Hers to Love

Chapter 4

Maria stood in front of her mirror, carefully applying the final touches of makeup. Her hand trembled slightly as she adjusted her eyeliner, a sign of the nerves she tried to push aside. The soft hum of the radio played in the background, filling the silence of her apartment.

"Why am I so nervous?" she muttered to herself, shaking her head as if to clear the thought. It wasn't like this was a date, she reasoned. It was just a casual hangout with Amir, like the other times they'd met. Yet, there was something different about today.

She reached for her phone, quickly scrolling through the texts they'd exchanged the night before. His enthusiasm was evident, and it made her smile.

Amir: Can't wait to show you this gallery! The new exhibit is supposed to be amazing.

Maria: I'm excited too. Sounds like a plan!

She put down the phone and glanced back at her reflection, smoothing out an invisible wrinkle in her dress. Her mind drifted back to their first meeting at the coffee shop, how his eyes had lit up when they talked about art. She had been intrigued by his passion, drawn in by the warmth he exuded.

A soft chime from her phone pulled her from her thoughts. A new message from Amir.

Amir: Morning, Maria! Just wanted to make sure we're still on for today. I'll be at the gallery by 11.

Maria felt a flutter in her stomach. She quickly typed a response.

Maria: Morning! Yes, still on. See you at 11 :)

She set the phone down again, taking a deep breath. "It's just a hangout," she reminded herself, but the thought didn't quite stick. There was an undeniable sense of anticipation that hung in the air. She wanted to see him, to spend time with him, and that realization only made her nerves worse.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the buzzing of the doorbell. She glanced at the clock—still a few minutes before she needed to leave. Maria quickly grabbed her bag and headed for the door.

"Deep breath," she whispered to herself, before pulling it open.

On the other side stood Amir, dressed casually but neatly, with that same bright smile that she had grown so fond of. His eyes lit up as he saw her.

"Wow, you look amazing, Maria," he said, his voice filled with genuine admiration.

Maria felt her cheeks warm, but she brushed it off with a laugh. "Thank you. You clean up pretty well yourself."

He grinned, seemingly pleased with the compliment. "Ready to go?"

She nodded, stepping out and locking the door behind her. As they walked towards the gallery, she couldn't help but steal glances at him, taking in the way he carried himself, the way he seemed so effortlessly confident.

"So, what's this exhibit about?" she asked, trying to shift her focus.

Amir's eyes lit up as he launched into an explanation, his hands animated as he spoke. "It's a collection of contemporary pieces, but what's really cool is the way the artists play with light and shadow. I think you're going to love it."

Maria found herself smiling, his enthusiasm contagious. The nervousness that had gripped her earlier began to ease as they walked and talked. By the time they reached the gallery, she realized she was genuinely enjoying herself.

As they entered the exhibit, Amir stepped a little closer, his arm brushing against hers. Maria felt a shiver run down her spine, but she didn't move away. Instead, she found herself leaning in slightly, drawn to his warmth.

"See?" he whispered, pointing to a piece that played with light in a way that made the shadows dance. "Isn't it amazing?"

She nodded, barely hearing his words. Her focus was on him, on the way his eyes lit up when he talked about something he loved. For a moment, she let herself forget about the age difference, about the complications that might arise. All she cared about was how good it felt to be with him, to see him happy.

As they moved through the gallery, Maria found herself lost in the moment, caught up in the art, in their conversation, and in the way Amir made her feel. By the time they left for dinner, her nerves had all but disappeared.

But as they sat down at the restaurant, she couldn't help but wonder what would happen next. Was this just a friendship, or was it becoming something more? The thought both excited and terrified her. And as she looked across the table at Amir, who was telling a story with his usual enthusiasm, she realized she wasn't ready to answer that question just yet.