“Sometimes, we get so used to our own company we forget how to let someone else in,” I say, thinking of my nights spent curled up with coding problems instead of warm embraces.
“Exactly.” Lincoln's agreement is heartfelt, and I can see the relief in him at being understood. “It's easier to focus on what we know, even if it means sacrificing what we want.”
“Maybe we're more alike than we thought. Two experts at building walls.”
I twirl a loose strand of hair around my finger, the action punctuating our conversation as we delve into topics that feel both personal and universal. “You spend so much time in operating rooms, helping others navigate their fears. How do you manage your own?”
He pauses, his gaze fixed on the swirling steam rising from his mug. “Truthfully? I'm not always great at it. But I've found that focusing on the small victories helps. Like when a child's smile returns after a successful surgery, there's no better feeling.”
Our conversation meander like a lazy river, touching upon dreams deferred and future hopes. Laughter bubbles up unexpectedly as Lincoln recounts a comically disastrous date he had, one involving a very affectionate, but unfortunately seasick, dog on a boating excursion.
“Okay, okay, you win,” I admit, wiping a tear from the corner of my eye. “That's definitely worse than my blind date who spent the entire evening quoting 'The Office' verbatim.”
“Ah, but did he do the voices?” Lincoln asks, arching an eyebrow playfully.
“Every. Single. One.”
We share a look of mock horror before dissolving into another round of laughter, the sound softening the edges of earlier confessions.
As the afternoon light shifts, I realize hours have passed in what seems like heartbeats. The once-bustling coffee shop has quieted to a gentle hum, patrons coming and going like tides while we remain anchored in our mutual understanding.
“Thanks for catching up with me.”
“It's been... refreshing.”
It encapsulates the day—the reconnection with someone who seems to understand the nuances of my past and the hesitancy of my present. As we stand to leave, I feel lighter somehow, likeI have shed a layer of armor I no longer need. He holds the door open for me, and as we step out into the crisp evening air of Lawson Ridge.
“Beautiful, isn't it?” he says, gesturing towards the sky with a nod. The town is quiet now, the day's end bringing a peaceful stillness to the streets.
“Absolutely.”
We walk side by side down the sidewalk, our pace unhurried. At the corner, where the road forks, we pause, neither of us quite ready to end the evening.
“Hey, Heather?” Lincoln begins. “Would you... I mean, if you're not busy, would you want to get together again?”
A smile blossoms on my face. “I’d love to. It's a date.” The word 'date' hangs between us, bold and tentative all at once.
“Great! Here.” He hands me his phone. “Put your number in so I can text you later.”
After putting my number in, saying goodbye, and walking away, I start to squeal. I could have never imagined a night like that with him. It’s been so long, but the chemistry is still there.
For the first time in a long while, I look forward to tomorrow—not with trepidation, but with a budding sense of hope and the thrilling possibility that comes from second chances.
Chapter Five
Heather
My phone vibrates and I pick it up off the coffee table. Honestly, I don’t expect him to text me. It’s Lincoln. He is way out of my league. Always has been. But when I see him name flash across my phone, I squeal.
Lincoln: So, I might have slept the last sixteen hours, but good news is I’m starving and would love a drink. Wanna meet me at Miles’?
The man obviously works way too much if he sleeps for that long at a time. It is refreshing to see a man who is so invested in children. I’ve always dreamed of having a big family. But love just hasn’t been on my side yet. Plus, with the walls guarding my heart like Fort Knox… well that’s a little hard to achieve.
My thumbs hover over the buttons, trying to come up with a witty reply. Obviously I’m going because I’ll use any excuse to see his face again. It might not be going in the direction I wish, but he is still an amazing man.
Me: I’ll get dressed and head that way. See you in twenty.
I kick my feet in the air, and then sit my phone back down on the coffee table. What am I going to wea? I look down at the yoga pants and lose t-shirt I’m currently wearing and roll my eyes.
