CHAPTER 3

COFFEE DATE

Nathan said that he picked this café for its “calming atmosphere”. But something feels off about this place, maybe it’s the soft lighting mixed with quiet chatter or the mismatched chairs. Its feels like there’s a small knot in my stomach, like a small warning I can’t quite name.

Nathan arrived a few minutes late, moving with a smooth confidence mixed with a subtle edge. We settled in a corner table, the soft jazz brushing against the quiet chatter around them. Nathan ordered a cappuccino while I ordered a black coffee.

 We sat across from each other, the steam from our cups curling between them. I hesitated, twisting the rim of my mug between my fingers. Do I really need to apologize again? Part of me still felt guilty about spilling wine on his shirt, but another part of me was worried I was making too much of it. “So…uh, I guess I start by saying sorry again. For last week.”

Nathan gave a small, easy smile, but I noticed his eyes flick to the café door and back, scanning the room like he already knew it.

“You mean the wine thing?” “Yeah,” I laughed softly “Pretty sure I ruined your shirt. And possibly your night.” “You didn’t.” he said quickly, shaking his head. “honestly, I wasn’t that big of a deal. I barely noticed.” He said slowly looking up at me. “To be honest with you, I might have used this as an excuse to just go on a date with you.” I tried to laugh it off, though my cheeks gave me away.

Then his phone vibrated sharply on the table. He glanced at it, lips pressing together briefly. “Excuse me,” he said as he stood up and walked out. The café door clicked shut behind him and I felt a whisper of breeze on my arm. I looked down at the screen and an unfamiliar name flashed before it disappeared. I felt that slight squeeze in my stomach again. “Probably nothing.” I told myself, though I didn’t believe it myself.

He came back in with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes while slipping his phone into his pocket. “Sorry about that.” He said, sitting back down. I nodded “it’s no problem.”

We talked again, but the air felt different – thinner somehow. His words came out relaxed while mine stumbled over each other. Every time his phone buzzed, I would feel that same flicker of unease in my stomach.

When we stood up to leave, he offered to walk me to my car. I said yes, although a part of me wanted to stay behind, just to breathe.

Outside, the air smelled like rain and the light had dimmed to a gorgeous golden ray that made everything look softer than they actually are. Nathan smiled, his hands in his pockets “Maybe next time I’ll pick somewhere less… intense,” He joked.

I smiled back, my mind wandering back to the phone call, to the flicker of unease I’ve been trying to bury, back to how tense it felt after that call.

“Yeah,” I said “Maybe next time.”

I didn’t know it then, but that phone call would be the first thread to unravel everything.