed.

"I think I can manage another hour."

Daniel let out a quiet breath.

"I was a little worried you'd say no."

"I almost did."

"You did not."

"I didn't."

They both laughed.

"Three o'clock?" he asked.

"Three o'clock."

"And no more phone calls until after we meet."

Emma smiled.

"Agreed."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

Daniel laughed softly.

"I'll see you in an hour then."

Emma stepped onto the train as the doors slid open.

"For real this time."

"For real."

She ended the call and slipped her phone into her bag.

An hour ago, she had been nervous about meeting a stranger.

Now...

She couldn't wait to meet Daniel.