He saw her.
With a Dan Brown novel in his hand, Zack was taking his usual coffee from his usual café. Nothing was supposed to be unusual until she walked in. Still as radiant as the day they first met.
In a yellow dress, Chloe looked like sunshine with earring tangling. She gave her order and waited by looking around. Her eyes were the first thing anyone would notice about her. He got up and started walking towards her.
Those eyes, they met his with a smile. He smiled back and said
"When did you get back? I heard you moved away."
"Oh, I did. I am just back in town for a while."
"So what are you doing in this part of the town?"
"I am going to visit this bookstore nearby. You wanna join?" She asked and this was just about to get interesting.
That bookstore, just two blocks away, was his safe haven. She didn't know that. He went there every Saturday and afterward got a coffee. It was his routine. He already completed it. But he wasn't going to tell her that. He would happily go there again and pretend to buy another book. After all, there are some people you don't get to see every day.
She took her coffee and they started walking together. After the general weather talk, he asked
"How are things with Max?"
"As bad as they can get. It's like all my love for him is now turned into hatred."
"You know hate is not the opposite of love."
"Oh then what is it enlighten me?" she said smiling.
"The opposite of love is indifference. When you look them in the eyes and feel nothing"
"And from which book are you quoting that?"
"Tangled Threads"
Chloe started laughing. Was he always this obvious while making fun of himself? Did she read into his mind or something?
"How did you know huh?"
"Well, you see you always quoted from books you read. I kind of noticed that"
"So you noticed me?" She laughed but didn't look him in the eyes. He was thinking that maybe he shouldn't have said that out loud. But sometimes he couldn't just help himself.
Bumping into her unexpectedly was the best thing that happened to Zack today. The rest of the way had passed discussing the latest books they read as they almost approached the bookstore.
***
She saw him
when Chloe walked into the Manhattan Mocha cafe, on the outskirts of the town.
Through all these years Zack had not lost his charm.
He was in his collared polo t-shirt along with chinos topped off with the sneakers. She looked up at the bill in her hand when he came up just not to get awkward. She let him do the talking until she found words. It is supposed to be a 15-minute walk to the library from the cafe. she felt the time flutter away as she talked to him. As they entered the library anyone could have mistaken them for a couple. She felt relieved around him, his aura was comforting to her. she saw him looking at her while he was pretending to look for a book.
"Where do you live now by the way?" she asked trying to know him better
"Oh, I bought a home in the fourth block southern street"
"Alone?"
"yeah sad and lonely since Robbie left"
"Oh, well I have selected my book, let's go to the counter to buy it"
"Yeah sure," he said realizing he had still not selected a book.
At the billing counter, he had paid for her book saying that the book was a gift to her from his side.
"Wanna come to the beach? it is almost sunset time."
"I would love to," she said
After a while;
They say nothing, enjoying the sun on their faces as they walk along the seashore.
"so what are you planning to do next?" he asked, breaking the silence for the first time since they arrived at the beach.
she looks at him.she smiles. she talks quickly.
"My business in town is almost done," she remarked
"So you are going back to California?" he asked
"Yes I have my flight tomorrow afternoon" she informed
"So I guess I am gonna face time you later for the book review " he exclaimed
the two grin at each other
They came down towards the water and sat down to a point to which the water tickled their soles of bare feet
"I think it has been a nice day," Chloe says.
He touches her shoulder. And the two of them-just slightly -melt together
Zack smiles "so do I"
co written with- Mahi Jha Wattpad ID-
