The pub was loud, buzzing with chatter and the occasional crash of glasses behind the bar, but for some reason, it felt quieter than usual to Ophelia. Maybe it was the empty chairs around their table, or maybe it was the way Elijah leaned in just a bit when he talked, like this whole night was supposed to feel more intimate than it was.
"I still can't believe they bailed," Ophelia said, tipping back the last of her gin and tonic. "Lou said she had food poisoning but posted a selfie from karaoke thirty minutes later I wouldn't be surprised if she somehow invited my Dad"
Elijah smirked, swirling the ice in his glass. "Classic Lou. At least you didn't get the mysterious 'family emergency' text from Josh. Bet he's at home in his pajamas watching MasterChef reruns"
She laughed, warm and unguarded. "kind of jealous"
"of MasterChef or the pajamas?" he teased.
"both," she grinned. "But I guess this isn't so bad. Just us."
Their eyes met across the table. The lighting was soft and golden, catching in the lighter strands of her hair, making her look like something out of a dream. Elijah looked away first, focusing a little too intently on his drink.
"You know," he said after a beat, voice suddenly quieter, "it's been nice lately. Getting to hang out again. Like... just you and me."
Ophelia nodded, fingers tracing the rim of her glass. "Yeah. It's easy. With you."
There was a pause, like the night itself had taken a breath.
Elijah stood, grabbing their empty glasses. "Another round?"
She held up two fingers. "Make it strong."
By the time he returned, the conversation had drifted into looser, hazier territory. Music, bad dates, embarrassing memories from high school. They laughed too hard at things that weren't that funny. The kind of laughter that filled in all the gaps between them. Maybe it was the alcohol, or maybe it was the way she kept leaning closer every time she laughed, but Elijah's pulse started doing this annoying thing — loud and hopeful.
Ophelia was laughing as she told him about Lou trying to write a breakup song about a guy she only dated for three days — how dramatic the lyrics were, how she rhymed "tragedy" with "casually."
"I told her it sounded like Shakespeare on caffeine," Ophelia grinned, sipping her drink. "but honestly? It kind of slapped."
Elijah smiled, watching her more than listening now. Then, almost out of nowhere, his voice dipped — quieter, uncertain.
