The hum of the city outside my window had a different quality this morning, the sounds of life waking up in the streets the clatter of morning deliveries, the distant honk of car horns felt more vibrant, more alive
I stood in my small kitchen, my fingers wrapped around a cup of coffee, and let my thoughts drift to the events of the past few days
It was hard to believe that things had shifted so quickly just days ago, we were navigating a complicated push and pull, dancing around unspoken feelings now, there was no more guessing
We were together officially and the thought filled me with equal parts excitement and nerves. The weight of it all, her being my boss and me still just an intern, lingered in the back of my mind, but I was determined not to let it overwhelm me
My phone buzzed on the counter, pulling me out of my thoughts I glanced at the screen and saw Rebecca's name light up, my pulse quickened as I picked up the phone and answered
"Hey," I said, trying to keep my voice casual, though I could already feel a smile tugging at my lips.
"Hey," Rebecca replied, her voice warm and familiar. "How's your morning going?"
"Good. Just having some coffee and getting ready for the day. What about you?"
"Busy, as usual," she said with a light laugh. "I've got back-to-back meetings, but I was thinking... maybe we could have dinner tonight? I know it's been a hectic week, but I'd love to spend some time together."
Dinner, the idea of spending more time with her outside of work, without the pressures of the office hanging over us, made my stomach flip with anticipation
"I'd love that," I said, feeling my smile widen. "What time?"
"Seven? I'll pick you up," she offered, and I could hear the hint of excitement in her voice.
"Seven it is," I agreed. "I'll see you then."
When I hung up the phone, a warmth spread through me It was still so new, this thing between us, but it felt good right for once, I wasn't going to overthink it I was just going to let myself enjoy it
The day passed in a blur of tasks and deadlines, but my thoughts kept drifting back to her. Every time my phone buzzed with a new email or message, I couldn't help but hope it was from her
Despite the demands of the work, the knowledge that we were going to see each other tonight kept me going through the whirlwind of work.
By the time the clock hit six, I was more than ready to leave the office I gathered my things, said a quick goodbye and made my way out into the cool evening air
As I walked home, my mind raced with thoughts of what tonight might bring, there were still so many questions swirling around in my head how we would navigate this relationship while keeping things professional, how we would handle the inevitable complications but for now, I wanted to focus on the good, on the fact that we were trying
At exactly seven o'clock, there was a knock at my door I had spent the last hour nervously getting ready, finally settling on a simple black dress that I knew Rebecca will like
My heart raced as I opened the door, and there she was—Rebecca, looking effortlessly stunning in a dark blue blouse and tailored pants that made her look both powerful and approachable at the same time
"Hey," she said, her eyes softening as she took me in. "You look majestic."
I felt a blush creep up my cheeks as I smiled back at her. "Thanks. You look divine yourself."
For a moment, we just stood there, smiling at each other like two people who couldn't quite believe this was real. Then, Rebecca reached out and took my hand, her fingers intertwining with mine in a way that felt both comforting and thrilling
"Ready?" she asked, her voice low and warm.
"Ready," I replied, feeling a sense of calm settle over me as we walked out of my apartment and into the night.
Dinner was at a small, tucked-away restaurant that Rebecca had suggested one of those hidden gems that you only find if you know where to look
The atmosphere was intimate, with dim lighting and quiet music playing in the background It felt like we had stepped into our own little world, far away from the office and all the complications that came with it
As we sat across from each other, sharing a bottle of wine and talking about everything and nothing, I couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment wash over me
This was what I had been hoping for this ease between us, this connection that felt both familiar and new at the same time
As the conversation goes, Rebecca took a sip of her wine and set her glass down gently. "So, I've been meaning to ask... what's the most bizarre manuscript you've come across at work so far?"
I couldn't help but laugh at the question, grateful for the light shift in tone. "Oh, that's easy, we got this submission a few weeks ago someone's memoir, but it was written entirely in haiku form."
Rebecca raised an eyebrow, a smile playing at the corners of her lips. "A memoir in haiku form? That's... creative."
"Creative is one word for it," I said, still chuckling. "I mean, you've got to give them credit for originality, but I'm not sure how well it would sell, the whole thing was just 300 pages of haikus about their life as a beekeeper."
Rebecca grinned, leaning back in her chair. "That sounds... intense. Did it at least have some good lines?"
"Oh, absolutely," I said, nodding. "There was one about a bee sting being a metaphor for unrequited love that was actually pretty moving but then it would randomly jump to something like 'buzzing in my ear / sweet nectar of busy days / winter comes too soon.'"
Rebecca laughed, the sound warm and genuine. "I kind of want to read that now It sounds like the kind of thing you'd pick up just to see if it's as strange as it sounds."
"I know, right? Maybe we're missing a new genre trend haiku memoirs about niche jobs."
"Hey, you never know, stranger things have become bestsellers," she said, her smile softening as she took another sip of wine
The conversation continued to flow easily between us, shifting from work to random stories about the odd things we'd encountered in the industry It was comfortable, familiar in a way that made the evening feel effortless and for now, that was all I needed
As the night went on, the conversation flowed easily between us, we talked about our favorite books, the latest projects at work, and the small moments that had made us smile recently It felt like we were peeling back layers, getting to know each other on a deeper level than we had ever been able to before
By the time we left the restaurant, I felt a sense of lightness that I hadn't felt in a long time, we walked hand in hand through the quiet streets, the cool night air wrapping around us like a blanket It was a simple moment, but it was one that I knew I would hold onto for a long time
When we finally reached my apartment, Rebecca walked me to my door, her hand still holding mine we stood there for a moment, neither of us quite ready to let the night end
"Thank you for tonight," I said softly, my eyes meeting hers
"Thank you," she replied, her voice just as soft. "I had a really great time."
I smiled, feeling a warmth spread through me. "Me too."
There was a pause, a moment of quiet where the only sound was the distant hum of the city. And then, before I could second-guess myself, I leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her lips.
It was a gentle kiss, full of all the unspoken promises.
When I pulled back, Rebecca's eyes were warm and filled with something that made my heart skip a beat
"Goodnight, Emma," she whispered, her voice barely more than a breath
"Goodnight, Rebecca," I replied, my voice just as soft
I watched as she walked away, my heart still racing and as I made my way inside, I couldn't help but smile
Tonight had been everything I had hoped for and more It wasn't perfect, and there were still challenges ahead, but I felt like we were on the right path
Whatever came next, we would face it together
YOU ARE READING
The Space Between Us
Romance"If you wanted to feel my touch, you only had to say," her voice was a sultry whisper, her fingers brushing against my heated skin My breath hitched as her lips hovered near her ear, "All this tension, Emma don't pretend you're not drawn to me." Emm...
