At Java, the four of us talked for around two hours. We laughed, and I learned more about David's comedic side. He was a bit of a prankster and had perpetrated some cruel pranks on them. When I pulled out my phone, I saw that I had two missed calls from my mother and five SMS. "Crap," I muttered.

"What's wrong?" Christopher quickly asks.

"Oh, my mother has been trying to reach me. "One second," I murmured, standing in the corner to avoid disturbing their chat. David was still giggling at one of his pranks, where he colored William's hair pink while sleeping.

I called my mother back, and she instantly answered. "Thea?"

"Hi, Mom. Sorry for not responding, I'm at Java with-"

"Where are you, Thea?" I have been phoning you, and your class concluded hours ago! "You should have come back!"

"Mom, as I said, I'm at Java with some friends that I made."

My mother sighs over the phone. "Okay, you didn't tell me, and I was worried. And I have to go in one hour for work, so you must watch Evie. Could you please come home now?"

"Sorry, I forgot you were working today. Yeah, I'll go over now. "I am sorry."

"It's fine, sweetie." I am delighted you're meeting new friends. Please let me know when so we know who is watching Evie.

"Sounds good," I say with a nod, even though she cannot see me. "Love you."

"Love you too, honey."

I hang up and take a cautious step over to our table. Christopher is staring at me again. I feel like Christopher has only looked at me the entire time I've been here. Not that I mind; I've been doing the same to him, but there's a reason for my stare. He is undeniably the most handsome individual on the globe. Every girl in the coffee shop, as well as a few men, have been staring at him. He demands attention. Whereas I am just a small, bashful girl with a mediocre appearance. I am nothing special.

"Hey. So, I have to go home now," I remark, picking up my backpack from the floor and placing it on my shoulder. "Thank you again for inviting me, David. I had a really good time. It was wonderful to meet you, William and Christopher," I remark, nodding at them both. I hesitantly wave to Christopher and prepare to leave when I feel him clutch my hand. "How are you getting home?" he says, refusing to let go of my hand.

"Oh, I live close, so I'll just walk," I tell him. "Nonsense, I'll drive you," he replies, standing up and gathering his coffee cup, which he has not yet finished drinking.

"You don't need to. It's not that far to walk. And how will David and William return home?

"I am driving you, end of discussion. "I'll pick them up on the way back," he replies, almost as if it were an order.

"But what if they don't want to wait-"

"Thea," Christopher says, looking straight into my eyes. His hand moves to my cheek, and his thumb delicately traces it, causing more tingles throughout my body.

"Okay," I reply. Well, it comes out far breathier than it should, but around Christopher, I realize I'm not in complete control. He smiles broadly when I agree, then rests his hand on my lower back.

"See you in a bit," Christopher tells William and David. I cautiously wave to both of them.

"Goodbye, Thee!" "I now have William all to myself!" David exclaims as he jumps into William's lap, leading him to exclaim, 'Oomph.' I giggle as Christopher leads me out of Java, his hand warming my back from the cold. With Christopher standing beside me, I scarcely sense the chill in the air. As we walk to the parking lot, I silently pray that Christopher doesn't have a motorcycle. Those things are extremely dangerous, and while it would be thrilling to ride one, I do not believe I want to right now.

Christopher digs into his pocket, pulls out a set of keys, and presses a button to open a matte black Tesla. Wow, the car appears to be costly. Thank goodness it's an automobile.

Christopher lets out a low growl, which I quickly realize is him trying to suppress a laugh. "What's so funny?" I ask. I did not do anything embarrassing, did I? Is anything on my face?

"You are cute. "What else would I drive?"

Oh no. I spoke it out. Quick! Say something! "Oh! I was just stating that I'm relieved it's not a motorcycle. You seem like the sort to ride a motorcycle. It's not like you have a type or anything. "It's just that you're very muscular, tall, and attractive, so I wouldn't be surprised if you rode one," I said all at once. Wow, I am rambling. When I am worried, I ramble and say ridiculous things that should only be in my brain. But now he knows I find him appealing! Naturally, he must be aware of this. He owns a mirror.

Christopher laughs aloud. Great, now he thinks I'm crazy. But the next thing he says takes my breath away. "You are really cute. And motorcycles are deadly; I would never let you ride one of those."

And... I'm speechless. What would a person say to that? Christopher simply smiles at me with his flawless sparkling whites, and I swear I almost faint. He brings me to the passenger side of the car and opens the door for me. I hesitantly thanked him, my confidence shattered after he complimented me. He must have been joking.

We drive home in comfortable silence, with me directing him to my house. After a few minutes, we arrived at my place. "Thank you for the ride, Christopher" I reply to him. I smile at him and open the car door to depart. He opens his door as well and approaches me. "Um... What are you doing?" I give a nervous chuckle.

"Do not worry, love. I am not staying. "I just want to walk you to the door."

Love! He just called me "love"! Cue swoon. I'm sure my cheeks are blazing pink again. I look down to hide my humiliation, but Christopher, like in the coffee shop, refuses to let me look down. His hands cup my cheeks and turn my face up to face him. "Do not hide from me. You never have to feel embarrassed around me," he says. I can't believe I am allowing him to touch me that way. I was uncomfortable with James' hand on my shoulder. However, with Christopher holding my hand and now my head in his palms, I am not at all uncomfortable. It is the opposite. It feels right.

"Why do I feel this way around you?" I speak openly without intending to. After asking the inquiry, I immediately regret it. I probably terrified him. Stupid, Thea. Think before you speak!

"So you feel it, too?" he says, and my heart pauses for a second. Is he feeling what I am feeling? He feels this mad connection, this force that is drawing us together. It's insane since I only met him two hours ago and already feel like I've known him forever.

Just as I'm about to ask him about it, the door opens, revealing my mother in her flight attendant uniform. "Here you are. "Oh!" my mother says when she notices Christopher. That's when I know where we're at. We are close, and Christopher has his hands on my cheeks. It appears he is preparing to kiss me. I jerk free of his grip and clear my throat as my cheeks burn.

"Hey, Mom. "Uh, this is Christopher," I murmur to my mother. "Well, Christopher, great to meet you. Do you go to school with Thea?" my mother asks.

"No, madam. I finished last year, but I am friends with one of her classmates," he explains. He has already graduated?! How old is he? Now that I look at him, he does appear older than me. But he cannot be older than 23. Hopefully.

"Oh. That's nice. What did you study?" My mother was stopped by the screeching of my sister. "THEEEE! "You're home!" she exclaims, sprinting outside and jumping into my chest. If I hadn't caught her, she would have knocked me over like a bowling pin--something that has already happened.

Hey, Evie! How are you? Have you had a good day?

"I've had the best day ever! Today at daycare, we made—" Evie stops talking when she finds Christopher standing next to me. I can tell when she notices him because her eyes widen and she grips me more tightly. She can be a little hesitant around new people but she blossoms once she gets to know you. "Thee, who is that big man?" Evie whispers, but because she is six, she does not whisper very well, therefore her voice is harsh.

"Evie, this is my new friend, Christopher," I tell her. "He is nice. You can speak with him." While still in my arms, she turns to face Christopher. "Hi Christopher," she begins, hesitantly, but still speaking to him, which is a good start. "Hello, Evie." It is good to meet you. "I like your outfit," Christopher remarks, making Evie laugh. "Thanks! Mommy received the sparkly skirt from Justice!"

"Well, you look adorable in it," he comments. I realize it shouldn't worry me, but Christopher called me adorable several times in the café. Does he mean this in the same way that he does with Evie? That I'm simply a little, bashful girl that he feels obligated to be nice to?

As Christopher speaks to Evie, I turn to look at my mother, who is still standing in the doorway staring at the three of us. She says, 'He's cute!' and I angrily mouth 'MOM' with big eyes, hoping she won't disgrace me. Unfortunately, she isn't the one I should be concerned about embarrassing me.

"Christopher?" Evie speaks with more confidence. He hums, waiting for what Evie will say.

"Are you dating Thea?"

I nearly choked when I heard Evie ask him that. I was about to tell Christopher he didn't have to stay and answer Evie's inquiries when he said, "Hopefully one day."