The Warm Algorithm

Chapter 32: The Reminder

Weeks later, the sickness had passed, and with it came a gentle rhythm between them. Life with Lucien fell into place almost naturally, mornings with shared coffee, afternoons filled with teasing and light touches, evenings where work melted into laughter and comfort. It wasn't loud or dramatic, but it was theirs, and it made Calixta's heart feel something she hadn't in a long time: safe.

One lazy morning, sunlight spilled through the curtains of Calixta's apartment. She sat curled on the couch with her laptop open, while Lucien loosened his tie after taking a call. The air was warm, comfortable, until her phone chimed from the coffee table. She glanced at it, her breath catching.

Reminder: Rob's Day.

Her lips parted, and she sat upright, staring at the screen longer than necessary. Lucien noticed immediately. 

"Rob?" His tone was curious, but there was a sharpness beneath it.

Calixta nodded faintly, tucking her hair behind her ear. 

"Yeah... today's his day. I bought the ingredients earlier. I'm going to bake him a cake."

She rose, brushing past him gently, moving to the kitchen. The sound of bags rustling and utensils clinking soon filled the silence, but her movements weren't the light, playful ones Lucien had grown used to. They carried a heaviness, like she was forcing herself to keep steady.

Lucien leaned against the doorway, arms folded, his eyes studying her carefully. "So... who's Rob?"

"My best friend," she replied, her voice soft but steady as she measured flour.

His brow furrowed. "Best friend? Isn't it... awkward? You know. Having a male best friend?"

Calixta finally looked up, her lips curving into the faintest smile. "It's not awkward, Lucien. He was more like family. There was never anything more than that."

Something in his chest loosened at her reassurance, though the shadow of curiosity didn't fully leave his eyes.

When the cake was in the oven, she wiped her hands on a towel and glanced at him, hesitant but sincere. "Would you... come with me? To his place?"

Lucien straightened slightly, caught off guard by the question.

Her gaze softened. "I'd like you to meet him. It would mean a lot if you were there."

The air between them stilled, heavy with unspoken meanings. And though Lucien didn't voice the questions swirling in his mind, he gave a slow nod, stepping closer. 

"Alright. I'll come."

Calixta's chest eased with quiet relief. She offered him a small smile, the kind that carried both gratitude and vulnerability.

And as the warm scent of baking cake filled the apartment, the reminder on her calendar no longer felt like a silent weight she had to carry alone.