19

Amelia woke with her phone still in her hand. For several blissfully confusing seconds, she couldn't work out why sunlight was streaming through the gap in the curtains or why her neck ached. Then she looked at the clock.

10:03 a.m.

"Oh no."

She bolted upright, sending her phone tumbling onto the duvet. She had slept through every alarm. Normally she was awake before eight on a Saturday. Grocery shopping, laundry and cleaning usually occupied most of the morning before she rewarded herself with an afternoon of reading.

Today, her routine had completely deserted her. She reached for her phone. A smile appeared almost instantly. The final message from Jake still sat on the screen.

I have a feeling that's going to be my favourite message for a very long time.

She read it again. Then, despite having already done so at least half a dozen times before falling asleep, she smiled just as broadly. Her thumb hovered over the keyboard.

Good morning.

No. That seemed ridiculous considering it was already after ten.

Morning.

No. Too casual.

Before she could overthink it any further, her phone buzzed

Jake:

Good morning.

Or perhaps good late morning.

I'm hoping you're still asleep and didn't stay awake until breakfast.

Amelia laughed aloud.

Amelia:

I'm afraid it's worse than that.

I only just woke up.

Three dots appeared almost immediately.

Jake:

I'm relieved.

Amelia:

Really?

Jake:

I was worried I'd kept you awake.

Amelia:

You did.

It was entirely worth it.

She pressed send before she could lose her nerve. Jake replied less than a minute later.

Jake:

I'm glad.

Although I suspect coffee is now essential.

Amelia climbed out of bed and wandered into the kitchen, still wearing an oversized university hoodie and fluffy socks. The bouquet sat proudly in the middle of the table. She stopped automatically. Every flower looked just as beautiful in the morning sunlight as it had the evening before. Without really thinking, she touched the petals of one of the white roses.

Her phone buzzed again.

Jake:

Can I ask you something?

Amelia:

Of course.

There was a longer pause this time. Long enough that she wondered if he had changed his mind.

Finally...

Jake:

Would you have breakfast with me?

Amelia stared at the screen. Her stomach performed an alarming somersault.

Breakfast. Not dinner. Not drinks. Breakfast. Somehow that felt even more intimate. She bit her lip.

Amelia:

Today?

Jake:

Only if you'd like to.

If you're busy, another day is absolutely fine.

She glanced around her spotless flat. Laundry could wait. The supermarket would still exist tomorrow. Every sensible excuse disappeared before it had fully formed.

Amelia:

I would like that.

Very much.

Jake's reply came almost instantly.

Jake:

There's a little café in the Jewellery Quarter called Rose & Rye.

Do you know it?

Amelia smiled. She'd walked past it dozens of times, always meaning to go inside and never quite getting around to it.

Amelia:

I do.

Jake:

Eleven?

She looked at the microwave clock. That gave her less than an hour.

Amelia:

I'll be there.

The moment she sent the message she looked down at herself.

"Oh."

She hurried towards the bedroom. Half her wardrobe ended up scattered across the bed. Everything was either too formal, too casual, too much like she was trying or too much like she wasn't. Eventually she settled on a soft blue floral dress with a light denim jacket and white trainers.

Simple and comfortable. Hopefully somewhere between effortless and presentable. She stared at herself in the mirror.

"You are going for breakfast."

Not an interview. Not a wedding. Breakfast. Still... She spent slightly longer on her hair than usual.

Jake arrived twelve minutes early. He frowned at his watch. Apparently punctuality disappeared whenever Amelia Carter was involved.

Rose & Rye occupied the corner of a quiet street lined with independent shops. Fresh flowers overflowed from wooden planters outside while the scent of coffee drifted through the open doorway.

It suited her. Warm. Unpretentious. Comfortable. He had barely finished that thought when he saw her approaching across the street. She hadn't noticed him yet. She walked with the same quiet confidence she'd had leaving work the previous week, her attention focused on checking the sat nav on her phone even though she was almost at the café.

Then she looked up, their eyes met and her face lit up. Jake forgot every carefully rehearsed greeting. She smiled first.

"Hi."

"Hi."

They both laughed.

"What?" Amelia asked.

"I think we both expected something more impressive."

"I had an entire speech planned."

"So did I."

"What happened to yours?"

"You smiled."

She laughed again.

"I think mine suffered the same fate."

For a moment they simply stood looking at one another. It should have been awkward. Instead it felt strangely comfortable.

"You look lovely," Jake said.

A faint blush coloured Amelia's cheeks.

"Thank you."

She looked down briefly before meeting his eyes again.

"You look nice too."

Jake glanced at his navy jumper.

"I've never been complimented for knitwear before."

"I thought I'd broaden my horizons."

He held the café door open for her.

"Ladies first."

"Thank you."