Chapter 17: Shawn's Point of View

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Shawn leaned back in his office chair, a small, satisfied smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. The memory of his brunch with Erica lingered in his mind, playing back in vivid snippets. He hadn’t planned on seeing her that day, much less inviting her to brunch, but somehow, it had just felt right. Her laughter, her easygoing presence, her genuine smile—they had left an impression on him that was hard to shake.

As the evening settled in and the office grew quiet, Shawn reached for his phone. He wanted to thank her, to tell her that he’d enjoyed her company more than he expected. There was a sense of anticipation building as he scrolled to her contact. He hesitated for just a moment, then tapped her name, listening to the dial tone with a mix of excitement and nerves.

“Hello?” Erica’s warm, familiar voice came through the line, and instantly, he felt at ease.

“Hey, Erica,” he replied, keeping his tone casual. “It’s Shawn. I hope I’m not calling too late?”

“Not at all!” she answered quickly, a slight laugh in her voice. “It’s nice to hear from you. What’s up?”

“Well, I just wanted to say thanks,” he began, feeling a bit sheepish. “For the company at brunch today. I really enjoyed it.”

“Oh, it was my pleasure!” she replied warmly. “I had a great time too. The food, the place… it was all perfect. And I haven’t had a good brunch in ages!”

He chuckled, feeling the tension lift from his shoulders. “Yeah, I’d been wanting to check that place out for a while. I’m glad you liked it.”

They both fell silent for a moment, the kind of comfortable pause that didn’t need to be filled right away. Shawn felt the urge to keep the conversation going, to keep her on the line just a little longer.

“So,” he said, leaning forward a bit, “I don’t think I got a chance to ask you—are you into trying new food spots?”

“Absolutely!” she replied enthusiastically. “There’s just something so fun about exploring the city through food. I used to go to a new place at least once a week back when I wasn’t so busy. Now, it’s more like a treat.”

“That makes sense,” Shawn agreed. “If you ever want a brunch buddy again, I’d be more than happy to join you.”

“Deal,” she replied, sounding pleased. “I’ll hold you to that.”

Shawn grinned to himself, imagining her on the other end of the line, probably smiling too. He found himself wanting to know more, curious to dive deeper into the details that made her who she was.

“What about hobbies?” he asked, steering the conversation gently forward. “What do you do to unwind, when you’re not working?”

“Well, let’s see,” Erica said thoughtfully. “I love reading—mostly novels, but sometimes poetry, too. I like to escape into a good story when I can. And I’m kind of a movie buff. I’ll watch anything from classic black-and-white films to the latest blockbuster. What about you?”

Shawn chuckled, feeling a bit self-conscious. “Honestly, work keeps me pretty busy, but when I do get some downtime, I like hitting the gym. And I guess you could call me a foodie—I enjoy cooking when I can.”

“Oh, that’s amazing! I would never have guessed,” she replied, clearly intrigued. “So you’re telling me you’re both a CEO and a chef?”

“‘Chef’ might be pushing it,” he laughed, “but I try. It’s nice to unwind, lose myself in a recipe after a long day.”

“I’d love to see that sometime,” Erica said playfully, and Shawn felt his heart skip a beat at the thought. The idea of cooking for her, of sharing something personal and real, felt unexpectedly exhilarating.

The conversation drifted naturally from topic to topic: travel, childhood memories, and friends they hadn’t seen in a while. Shawn found himself sharing more than he usually would, opening up in a way that felt easy, genuine. And Erica, in turn, shared her own stories, her dreams and small quirks that made her all the more endearing.

As the clock ticked closer to midnight, Shawn could feel the drowsiness settling in, but he didn’t want to let go of this rare connection just yet. He was starting to realize that his admiration for her was more than just professional, more than just the admiration of a fan or a supporter.

“Erica,” he said softly, almost hesitating, “I really want you to know… I’m proud of you. For everything you’ve been through, and how you’ve handled it all. You’re… remarkable.”

The line was silent for a brief second before she replied, her voice touched with a hint of emotion. “Thank you, Shawn. That means a lot… really.”

They lingered for a moment in that silence, neither wanting to break it just yet.

“I should probably let you go,” he said eventually, his voice warm and soft. “It’s getting late.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” she replied, a hint of reluctance in her voice. “But… thanks for calling. It was really nice talking to you.”

“Good night, Erica,” he said, his voice lingering on her name just a little longer than necessary.

“Good night, Shawn,” she replied, her tone equally tender.

As he ended the call, Shawn leaned back, a satisfied sigh escaping his lips. It had been a simple conversation, but it left him feeling lighter, as if a door had opened that he hadn’t even realized was there. He had no idea where this connection with Erica would lead, but for the first time in a long time, he was more than willing to find out.

Stages of The Heart- Ellie Morch Where stories live. Discover now