Ella Maise

Six years ago at a random diner I met a stranger and he became the-one-who-got-away, or more correctly the one-who-didn't-show-up. A small advice from me to you: if you haven't dated, touched *or* kissed a guy in years and *years* ... do not try to crawl away or hide from the-one-who-got-away. It's not a good look. William Carter, the stranger I'd met six years ago was the last person I'd imagine ever seeing at my dad's firm where I work.
While I panic and fight off the butterflies in my stomach and in general struggle to act normal, I realize he doesn't even remember me. I'm not sure if I should feel relieved or heartbroken. Things get worse when I learn we'll need to work in close quarters to each other, but at least I let him know that I don't have a crush on him anymore right away.
Just in case he gets any ideas. While I'm in the process of writing lists and making serious changes in my life, because I decide I'm ready to be the heroine in my own story; having William just a breath away is not helping things. Especially when things shift between us and we start to make eye contact in meetings. Then he shows up in places I least expect him to... as in blind dates and sex clubs. He also gives me cheese because he knows how much I like it and there are secret notes he leaves in my office. If you were wondering, I still don't have a crush on him though. Nope. Even though I'd promised myself I'd never wait around for another guy and postpone my own life, l'm afraid William Carter who looks at me as if I'm his and was always supposed to be his might ruin my hopeful plans. And quite possibly me for any other guy since l'm craving his touch like I've never craved anything in my life before. But we both know we're a losing game so we keep admitting that neither one of us has a crush on the other. Not anymore. Not at all. Not even a little bit.

Charlie, Love and Clichés

Sophia

I want to love someone as if my heart will never break.

Not even ten seconds had passed when I pushed my chair back just as Charlie had done and put my napkin down.

‘I think I’m done for the night too.’ Even though I knew I had all their eyes on me, I fixed my focus on Douglas. ‘I’d like to thank you for inviting me into your home, but I’m sad to say that would be a lie. Just like Charlie, I’d like to be anywhere but here, so I’m going to leave and catch up with your daughter and properly thank her for the dinner she cooked, since none of you thought to do that.’

Douglas stood up. ‘No need,’ I said, not giving him time to speak because if he said the wrong thing, I wasn’t sure how I’d react and I didn’t want to deck my new boss – at least not just yet. ‘I’ll see myself out. I think after what I’ve seen tonight we should only interact professionally.’

I turned to Charlie’s grandma and inclined my head. ‘I’d say it was nice meeting you ma’m, but I’m having trouble forming the words. Have a good evening.’

Despite my objections he followed me up to my door and I watched as he squatted in front of Pepp and petted him. I thought I heard him whisper 

I did play pretend because I knew she enjoyed it before, but I was dead serious when I opened my mouth. ‘Because you are you. You’re so rare. So beautiful. Kind. Self-aware. Hard-working. Fun. Sweet. And because I know what you want from a relationship. I know you now. And I think you deserve to have the kind of relationship you’ve always dreamed of having.’

You’re not an option. You’re the choice.

William started scooping up his peas and putting them on my plate while he was talking to Nico. I waited for him to finish, then started gathering my carrot salad and putting it on his. Once I was done and looked up, almost everyone was staring at us.

I gave her hand a gentle squeeze, closed my eyes and took a deep breath. ‘You’re not trying hard enough.’

I started following the last kid in the bunch and gently pulled Charlie with me. At least no one had tried to question us on why we were holding hands, because if they did I might have lost it on them.

‘For fuck’s sake,’ he cursed, his voice low and dark and deep right next to my ear. ‘Don’t you dare move or make a sound.’

I couldn’t help it – I laughed, burying my face against his chest so it wasn’t audible. Whoever was in the kitchen was making an awful lot of noise, opening the cupboards and closing them, but it didn’t look like they were about to come our way.

‘I swear to you if someone comes out and takes you away, I’m going to lose it.’

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