You, Me and a Shoe Lace

Chapter 3

By Friday evening, Mia slumped onto the couch with a sigh of relief.

"One week down," she muttered, kicking off her shoes.

Sarah emerged from the kitchen, a tub of ice cream in hand. "So? How was it?"

Mia snorted. "I'm pretty sure I broke something today while trying to fix it."

Sarah plopped down beside her. "Welcome to the club. First weeks are all about fake confidence and hoping nobody notices you have no idea what's going on."

"Thanks for the pep talk."

"You're welcome. Now, are you ready for tomorrow's movie screening? Or should I make popcorn to help you survive?"

Mia rolled her eyes. "I'll be fine. It's just a movie."

"Just a movie?" Sarah smirked, wagging her spoon. "You underestimate the magic of outdoor screenings, my dear. Who knows? Maybe fate has someone waiting for you there."

Mia groaned. "Please don't start."

Sarah only laughed.

Saturday evening arrived, the perfect weather for an outdoor movie screening. A warm breeze carried the scent of popcorn and freshly cut grass. The movie was about to start, and Mia settled onto the soft grass, the laughter and chatter around her blending with the excited murmurs of the crowd. The giant screen flickered to life, casting bright colors and shadows onto the faces of everyone gathered.

She leaned back as the movie began, trying to tune out the noise. Sarah's friends joked and commented around her, but Mia was absorbed in the plot, only half-listening. Halfway through, it happened. Mia was getting more and more invested—not for the reasons the filmmakers had intended.

On the screen, there he was—the hero, making one of those big, classic blunders. Holding a key card, staring at the handle of the door like it was the most important decision in his life. The music swelled dramatically, but Mia saw it coming a mile away.

Don't do it. Don't do it.

Before she could stop herself, she muttered aloud, "Think about it. Make smart choices."

Then, she heard it: a chuckle.

Her back stiffened. She straightened up, eyes widening.

Okay, someone laughed. Someone laughed? At my comment? Shit. Should I look? Should I look?

She waited—one minute, maybe two—before she convinced herself she'd given it enough time. She turned around and immediately locked eyes with a guy sitting a few seats away. It was a flash—just a split second. She turned, and the instant she realized he was looking right at her, she snapped back to the screen as if her head were on a swivel.

He's looking at me. Great.

Well done, she thought, her face heating up. Now you know for sure. He laughed at you. Congrats!

It's okay. Nothing happened. Let's continue with the fantastic movie!

Then, out of the corner of her eye, she felt it—the subtle shift in the air beside her.

Her heart stopped.

Before she could process, she felt the warmth of his presence.

Her thoughts spun. No. No, he didn't.

He was settling into the spot next to her.

Okay, Mia, this is fine. Totally fine. Just face it. Face him.

She turned to look at him.

Damn!

His tousled dark curls framing his face just right, his jawline sharp, lips soft but defined. His eyes, a shade of deep forest green, caught the light from the screen, a mix of amusement and something else—something unspoken.

And then it hit her.

It's him.

The shoe-lace guy.

The realization clicked into place like the last piece of a puzzle. The same easy confidence, the same soft expression that had warmed her soul earlier at the park. It was him.

And he was looking at her.

Her wide eyes gave her away, and before she could stop herself, a smile tugged at her lips—one of pure admiration, remembering what he did before. She didn't even care that she was staring.

And then, to her surprise, his expression changed. His confidence flickered, just a little. His shoulders eased, and a soft blush rose to his cheeks. For all his composure, there was a boyishness to him, an endearing hesitance that made him suddenly seem approachable, even vulnerable. He was taken aback that she was staring.

Then, he dipped his head slightly, almost bashfully, before looking back at her. His lips parted, and his voice came soft, almost breathless.

"Um, thank you. Didn't expect that."

My god! Is he feeling shy? Because I was staring?

Her heart stumbled over itself.

She saw the way he bit lightly on his bottom lip, his teeth catching it in the most unassuming yet maddeningly endearing way. His smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, shy yet playful. She had been staring. And now, he thought it was because she was admiring him.

This impossibly kind, devastatingly handsome guy just thanked me for staring.

And the worst part? He wasn't wrong.

Heat crawled up her neck, and she was sure her face was giving everything away. But for the life of her, she couldn't look away. She took in the details—the way his lashes framed those unfairly beautiful eyes, the slight dip of his Adam's apple when he swallowed, the subtle curve of his mouth that held equal parts shyness and quiet amusement.

Her lips twitched as she fought back a grin. He was gorgeous. And he was shy.

His gaze flickered between her lips and her eyes. He quickly turned away, pretending to focus on something off in the distance, but Mia caught the way his nose crinkled slightly as he exhaled, a soft sigh escaping his chest. His breath hitched as he drew in a deep breath, like he was trying to regain composure.

Then, his head tilted slightly, and he glanced back at her, his eyes darkened with something unreadable. He ran the tip of his tongue across his cheek, like he was considering something, then broke the contact as if to regain control. He turned his attention back to the screen, the hint of a smile still playing at the corners of his mouth.

Mia was lost in the moment, her heart racing.

Am I making him feel like that? Him? Wow!

Her lips pressed together, her cheeks puffing slightly as she exhaled slowly. Her fingers clutched the blanket in her lap, and she felt the traitorous smile threatening to break free again.

Her mind replayed the moment: his shy smile, his breathing, the easy way he acknowledged the tension between them without making it awkward. She couldn't help but crave another look. Now that she understood what was going on behind his eyes, she wanted to see more—the subtle way his confidence and her lingering stare had collided, making his composure waver. She loved how effortlessly he had settled in with that confident air, only for it to melt away under her gaze.

It was almost like he was inviting her to see this side of him, to witness that crack in the armor.

And Mia? She was hooked.

In that moment, everything else felt secondary.