Between The Lines

Breaking Routine

The weeks passed in a blur of writing, revising, and the steady rhythm of texts and calls with Alex. Our communication had become so frequent that it started to feel like part of my daily routine—almost like I needed it. It wasn’t constant, but enough that a day didn’t feel right if I didn’t hear from him.

We’d meet up occasionally, nothing too extravagant—just grabbing coffee or taking a walk when we both had the time. I liked how easy it was with him. There was no pressure to impress, no awkwardness, just… comfort. He was easy to be around, and I found myself letting my guard down more and more each time we were together.

That Friday, I was in the middle of another slow writing day when Alex texted.

Alex: How’s the writing going today?

I sighed, looking at the half-finished sentence on my screen. I couldn’t even find the energy to lie.

Me: Terrible. I’m stuck.

Alex: Sounds like you need a break. I’m thinking we should grab a drink tonight. You game?

I leaned back in my chair, staring at his message. A drink sounded good. Better than good, actually. I had been staring at this blank page for far too long, and the idea of unwinding with Alex, as usual, felt like the perfect distraction.

Me: Yeah, alright. I could use one.

Alex: Great. I’ll pick you up at 8.

When 8 rolled around, Alex pulled up outside my place, and I met him at the door, grateful for the escape from my own mind. He grinned when he saw me, and just like that, my day felt a little lighter.

We headed to a small bar on the outskirts of town, a place Alex had discovered a while back. It wasn’t flashy or crowded, just the kind of quiet spot where you could actually have a conversation without shouting over the music. The atmosphere was laid back, the lighting soft, and it felt like the kind of place where time didn’t matter much.

We found a booth in the back, and as we settled in, the usual easy flow of conversation picked up. Talking to Alex had always been effortless, and tonight was no different. We started with the usual topics—work, life, random observations—but as the night went on, our conversation took on a quieter tone.

“Be honest,” Alex said, swirling the drink in his glass. “How’s the book really going? You’ve seemed kind of frustrated with it lately.”

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “It’s been rough. Some days it feels like everything’s clicking, and then other days... nothing. Like today.”

“I get it,” Alex said, his expression thoughtful. “You’ve been pushing yourself hard. Maybe you need to take a step back and breathe.”

I let out a dry laugh. “That’s what everyone keeps telling me.”

“Because it’s true,” Alex said, nudging me playfully. “You can’t force it. Sometimes you just have to let things happen on their own.”

I didn’t have a response to that, so I just nodded, sipping my drink and letting his words sink in. We sat in comfortable silence for a while, the noise of the bar fading into the background as I thought about what he’d said.

He was right. I knew he was right. I’d been pushing myself so hard to make progress that I hadn’t stopped to think about why I was stuck in the first place.

After a while, Alex checked his phone and frowned. “Damn. I hate to cut this short, but I’ve got an early meeting tomorrow.”

I nodded, feeling a pang of disappointment. I wasn’t ready for the night to end, but I understood. “No worries.”

Alex stood, pulling on his jacket. “But hey,” he said, pausing for a moment as if debating something. “We’ll do this again soon, right? No pressure, but… I like hanging out with you.”

There was something genuine in his voice that made my chest tighten. I hadn’t expected to feel so comfortable around him, but I did. More than I’d realized.

“Yeah,” I said with a small smile. “I like hanging out with you too.”

“Good,” he said, his grin returning. “I’ll text you.”

He left me with that, his smile lingering in my mind as I watched him walk out of the bar. I sat there for a moment, finishing my drink and thinking about how things had shifted between us over the past few weeks.

It was subtle, but undeniable. There was something there, something that hadn’t been there before. And as I left the bar and headed home, I couldn’t help but wonder where this was going.

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Sorry for the short chapter today, bit busy with some personal matters.

Thanks for all the positive feedback! I appreciate it alot♡

Butttt, I hope you enjoyed the chapter!
New chapter will be out tomorrow!