"Would you like to grab coffee? I think we should clear the air."

As soon as I hit send, a wave of regret washes over me. What if he’s moved on? What if I’m just reopening a door he’s trying to shut?

To my surprise, his response comes quickly.

"Coffee sounds good. I'll be free in an hour."

A rush of relief floods me, mixed with nerves I can’t quite shake. I keep telling myself this is just coffee, just a chat, but a part of me can’t ignore the excitement bubbling beneath the surface.

---

An hour later, I'm sitting at a cozy, quiet café, my eyes flicking to the door every few seconds. When Carter finally walks in, looking effortlessly put together and focused, I can’t help but feel my heart race. He nods at me, and we exchange the usual pleasantries as he takes a seat across from me.

“So,” I begin, feeling more awkward than I anticipated. “About yesterday…”

He gives a slight nod, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “We can leave that behind us if you’d prefer.”

Somehow, that’s both comforting and a bit disappointing. “Agreed. I just thought maybe we could find a balance here… professionally, at least,” I quickly add.

He raises an eyebrow, clearly interested. “Sounds reasonable.”

From there, our conversation flows, and I find myself laughing at his dry wit, sharing stories about my company, and listening as he talks about Dane Media. We’re finally engaging—really engaging—and I feel a warmth spreading that I haven’t felt in… well, I can’t remember when.

At one point, my hand brushes against his as I reach for my cup. It's a simple touch, but it sends a spark through me. I look up and catch a glimpse of something in his eyes, something unspoken that lingers between us. But just as quickly, it vanishes, replaced by his usual calm demeanor.