Golden Stars / Scarlett Johansson

Chapter 7: A Serendipitous Meeting

Later that afternoon, Y/N found herself at the park, enjoying the crisp air as the early signs of autumn made their presence known. The leaves were starting to turn, hues of yellow and orange slowly making their way through the once-green canopy. The sky above was a soft gray, and there was a calm stillness to the park that Y/N always found comforting. Cebrus, her loyal companion, bounded ahead, his paws hitting the soft earth rhythmically as he ran around, happily exploring his surroundings.

Y/N smiled to herself as she watched Cebrus, her hands stuffed in her coat pockets, enjoying the peace of the moment. The park was her refuge, a place where she could come to clear her mind, and today was no different. Her thoughts wandered, drifting between memories of her childhood and the events of the day. The brief encounter with Chris at the café had been pleasant, and though she couldn't quite shake the familiarity of him, she still hadn't figured out where she might have seen him before.

Just as she was about to call Cebrus back, a familiar face appeared in the distance, walking along the same path she was on. Y/N blinked, squinting slightly to make sure she wasn't imagining it. But no, it was definitely him—Chris, the man from the café. And this time, he was pushing a stroller.

A small smile tugged at the corners of Y/N's mouth as she saw him. He spotted her too and, to her surprise, he smiled back and started walking in her direction, clearly recognizing her. As they closed the distance between them, Chris gave her a small wave.

"Hey! Y/N, right?" he said with a grin, his voice warm and familiar.

"Hey, Chris," Y/N greeted him in return, still smiling. "Fancy seeing you here."

Chris chuckled, glancing around the park. "Yeah, it's a great day for a walk. I figured Rose could use some fresh air."

Y/N glanced at the stroller, assuming the little girl inside was the same baby she had met earlier at the café. "I take it Rose is still with you, then?"

Chris nodded, patting the top of the stroller gently. "Yep, still on babysitting duty. She's been good so far."

As if on cue, Cebrus came running up to Y/N, his tongue hanging out in excitement as he stopped to stand beside her. Chris laughed at the sight, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Wow, that's a lot of energy," he joked, nodding toward Cebrus.

Y/N chuckled, reaching down to pat Cebrus on the head. "Yeah, he's always like this. Loves running around."

They fell into a comfortable pace, walking side by side through the park as Cebrus darted around, clearly enjoying himself. The quiet conversation between them felt easy, as if they had known each other for longer than just a brief encounter at a café. Y/N found herself relaxing even more as they talked, Chris's down-to-earth demeanor making the interaction feel natural.

After a while, they reached a familiar spot in the park, a large tree that Y/N often sat by during her walks. She paused, glancing at the tree and then back at Chris. "This is my favorite spot," she said softly, a small smile on her lips.

Chris looked at the tree, then back at her. "It's nice. Peaceful."

Without a second thought, Y/N reached into her bag and pulled out a small blanket she often brought with her, spreading it out on the grass under the tree. "Do you want to sit for a bit? It's a good spot to relax."

Chris smiled, clearly appreciating the offer. "Sure, that sounds great." He carefully parked the stroller beside the tree and then bent down to lift Rose out of it, cradling her in his arms as he sat down on the blanket beside Y/N.

Y/N sat down next to him, watching as Chris settled Rose on his lap. The little girl was wide awake, her bright eyes taking in everything around her. Y/N couldn't help but smile at her, remembering the brief interaction they'd had at the café earlier.