THE GIRL THEY DIDN'T SEE

Intro

Amelia never struggled to get attention.

She simply never wanted it.

While everyone else chased relationships, parties and distractions, Amelia focused on building the life she wanted. By twenty four, she had a successful career, her own home and a future she was proud of.

Love was never the plan.

Then one ordinary afternoon in the park changed everything.

A football match.

A new group of friends.

A badly sprained ankle.

And a man who somehow saw her long before she realised she wanted to be seen.

Adam wasn't loud.

He wasn't arrogant.

He wasn't trying to impress anyone.

But from the moment their paths crossed, something felt different.

As friendship slowly becomes something more, Amelia discovers that the most important moments in life are rarely the ones you plan for.

Sometimes they arrive unexpectedly.

Between laughter and late night conversations.

Between stolen glances and almost kisses.

Between the person you were...

And the person you're becoming.

Because sometimes the girl nobody noticed ends up being the one someone never stops looking for.

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Chapter 1

The group chat had been relentless all morning.

PARK. 1PM. DON'T BE LATE.

Bring snacks.

Bring footballs.

Bring sunscreen because I'm not getting burnt again.

Amelia smiled as another notification appeared.

She'd almost said no.

It had been a long week and the thought of staying home in comfortable clothes had been tempting.

But Chloe had practically forced her into agreeing.

"You need fresh air."

"You need sunlight."

"You need to stop becoming one with your sofa."

So here she was.

Stepping through the park gates with a bag over one shoulder and sunglasses resting on top of her head.

The afternoon sun warmed her skin.

Children ran across the grass.

Dogs chased tennis balls.

Music drifted faintly through the air.

The familiar group gathered beneath a large cluster of trees came into view.

Chloe spotted her first.

"There she is!"

Amelia laughed.

"You say that like I've arrived at some celebrity event."

"You basically have."

"Should I wave?"

"Please don't."

The two friends laughed as they approached the group.

Conversations slowed.

Several heads turned.

Amelia noticed.

Not because she expected it.

She'd simply become used to it over the years.

Her long curls fell loosely around her shoulders.

The navy polka dot playsuit suited her perfectly.

Simple.

Pretty.

Effortless.

A few of the boys definitely noticed.

A couple of the girls exchanged quick glances.

Nothing unusual.

Amelia smiled politely.

"Hi."

Introductions began.

Names.

Faces.

Handshakes.

Friendly smiles.

Most would probably be forgotten within the hour.

Then one of the guys opened his arms dramatically.

"Hug?"

Amelia laughed.

"Nope."

The group chuckled.

"High five only."

Most accepted the high five and moved on.

One didn't.

As their palms met, his fingers suddenly intertwined with hers.

Then he tugged.

Trying to pull her into a hug.

The smile disappeared from Amelia's face.

Before anyone fully registered what was happening, she rotated his wrist.

The boy's expression changed instantly.

A second later his arm was comfortably pinned behind his back.

Not enough to hurt him.

Just enough to make him regret his decision.

Amelia tilted her head.

"That wasn't very smart."

A few people stared.

The guy winced.

"No."

"Personal space matters."

"Yep."

"You won't be doing that again, will you?"

"No."

"No?"

"No. Sorry."

The smile immediately returned to her face.

"Good."

She released him.

The entire group burst into laughter.

"Oh my days."

"Mate, that was brilliant."

"You deserved that."

"Finally someone did it."

The guy rubbed his shoulder.

"I was only saying hello."

"No, you weren't," three people replied together.

Amelia simply picked up a bottle of water and carried on with her day.

The situation was already forgotten as far as she was concerned.

The girls, however, seemed to be looking at her differently now.

One of them laughed.

"Okay, I like her."

"Same."

"Definitely keeping her."

Amelia raised an eyebrow.

"Keeping me?"

"Yep."

"Fair enough."

The ice was broken.

Within minutes everyone was talking and laughing like they'd known each other for months.

A football suddenly rolled across the grass.

"Right," someone announced. "Football."

Several of the girls immediately groaned.

"No chance."

"I've just done my hair."

"I am not running around in this heat."

"I'll watch."

The boys began teasing them.

The girls ignored them.

Amelia looked towards the football.

Then towards Chloe.

"Wanna play?"

Chloe grinned.

"Obviously."

The boys looked surprised.

"You two are actually playing?"

"Why wouldn't we?" Amelia replied.

A few minutes later she pulled her hair up into a messy bun.

Her curls resisted immediately.

Several loose strands escaped.

She sighed and tried again.

The girls laughed.

"Your hair refuses to cooperate."

"It gets that from me."

More laughter.

Eventually she secured it.

Close enough.

Completely unaware she was being watched.

A short distance away, Adam ended his video call and slipped his phone into his pocket.

He'd spent the last half hour talking to family overseas.

As he started walking back towards the group, his eyes landed on Amelia.

She was standing with one foot balanced on the football while attempting to wrestle her curls into a bun.

A few loose pieces framed her face.

The afternoon sunlight caught the soft olive tones of her skin.

She wasn't trying to be attractive.

That was the thing.

She wasn't posing.

Wasn't seeking attention.

Wasn't even aware anyone was looking.

And somehow that made her impossible to ignore.

Then she laughed at something Chloe said.

A genuine laugh.

The kind that reached her eyes.

Adam found himself smiling before he even realised it.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

As he approached, several friends spotted him.

"There he is!"

"Finally."

"You missed everything."

"You picked the worst possible time to take a call."

Adam looked around.

"What happened?"

Half the group immediately started talking at once.

The story quickly descended into chaos.

Adam listened.

Amused.

Occasionally glancing towards Amelia.

"So anyway," Chloe interrupted. "This is Amelia."

For the first time, they were properly introduced.

Adam looked directly at her.

Not staring.

Not lingering.

Just noticing.

His eyes were warm.

Steady.

Calm.

The sort of eyes that paid attention.

Amelia unexpectedly found herself caught off guard.

He offered a small smile.

"Nice to meet you."

His voice was smooth and easy.

Quietly confident.

Never demanding attention.

"You too."

"I'm Adam."

That was it.

No performance.

No trying to impress her.

Just Adam.

Someone behind him laughed.

"Adam's been on a video call with family overseas for ages. That's why he missed all the excitement."

Adam shook his head.

"Clearly."

The group laughed again.

Amelia found herself smiling.

Then Adam glanced towards the football.

"Right. Are we actually playing football today or are we just discussing football?"

Several people immediately jumped up.

"Teams."

"Let's go."

"About time."

The girls settled onto blankets to continue chatting, sunbathing, fixing hair and comparing nail colours.

Meanwhile Amelia and Chloe headed straight for the pitch.

As teams were being picked, someone deliberately placed Amelia and Adam on opposite sides.

The teasing started immediately.

Neither objected.

Neither particularly cared.

Or at least that's what they told themselves.

As Amelia jogged onto the grass, Adam found himself watching her again.

Not because she was the prettiest girl he'd ever seen.

Although she was undeniably beautiful.

It was something else.

Something harder to explain.

She looked sweet.

Gentle.

Almost innocent.

Yet she'd spent the afternoon proving she was none of those things when it mattered.

Strong minded.

Independent.

Funny.

Confident.

The sort of person who knew exactly who she was.

And for reasons he couldn't quite explain...

He already wanted to know more.

The whistle blew.

The game began.

And neither of them had any idea that one ordinary afternoon was about to change everything.

Chapter 2

The whistle blew.

Chaos followed immediately.

"Amelia!"

The ball came flying towards her.

She trapped it instinctively and took off across the grass before anyone could close her down.

Several people froze.

Apparently nobody had expected her to know what she was doing.

"Wait."

"Hold on."

"She can actually play?"

Amelia laughed as she passed the ball to Josh.

A few seconds later it was sent straight back to her.

The game suddenly became much more competitive.

The boys who had initially gone easy on her quickly realised that had been a mistake.

A very big mistake.

"She's good."

"Why is she good?"

"Nobody told me she was good."

Amelia couldn't stop smiling.

The sunshine.

The laughter.

The freedom of simply running around without caring what she looked like.

It felt nice.

Really nice.

A few of the girls watched from their blankets.

"Her hair's already falling out."

"Of course it is."

"Five minutes. That's a new record."

Sure enough, curls were escaping from Amelia's messy bun in every direction.

She didn't care.

Every time she pushed them back, more appeared.

Meanwhile, Adam couldn't stop noticing it.

Not because it looked perfect.

Because it didn't.

She looked real.

Completely unconcerned with impressing anyone.

One minute she was sprinting after the ball.

The next she was laughing so hard she nearly missed a pass.

It was strangely refreshing.

The ball suddenly rolled towards him.

Adam intercepted it and immediately headed down the pitch.

Amelia moved to block him.

Their eyes met briefly.

A challenge.

A silent warning.

Adam smirked.

Amelia narrowed her eyes.

"Oh, no."

He laughed.

Then tried to get around her.

Three seconds later she stole the ball.

The entire group erupted.

"No way!"

"Adam!"

"Mate!"

"You just got robbed."

Adam stopped and stared after her.

Amused disbelief written all over his face.

Amelia looked over her shoulder.

"Told you."

"Told me what?"

"You're not as good as you think you are."

The group exploded again.

"She got him."

"Absolutely got him."

Adam shook his head.

"You realise this means war."

"Bring it."

For the next twenty minutes neither of them gave the other a moment's peace.

Every tackle.

Every interception.

Every pass.

Someone always had a comment ready.

The more they spoke, the easier it became.

The banter flowed naturally.

Neither trying too hard.

Neither needing to.

Eventually somebody collapsed dramatically onto the grass.

"I'm dying."

"You're standing."

"Emotionally dying."

"That's fair."

The game paused while everyone grabbed drinks.

Amelia walked towards the bags and dropped onto the grass beside Chloe.

Her cheeks were flushed.

Her hair was a complete disaster.

One side of the bun had almost entirely given up.

Chloe burst out laughing.

"You look feral."

"Thank you."

"It's impressive."

"I'll take it."

Amelia pulled the hairband free and started fixing it.

Curls immediately tumbled down around her shoulders.

A collective sigh came from the girls.

"We're all jealous."

"No, seriously."

"How is your hair still pretty after football?"

Amelia rolled her eyes.

"It absolutely isn't."

As she gathered it back up, Adam found himself watching.

Only for a second.

Maybe two.

The concentration on her face.

The way loose curls escaped no matter what she did.

The tiny look of annoyance when they refused to cooperate.

It made him smile.

Then he immediately looked away before anyone noticed.

Or so he thought.

Unfortunately Josh noticed everything.

Josh always noticed everything.

The idiot grin spreading across his face was proof enough.

A few minutes later Adam walked over carrying a spare bottle of water.

"You'll need this."

Amelia looked down at her nearly empty bottle.

Then back at him.

"Good point."

She accepted it.

"Thanks."

"No problem."

A brief silence settled between them.

Not awkward.

Just new.

"So," Adam said.

"You play football."

"A little."

He laughed immediately.

"A little?"

"Yep."

"That's what you've been calling that?"

Amelia shrugged.

"It seemed accurate."

"It absolutely wasn't."

The smile that followed caught her off guard.

Warm.

Easy.

The sort that made you want to smile back.

Which was annoying.

Very annoying.

Before she could think of a response, a voice shouted across the grass.

"Oi!"

Both looked over.

Josh.

Of course.

The entire group already looked entertained.

Josh pointed dramatically between them.

"I leave you two alone for five minutes..."

"Oh, don't start," Adam groaned.

"...and suddenly there's eye contact."

The group burst into laughter.

Amelia nearly choked on her drink.

"Eye contact?"

"Disgusting behaviour."

"Honestly shocking."

Someone pretended to cover their eyes.

Another made fake gagging noises.

Adam rubbed his forehead.

"You're all twelve."

"Twelve and observant."

The teasing continued.

Relentlessly.

Amelia couldn't stop laughing.

Neither could Adam.

And somewhere amongst the football, the jokes and the endless banter, something shifted.

Not enough for either of them to notice.

Not yet.

But enough that when the teams headed back onto the pitch a few minutes later, both found themselves looking for the other without even realising it.

The second half of the game was about to begin.

And neither had any idea they were already becoming each other's favourite part of the day.

Chapter 3

The second half of the match started exactly as expected.

With complete chaos.

Nobody knew the score anymore.

Nobody could remember who had scored what.

And everyone seemed convinced they were winning.

Which probably meant nobody was.

Amelia was having the time of her life.

Her curls had almost entirely escaped her messy bun.

Her trainers were covered in grass.

Her cheeks hurt from laughing.

For once she wasn't thinking about work.

Or deadlines.

Or the online security project waiting for her on Monday morning.

She was simply enjoying herself.

The ball rolled loose across the pitch.

Chloe spotted it.

So did Amelia.

"Oh no," Josh said.

"What?" Adam asked.

"Whenever those two run towards the same thing, something bad happens."

It turned out Josh was right.

Both women reached the ball at exactly the same time.

Neither willing to back down.

Neither willing to lose.

Chloe nudged the ball.

Amelia tried to steal it.

Their legs tangled.

For a brief second they somehow remained upright.

Then both crashed spectacularly onto the grass.

The entire group erupted.

"There it is!"

"I knew it!"

"Oh my God."

Amelia was laughing too hard to breathe.

Chloe wasn't much better.

"You took me out!"

"You ran into me!"

"It was tactical."

"It absolutely wasn't."

Several people were now doubled over laughing.

Eventually Chloe stood.

Still giggling.

Amelia pushed herself upright a moment later.

Still laughing.

Then her foot touched the ground.

A sharp pain shot through her ankle.

The smile faded slightly.

"Ow."

The word slipped out before she could stop it.

The laughter around them continued.

Most people assumed she'd simply landed awkwardly.

Only one person seemed to notice the difference.

Adam.

"You alright?"

Amelia nodded automatically.

"I think so."

She took another step.

Pain immediately shot through her ankle.

This time she definitely felt it.

The laughter faded.

People started noticing.

"Wait."

"You actually hurt?"

Amelia looked down.

Her ankle was already beginning to swell.

"Oh."

That wasn't ideal.

She tried standing properly.

Instant regret.

"Okay."

The group fell silent.

"That's not good."

"Definitely not good."

Chloe's smile disappeared immediately.

"Oh no. Amelia."

"I'm alright."

Then Amelia looked at the swelling again.

And realised she probably wasn't.

At least not enough to continue football.

Adam crouched beside her.

"Can you walk?"

Amelia considered it.

"Probably not."

The honesty surprised everyone.

Including herself.

Josh pointed dramatically.

"Write this down. She admitted she isn't okay."

Amelia rolled her eyes.

"Nobody likes you."

The group laughed.

Adam didn't.

Not because he was upset.

Because he was busy focusing entirely on her ankle.

"We should get that checked."

Amelia nodded.

"Yeah, probably."

Chloe immediately stepped forward.

"I'll come with you."

Amelia shook her head.

"No."

"What?"

"Stay."

"Amelia."

"I'm serious."

Chloe frowned.

"I'm not leaving you."

"You absolutely are."

Chloe folded her arms.

Amelia folded hers right back.

"You've been looking forward to today all week."

"So?"

"So I'm not dragging you to sit in A&E for four hours while I get told I've sprained my ankle."

"But..."

"No buts."

"Amelia."

"Chloe."

The group immediately started laughing again.

Adam hid a smile.

The two women were practically identical.

Eventually Chloe sighed dramatically.

"I hate when you're sensible."

"I know."

Then Adam stood.

Decision made.

"Hospital."

Amelia nodded.

"Fair."

She reached towards him.

"Think I can hop."

Adam looked unconvinced.

Several others looked unconvinced too.

Amelia balanced carefully on one foot.

Then attempted a hop.

A mistake.

The second she landed, a shock of pain shot up her leg.

Her balance disappeared instantly.

"Oh!"

Her injured foot lifted awkwardly behind her.

Her arms windmilled.

The world tilted.

Then suddenly it didn't.

Strong arms caught her before she hit the ground.

For a second she simply blinked.

One moment she'd been falling.

The next she was safely against Adam's chest.

The group lost their minds.

"There it is!"

"Oh my God."

"I called it."

Amelia covered her face.

"This is humiliating."

"No," Chloe replied.

"The hopping was humiliating."

Even Adam looked like he was trying not to laugh.

And failing.

Without a word he slipped one arm beneath her knees and the other behind her back.

Then lifted her effortlessly.

Amelia instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck.

The position felt surprisingly natural.

Comfortable.

Safe.

Which was slightly concerning.

"Comfortable?" he asked.

She smiled.

"I suppose."

"Good."

As he started walking towards the car park, Amelia became aware of just how easily he'd picked her up.

No struggle.

No effort.

No dramatic grunting.

Just up.

As though she weighed absolutely nothing.

She decided not to comment on that.

Behind them, the group continued providing commentary.

Mostly Josh.

Unfortunately.

"Tell our future grandchildren I supported this relationship from day one."

A bottle narrowly missed his head.

Adam didn't even look back.

Amelia laughed so hard she nearly forgot about her ankle.

By the time they reached the car park, the others had disappeared behind them.

For the first time all afternoon, they were alone.

Well.

Almost.

Adam carefully lowered her beside a black Range Rover.

Amelia raised an eyebrow.

"Nice car."

Adam shrugged.

"Gets me from A to B."

The answer made her laugh.

Most people would have launched into a speech about horsepower or specifications.

Adam simply unlocked it.

Typical.

As he opened the passenger door, Amelia looked up at him.

"You really don't have to stay."

His eyebrows lifted.

"What?"

"You could just drop me at the front."

She smiled.

"Genuinely, I'd be really grateful."

Adam looked at her for a moment.

Then shook his head.

"No."

"No?"

"No."

The answer was calm.

Certain.

Final.

"As much as I'd love to abandon an injured woman at a hospital entrance, I think I'll stay."

Amelia laughed.

"You make me sound dramatic."

"You tried hopping on one leg."

"Fair."

A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Then he carefully helped her into the passenger seat.

And although neither of them said it aloud, both were secretly pleased the afternoon wasn't ending just yet.

For very different reasons.

Or so they told themselves.

Chapter 4

The journey to the hospital should have been awkward.

At least that was what Amelia expected.

She'd known Adam for less than a day.

He was currently driving her to hospital after carrying her across a car park.

And somehow...

It wasn't awkward at all.

"How's the ankle?" Adam asked.

Amelia glanced down.

"Still attached."

"Good sign."

"I thought so."

A smile appeared on his face.

The kind that seemed to happen naturally.

The kind that made her smile back without even realising she was doing it.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

The silence that followed wasn't uncomfortable.

Just easy.

The sort of silence that usually only happened between people who'd known each other much longer.

"So," Adam said.

"You spend your weekends injuring yourself often?"

"Only when I want attention."

"That explains it."

Amelia gasped.

"Rude."

"I don't know why you're offended."

"It feels insulting."

Adam laughed.

A proper laugh.

The sound instantly made her smile.

Not because she was trying to.

Because she genuinely liked hearing it.

The thought caught her off guard.

She couldn't remember the last time she'd reacted to someone like this.

Most dates she'd been dragged on by friends ended exactly the same way.

Nice enough.

Perfectly pleasant.

Completely forgettable.

No spark.

No butterflies.

No reason to see them again.

She'd spent most of her twenties focused on building a life she loved.

Working.

Learning.

Saving.

Buying her own home.

Creating a career she genuinely enjoyed.

Relationships had simply never been a priority.

Yet somehow, after only a few hours, Adam had managed to interest her more than anyone else had in years.

The realisation was both exciting and slightly terrifying.

The traffic lights ahead turned red.

Adam slowed the car.

Almost instinctively, Amelia glanced across.

At the exact same moment, Adam looked over too.

Their eyes met.

Neither looked away immediately.

For a brief moment everything else faded.

The music.

The traffic.

The conversation.

Amelia suddenly became aware of just how blue his eyes actually were.

Not bright blue.

Deeper than that.

Warmer.

The sort that looked like they smiled before the rest of his face did.

Then the lights changed.

Both immediately looked forward.

Neither mentioning it.

Neither entirely sure why their heart was beating slightly faster.

Adam cleared his throat.

"So..."

Amelia smiled.

"So?"

"What do you do?"

"Guess."

His eyebrows lifted.

"Accountant."

She looked horrified.

"Excuse me?"

"I don't know why you're offended."

"It feels insulting."

Adam laughed.

"Teacher?"

"No."

"Marketing?"

"No."

"Lawyer?"

"Definitely not."

"Professional footballer?"

"Obviously."

"I knew it."

Amelia shook her head.

"You are terrible at this."

"Then help me out."

She smiled.

"I'm an ethical hacker."

The brief look of surprise on his face was deeply satisfying.

"You?"

"Me."

"Now that I didn't expect."

"Everyone says that."

Adam glanced across.

"I can see why."

Amelia laughed.

For some reason she liked that answer.

It didn't feel patronising.

It felt honest.

The rest of the journey passed surprisingly quickly.

Conversation flowed naturally.

One topic becoming another.

Neither running out of things to say.

Neither wanting to.

Eventually they pulled into the hospital car park.

The engine switched off.

For a moment neither moved.

Then Amelia smiled.

"Thank you."

Adam looked at her.

"You're welcome."

The warmth in his voice made her stomach flutter unexpectedly.

Not unpleasantly.

Just enough to make her suddenly very interested in the dashboard.

A few moments later Adam walked around to her side of the car.

The passenger door opened.

"Ready?"

"No."

He laughed.

"Fair."

Amelia reached for his hand.

The second their fingers touched, both paused.

Only briefly.

But long enough to notice.

His hand was warm.

Steady.

Comforting.

Neither commented.

Neither wanted to.

Adam carefully helped her out of the car.

The moment her injured foot touched the ground, pain immediately reminded her why she was there.

"Right," she muttered.

"The ankle still exists."

"Unfortunately."

She smiled.

Then before she could even think about how she was going to manage the walk inside, Adam bent down and lifted her into his arms.

Effortlessly.

Amelia instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck.

The position felt surprisingly natural.

Comfortable.

Safe.

Which was becoming a recurring theme around him.

As Adam carried her towards the entrance, Amelia found herself smiling.

Not because of the situation.

Because of him.

Because somehow she already trusted him.

And that wasn't something she gave away easily.

Inside the hospital, several staff members immediately greeted him.

"Afternoon, Adam."

"Hello, Adam."

"Good to see you."

Amelia noticed the pattern instantly.

Interesting.

Adam greeted everyone back with the same easy smile.

Nothing flashy.

Nothing arrogant.

No trace of someone trying to impress anyone.

Just genuine warmth.

A nurse passing by waved.

"Hi, Adam."

"Hey."

Another smiled as they walked past.

"Good afternoon."

Adam smiled back.

Completely unfazed.

Amelia's curiosity grew with every step.

Who exactly was this man?

When they reached reception, the receptionist immediately brightened.

"Hello, Adam."

Then her attention shifted to Amelia.

"What have we done?"

Amelia laughed.

"We?"

"It's always a 'we' when someone arrives injured."

Within minutes she was being checked in.

Far faster than she'd expected.

As a nurse arrived to take her through, Amelia glanced back.

Adam was still there.

Waiting.

Not checking his phone.

Not looking impatient.

Not making excuses to leave.

Just waiting.

As though it had never crossed his mind to do anything else.

A warm feeling settled in her chest.

One she wasn't quite ready to name.

As the nurse guided her through the doors, Amelia found herself smiling.

Because despite the sprained ankle.

Despite the hospital.

Despite how ridiculous the day had become.

She couldn't stop thinking one thing.

She was really glad she'd gone to the park.

Chapter 5

Hospitals were strange places.

Too bright.

Too warm.

And somehow capable of making ten minutes feel like three hours.

Amelia sat on the examination bed gently swinging her uninjured foot while waiting for the nurse to return.

The swelling around her ankle had definitely worsened.

Not ideal.

Still.

At least she'd won the argument about it needing to be checked.

Well.

Technically Adam had won.

But she wasn't giving him the satisfaction of knowing that.

A knock sounded at the door.

The nurse reappeared.

"Good news."

Amelia immediately relaxed.

"No break?"

"No break."

The nurse smiled.

"Just a moderate sprain."

Amelia let out a breath.

"Thank goodness."

"We'll get you a support boot and some crutches. Rest it for a few weeks and you should be absolutely fine."

A few minutes later the nurse disappeared again.

Leaving Amelia alone with her thoughts.

Unfortunately her thoughts had become increasingly Adam shaped.

Which was becoming a problem.

A few moments later the door opened again.

This time it wasn't the nurse.

Adam.

His eyes immediately found her.

"Well?"

"No break."

His shoulders visibly relaxed.

The reaction caught her attention.

"You looked worried."

"I was."

The answer came so naturally she almost missed it.

Almost.

Something warm fluttered inside her chest.

Again.

"Oh."

Adam looked mildly uncomfortable.

As though he hadn't intended to say it out loud.

Amelia smiled.

"I survived."

"Barely."

She laughed.

"I think you're being dramatic."

"I'm not the one who tried hopping on one leg."

"You're never letting that go, are you?"

"No."

"Fair."

The smile that followed lingered slightly longer this time.

Neither seemed particularly eager to look away.

Eventually the nurse returned carrying a walking boot and crutches.

Her eyes immediately moved between them.

Then back again.

A knowing smile appeared.

Amelia recognised that smile.

She hated that smile.

The nurse helped secure the boot.

Explained recovery instructions.

Then left.

Leaving the two of them alone once more.

Adam looked down at the boot.

"You know."

"What?"

"It ruins the football career."

Amelia gasped.

"No."

"I'm sorry you had to find out this way."

"I had scouts watching."

Adam nodded sympathetically.

"Heartbreaking."

Amelia laughed.

The sound echoed around the small room.

For a moment neither spoke.

The silence settled comfortably between them.

Then Adam tilted his head slightly.

"So."

Amelia immediately became suspicious.

"So?"

"What are you doing next Saturday?"

The question caught her completely off guard.

"Oh."

Very smooth, Amelia.

Outstanding response.

Adam's smile widened.

"Oh?"

She rolled her eyes.

"You surprised me."

"I gathered."

Amelia tried not to smile.

Failed completely.

"Why?"

Adam shrugged.

"A few of us are meeting up again."

Her heart did something ridiculous.

Again.

"A few of us?"

"Yes."

His expression remained perfectly innocent.

Far too innocent.

"Interesting."

"It isn't."

"I think it is."

Adam laughed.

A proper laugh.

One that immediately made her want to hear it again.

Dangerous.

Very dangerous.

A soft knock interrupted them.

The nurse returned.

"You're free to go."

Amelia looked down at the crutches.

Then at Adam.

Then back at the crutches.

"No."

The nurse blinked.

"No?"

"No."

Adam looked concerned.

"What's wrong?"

"I refuse."

"Refuse what?"

"The crutches."

The nurse burst out laughing.

"You need them."

"They're embarrassing."

"They're medical equipment."

"Exactly."

Adam rubbed a hand across his face.

Trying very hard not to laugh.

And failing.

A few minutes later Amelia finally accepted defeat.

The crutches came with her.

Against her will.

As they left the room together, another member of staff smiled warmly at Adam.

Then another.

Then another.

Everywhere they went.

People greeted him.

Smiled at him.

Waved at him.

Not because he demanded attention.

Because they genuinely seemed pleased to see him.

Amelia noticed every single one.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

By the time they reached the main entrance, curiosity was beginning to win.

"What do you do?"

Adam looked down at her.

"What?"

"Here."

He smiled.

"Work."

"Helpful."

"I try."

Amelia rolled her eyes.

"You know exactly what I mean."

His smile only grew.

Which was deeply unfair.

"I'll tell you another time."

Another time.

The words settled warmly inside her chest.

Not if.

Not maybe.

Another time.

As though seeing each other again was already assumed.

As though he wanted to.

And judging by the smile currently refusing to leave her face...

So did she.

Outside, the evening sunshine had softened.

The day was slowly coming to an end.

But neither of them seemed particularly eager for it to finish.

And for the first time since meeting him, Amelia had a feeling this was only the beginning.

Chapter 6

Amelia spent the next three days discovering that crutches were, without question, one of humanity's worst inventions.

They got caught on rugs.

Knocked into furniture.

Fell over when left unattended.

And worst of all, everyone insisted on asking how her ankle was.

Every.

Single.

Day.

By Wednesday afternoon she was considering throwing them into the nearest river.

Her phone buzzed.

A message appeared on the screen.

Adam

How's the ankle?

A smile appeared before she could stop it.

Still attached.

The reply came almost immediately.

Good. We were all concerned.

We?

Me and the doctors.

Amelia laughed.

Pretty sure they don't know me.

They do now. You're the woman who declared war on crutches.

They're plotting against me.

That sounds serious.

It is.

A few moments later another message appeared.

I believe in you.

Thank you for your support during this difficult time.

You're welcome.

Amelia shook her head, smiling to herself.

Then placed the phone down.

Two seconds later she picked it up again.

Not because she was expecting another message.

Just because.

Which was ridiculous.

The phone buzzed again.

How's work?

Amelia glanced towards her home office.

The spare bedroom she'd converted into a workspace was filled with monitors, notebooks, cables and enough technology to confuse most people.

Busy.

Good busy or bad busy?

Good busy.

That's rare.

She smiled.

I like what I do.

That helps.

It did.

Amelia genuinely loved her work.

Most people looked forward to finishing work.

She often found herself losing track of time while doing it.

What about you?

The typing bubble appeared.

Disappeared.

Appeared again.

I like my job.

That's suspiciously vague.

Maybe.

What do you actually do?

Several seconds passed.

Work.

Amelia laughed.

You're impossible.

I've heard that before.

I believe it.

A laughing emoji appeared.

The first she'd seen from him.

For some reason it made her smile.

Again.

Her phone suddenly rang.

Chloe.

Amelia answered.

"Hello?"

"You're smiling."

Amelia frowned.

"What?"

"I can hear it."

"You absolutely cannot."

"I absolutely can."

Amelia laughed despite herself.

"What do you want?"

"I want to know why you're smiling at your phone."

"No you don't."

"I do."

"No."

"It's Adam, isn't it?"

Silence.

Chloe gasped dramatically.

"Oh my God."

"Stop."

"Oh my God."

"Chloe."

"You like him."

Amelia leaned back in her chair.

"I barely know him."

"That's not a no."

"You're exhausting."

"I'm right."

Unfortunately, that was becoming the problem.

Amelia wasn't sure Chloe was wrong.

Not entirely.

The conversation moved on.

Mostly because Chloe refused to stop laughing.

Twenty minutes later, after finally ending the call, Amelia returned to her laptop.

A security report sat open on her screen.

She read the same sentence three times.

None of it registered.

Her phone buzzed again.

Adam

By the way.

A smile appeared immediately.

By the way what?

We're all meeting Saturday.

We're all?

Mostly.

Mostly?

Fine.

Me. Josh. Chloe. A few others.

Better.

A pause followed.

Then another message.

Will you be there?

Amelia looked at the screen.

Then looked away.

Then looked back again.

It was a simple question.

Yet her answer came far more quickly than she'd expected.

Yeah. I'll be there.

The reply arrived almost instantly.

Good.

Just one word.

Nothing dramatic.

Nothing flirtatious.

Yet somehow it made her smile anyway.

Outside, rain tapped gently against the window.

Inside, Amelia tried returning to work.

She lasted approximately four minutes before checking her phone again.

No new messages.

Which was perfectly normal.

Completely reasonable.

And definitely not disappointing.

With a quiet laugh, she placed the phone back down and returned to her report.

But for the first time in a very long while, she found herself genuinely looking forward to the weekend.

And she had a feeling she knew exactly why.

Chapter 7

Saturday arrived much faster than Amelia expected.

Mostly because Chloe had spent the entire week reminding her about it.

Repeatedly.

And loudly.

By the time Saturday morning arrived, Amelia was seriously considering blocking her best friend.

Her phone buzzed.

Chloe

Wear something cute.

Amelia rolled her eyes.

We're meeting friends, not attending the Oscars.

Cute.

Comfortable.

Cute.

Comfortable.

Adam.

Blocked.

Chloe responded with six laughing emojis.

Amelia ignored her.

Mostly because Chloe wasn't entirely wrong.

A little while later, Amelia stood in front of her mirror.

Not because she was trying to impress anyone.

At least that was what she told herself.

She eventually settled on a fitted white knitted two piece.

The long sleeved jumper sat neatly at her waist, revealing just a small glimpse of skin between it and the matching high waisted pencil skirt.

Paired with simple white trainers, it felt comfortable whilst still looking put together.

Her dark curls framed her face naturally.

Her makeup remained minimal.

A touch of blush.

Brown eyeliner.

Mascara.

Simple.

She studied her reflection for a second.

Then grabbed her bag before she could overthink it.

---

By the time she arrived, most of the group were already there.

The location this time was a lakeside café surrounded by walking trails and open countryside.

Josh spotted her first.

Unfortunately.

"There she is!"

Several heads turned.

Amelia laughed.

"Why do you always announce my arrival?"

"Main character energy."

"That's not a thing."

"It absolutely is."

Before Josh could continue, Adam looked up from his conversation.

And stopped.

Only for a second.

Just long enough to forget whatever Josh had been saying.

Amelia was walking towards them.

White trainers.

White knitted co ord.

Dark curls falling around her shoulders.

Effortlessly elegant.

Completely unaware of the effect she was having.

"Mate."

Josh snapped his fingers.

Adam blinked.

"What?"

Josh sighed dramatically.

"Exactly."

Adam shook his head.

Then Amelia reached the group.

And smiled.

"Hi."

The smile Adam returned was immediate.

"Hi."

For a brief moment the rest of the world seemed to disappear.

Not entirely.

Just enough.

Then Josh stepped directly between them.

"Right. That's enough of that."

Both burst out laughing.

The moment broken.

---

The afternoon passed easily.

Conversation flowed from one topic to another.

Food.

Films.

Travel.

Embarrassing childhood stories.

The usual friendship group chaos.

At one point an argument broke out over whether cereal counted as soup.

Nobody was entirely sure how.

Yet somehow it became the most passionate debate of the afternoon.

"Cereal is not soup."

"It sits in liquid."

"That doesn't make it soup."

"That's exactly what soup does."

Adam stared at her.

"I cannot believe we're having this conversation."

Amelia folded her arms.

"Because you know I'm right."

"You're definitely wrong."

The group immediately split into teams.

The debate lasted twenty minutes.

Nobody changed their opinion.

---

Later they left the café and headed towards the lake.

The afternoon sun shimmered across the water.

Groups naturally split apart as people wandered.

Some walking ahead.

Others stopping to take photos.

Before long Amelia realised she was walking beside Adam.

Again.

Neither seemed in a hurry to change that.

"You surviving?" Adam asked.

She looked down at the walking boot.

"Barely."

"Liar."

"I'm suffering."

"You've complained about it at least fifteen times."

"Only fifteen?"

Adam laughed.

"I stopped counting."

The sound made her smile.

There was something about how easily he laughed around her.

Something she liked far more than she should.

They continued walking.

Comfortable silence settling between them.

The kind that didn't need filling.

Eventually Adam spoke again.

"You know..."

Amelia glanced up.

"What?"

"I still can't get over the ethical hacker thing."

She laughed.

"Why?"

"Because it's the last thing I expected."

"Everyone says that."

"What made you do it?"

The question surprised her.

Not because he'd asked.

Because he genuinely sounded interested in the answer.

So she told him.

About discovering computers.

Teaching herself.

Her first job at fifteen.

Saving every spare penny.

Working while studying.

Buying her own house.

Building a life she was proud of.

Adam listened.

Really listened.

Never interrupting.

Never checking his phone.

Never pretending.

Just listening.

By the time she'd finished, they were halfway around the lake.

"That's impressive."

Amelia smiled.

"It sounds less impressive when you remove all the spreadsheets."

Adam looked at her.

"I don't think so."

Something in the way he said it made her heart stumble slightly.

Not because he was complimenting her.

Because he meant it.

And somehow she knew he did.

For a moment their eyes met.

Neither speaking.

Neither looking away.

Then...

"FOUND THEM!"

Josh appeared from absolutely nowhere.

Both jumped.

Amelia nearly dropped her drink.

Josh looked delighted.

"You two keep wandering off."

"We're literally walking around a lake," Adam replied.

"Together."

There was a pause.

Then Amelia pointed at him.

"You are exhausting."

"I've been told."

The worst part was he looked incredibly pleased with himself.

---

As the afternoon drifted into evening, the group settled onto the grass overlooking the water.

People chatted.

Laughed.

Shared food.

Took terrible group photos.

The sky slowly turned shades of gold and pink.

At one point Amelia caught herself looking towards Adam.

Only to find him already looking at her.

Neither immediately looked away.

Both smiled.

Then Chloe sat down between them carrying three iced coffees and completely ruined the moment.

Amelia laughed.

Adam laughed too.

And somehow that felt even better.

Because it was real.

Simple.

Easy.

No pressure.

No pretending.

Just two people enjoying each other's company.

As the sun began to disappear behind the trees, Amelia realised something.

She hadn't checked a work email all afternoon.

She hadn't thought about deadlines.

Or reports.

Or projects.

For somebody who practically lived inside her own head, that was unusual.

And perhaps that was why, as she sat there laughing with her friends, she found herself feeling happier than she had in a very long time.

Not because of the lake.

Not because of the sunshine.

Not even because of the day itself.

But because every time she looked across the group...

Adam was there.

And for the first time, she was genuinely excited to find out what happened next.

Chapter 8

The group photo disaster started exactly the way most group photo disasters did.

With Josh.

"Everyone together."

Groans immediately followed.

"No."

"Absolutely not."

"I hate photos."

"That's why we're taking one."

Josh was somehow already holding three different phones.

Nobody knew how.

Nobody asked.

Amelia laughed as everyone reluctantly gathered near the lakeside.

The sunset painted the sky in shades of gold and pink behind them.

It should have been a beautiful photo.

Instead, somebody blinked.

Twice.

Josh looked horrified.

"Again."

The group groaned.

The second attempt was worse.

Someone sneezed.

Someone else pulled a face.

A third person wasn't even looking at the camera.

By the fifth attempt everyone had completely given up.

Including Josh.

Which was saying something.

---

Eventually people began heading home.

One by one.

The group slowly grew smaller.

The evening air cooled around them.

Amelia sat on a wooden bench overlooking the water while Chloe spoke to some of the others nearby.

For the first time all day things felt quiet.

Peaceful.

The lake reflected the fading colours of the sky.

A gentle breeze lifted a few curls from her face.

She tucked them behind her ear.

"You know."

Adam's voice broke the silence.

"I think Josh took around seventy photos."

Amelia laughed.

"None of them will be usable."

"Not a single one."

A comfortable silence settled again.

Neither seemed in a rush to fill it.

After a moment Adam spoke.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Depends."

His eyebrows lifted.

"Depends?"

"On the question."

Adam laughed.

"Fair."

He leaned back against the bench.

"Why haven't you dated much?"

The question surprised her.

Not because it was inappropriate.

Because it was honest.

And somehow, that made her want to answer honestly too.

Amelia looked out across the lake.

Thinking.

"I don't know."

"That's not true."

She smiled.

"No?"

"No."

Adam's voice remained gentle.

Patient.

Waiting.

"I suppose..." she began.

"I never met anyone I genuinely wanted to make space for."

The words surprised even her.

Because they were true.

Work had always excited her.

Learning had always excited her.

Building her future had always excited her.

Most dates hadn't.

Most felt forced.

Awkward.

Like interviews.

Adam nodded slowly.

As though he understood exactly what she meant.

"I get that."

Amelia looked at him.

"You do?"

He shrugged.

"I've been on dates."

"And?"

"They were fine."

The way he said it made her laugh.

"Fine sounds terrible."

"It wasn't terrible."

"It wasn't good either."

"Also true."

They both laughed.

For some reason the conversation felt important.

Not because of what they were saying.

Because of how easily they were saying it.

The honesty.

The trust.

The lack of pretending.

---

A few minutes later Chloe wandered over.

"Right."

Amelia immediately recognised that tone.

"No."

"I haven't said anything yet."

"No."

Chloe looked offended.

"I was going to ask if you wanted ice cream."

A pause.

"Maybe."

"That's what I thought."

Adam laughed.

Within minutes the three of them were walking towards a small ice cream kiosk.

Well.

Two of them were walking.

Amelia was attempting a mixture of walking and hobbling.

The boot still wasn't her friend.

"You know," Adam said.

Watching her struggle.

"You could let someone help you."

"I'm managing."

"You nearly walked into a bin."

"The bin came out of nowhere."

"It was stationary."

"That's your opinion."

Adam shook his head.

Smiling.

The smile Amelia was becoming increasingly fond of.

---

A few moments later they reached the kiosk.

Everyone ordered.

Arguments immediately broke out about flavours.

Naturally.

Josh appeared again.

Also naturally.

"What did you get?"

Amelia looked down.

"Mint chocolate chip."

Josh looked disappointed.

"You seem like a cookie dough person."

"What does that even mean?"

"I don't know."

Adam laughed beside her.

The sound instantly made her smile.

Again.

Josh narrowed his eyes.

Then slowly looked between them.

"Oh."

"Oh no," Adam muttered.

"Oh yes."

"Josh."

"Oh yes."

Chloe immediately started laughing.

"Don't."

"It's too late."

Amelia sighed.

"What now?"

Josh pointed dramatically.

"You both smile more when the other one's talking."

Silence.

Then chaos.

The entire group erupted.

Amelia covered her face.

Adam looked genuinely horrified.

Chloe looked delighted.

Josh looked insufferably proud of himself.

The worst part?

Nobody could actually deny it.

---

Later that evening, after everyone finally began heading home, Amelia found herself standing beside Adam in the car park.

The others were saying goodbye.

Making plans.

Arguing about where to meet next week.

The usual.

For a moment it felt like they were in their own little bubble.

Separate from everyone else.

"I'm glad you came today."

The words left Adam's mouth so naturally it took Amelia a second to process them.

Then she smiled.

"Me too."

A brief silence followed.

Neither awkward.

Neither wanting to end it.

Eventually Chloe shouted from across the car park.

"Amelia!"

The moment broke.

Naturally.

As most moments did.

But neither seemed disappointed.

"See you soon?" Adam asked.

The question sounded casual.

But something about it felt important.

Amelia smiled.

"Yeah."

His smile matched hers.

"Good."

And for some reason, that single word stayed with her all the way home.

Chapter 9

The group photo was eventually posted later that evening.

Amelia discovered this while curled up on her sofa with a cup of tea and her laptop balanced on her knees.

Her phone buzzed.

Josh

PHOTO DROP.

A second later another message appeared.

You're welcome.

Amelia laughed and opened it immediately.

The photo was actually good.

Surprisingly good.

Everyone looked relaxed.

Happy.

Natural.

The sunset glowed behind them.

Even Josh somehow looked normal.

A miracle.

Her eyes immediately found herself in the picture.

Then, almost without thinking, they drifted elsewhere.

Towards Adam.

She zoomed in slightly.

The two of them weren't even standing particularly close.

Yet somehow her eyes kept finding him anyway.

A smile tugged at her lips.

The photo captured exactly how the day had felt.

Easy.

Comfortable.

Happy.

Before she realised what she was doing, she zoomed in again.

Then immediately laughed at herself.

A second later Chloe messaged.

Chloe

You zoomed in didn't you?

Amelia stared at the screen.

How do you know these things?

Because I'd have done the exact same thing.

Traitor.

😘

Amelia shook her head, smiling.

---

The following week passed surprisingly quickly.

Work was busy.

Meetings.

Reports.

Deadlines.

The usual.

Yet somehow Adam still managed to find his way into her day.

Usually through messages.

Sometimes funny.

Sometimes completely random.

Occasionally ridiculous.

Adam

Important question.

Amelia

I'm concerned already.

Adam

Would you rather fight one horse sized duck or a hundred duck sized horses?

Amelia

This is what you do while I'm working?

Adam

Answer the question.

Amelia

Horse sized duck.

Adam

Correct.

Amelia

There's a correct answer?

Adam

Obviously.

The messages slowly became part of her routine.

Not in an overwhelming way.

Just naturally.

She'd find herself smiling when his name appeared on her screen.

Looking forward to whatever random thought had decided to enter his head that day.

And somehow, that felt nice.

---

Thursday evening.

Amelia was halfway through reviewing a security report when her phone rang.

Adam.

A smile immediately appeared.

She answered.

"Hello."

"You're working."

It wasn't a question.

Amelia blinked.

"How do you know that?"

"I can hear you typing."

She glanced at the keyboard.

Then laughed.

"That's mildly concerning."

"I pay attention."

The words settled warmly somewhere inside her chest.

Neither mentioned it.

Neither needed to.

"So," Adam continued.

"How's the ankle?"

"Much better."

"Liar."

"I'm serious."

"You still limp."

Amelia frowned.

"How would you know that?"

A pause.

Then:

"I saw Chloe's video yesterday."

Amelia covered her face.

Of course.

Chloe.

The traitor.

"She's unbelievable."

Adam laughed.

"She really is."

The conversation drifted effortlessly from one topic to another.

Work.

Childhood stories.

Embarrassing moments.

The sort of things people usually discovered over months.

Not days.

Yet somehow neither conversation nor silence ever felt forced between them.

When they eventually hung up, Amelia looked at the time.

Forty three minutes.

She genuinely hadn't noticed.

Her report still sat unfinished on her screen.

And she couldn't even pretend to be annoyed about it.

---

Saturday arrived.

Again.

This time the group had organised a picnic in a large country park.

The weather was perfect.

Blue skies.

Warm sunshine.

A gentle breeze.

Amelia arrived carrying snacks and immediately regretted it.

Mostly because Josh spotted her first.

Again.

"There she is."

Amelia sighed.

"You know, one day I'm not going to answer."

"You always answer."

Unfortunately, he was right.

As she approached the group, her eyes instinctively searched the crowd.

Then stopped.

Adam.

He was laughing at something one of the others had said.

Sleeves rolled up.

Sunglasses resting on top of his head.

Completely unaware she was looking.

For a second she simply watched him.

Then Adam looked up.

Straight at her.

Caught.

A smile spread across his face instantly.

The kind that made it impossible not to smile back.

And she did.

Without hesitation.

Without thinking.

Without wanting to stop.

"Hi."

He'd reached her before she'd even realised he was walking over.

"Hi."

For a brief moment everything else seemed quieter.

Not silent.

Just quieter.

The rest of the group still existed.

But somehow felt further away.

Adam glanced at the snacks she was carrying.

"Planning to feed an army?"

"I got carried away."

"I can see that."

His hand brushed hers as he took one of the bags.

The contact lasted barely a second.

Yet somehow she noticed it immediately.

Judging by the slight pause in his expression...

He had too.

Neither mentioned it.

Neither wanted to.

Instead they walked back towards the group together.

Naturally falling into step beside each other.

As though it was the most normal thing in the world.

And perhaps that was what Amelia liked most.

Nothing felt forced.

Nothing felt rushed.

Everything simply seemed to happen.

One conversation at a time.

One smile at a time.

One accidental touch at a time.

As the afternoon unfolded around them, Amelia found herself thinking something she hadn't allowed herself to think before.

She was really, really glad she'd met him.

And for the first time, she wondered if maybe meeting him had been far more important than either of them realised.

Chapter 10

The picnic was going well.

Almost suspiciously well.

Nobody had fallen into a lake.

Nobody had started an argument.

Josh hadn't embarrassed himself.

Yet.

Which was exactly why everyone should have known something was coming.

"What are you all doing next weekend?"

The question came from Chloe.

The group looked around.

Shrugs followed.

A few people were working.

A few weren't sure.

Then Josh's face lit up.

Which was never a good sign.

"I have an idea."

Collective groans immediately followed.

"No."

"Absolutely not."

"Last time you had an idea we got lost."

"We weren't lost."

"We ended up in a field."

Josh ignored everyone.

"What about paintballing?"

The group immediately became divided.

Half looked excited.

Half looked horrified.

Amelia looked delighted.

"Yes."

Adam looked surprised.

"You like paintballing?"

Amelia looked offended.

"I grew up with three brothers."

"Fair point."

"They taught me many things."

"Such as?"

"Never trust anyone."

Adam laughed.

"That explains a lot."

---

Unfortunately for Adam, the group quickly realised Amelia was competitive.

Very competitive.

The moment teams started being discussed, she was already strategising.

Josh looked concerned.

"I've created a monster."

"You absolutely have."

Adam shook his head.

Smiling.

The more time he spent around her, the more she surprised him.

Most people looked at Amelia and made assumptions.

He'd done it himself.

Then every single assumption turned out to be wrong.

And somehow he liked that.

A lot.

---

The afternoon continued.

Food disappeared.

People moved around.

The conversation shifted from topic to topic.

At one point Amelia found herself sitting beside Adam beneath the shade of a large oak tree while everyone else argued over where to order dinner from later.

The argument had somehow lasted twenty minutes.

Neither were involved.

Neither wanted to be.

Amelia glanced towards the chaos.

"How are they still discussing pizza?"

"I stopped listening ten minutes ago."

"Wise decision."

A comfortable silence settled between them.

Then Amelia looked at him.

"What do you actually do?"

Adam laughed.

"You're not giving up on this, are you?"

"No."

"Fair."

He looked out across the park for a moment before answering.

"I'm a surgeon."

Amelia blinked.

That definitely wasn't what she'd expected.

"A surgeon?"

Adam nodded.

"Paediatric surgery."

For a second she simply stared at him.

"You operate on children?"

"I do."

The way he said it was calm.

Matter of fact.

But she could see it immediately.

The pride.

The passion.

The genuine care.

Suddenly a lot of things made sense.

The way he'd stayed with her at the hospital.

The way he'd checked on her ankle.

The way he'd noticed things other people missed.

"You love it, don't you?"

A small smile appeared.

"Yeah."

The answer came without hesitation.

"I really do."

Amelia smiled.

She liked that.

A lot.

Not because being a surgeon sounded impressive.

Because he'd answered exactly the same way she'd talked about ethical hacking.

Like he'd found something he genuinely cared about.

Something he'd worked hard for.

Something that mattered.

"What about you?" Adam asked.

"If you couldn't do ethical hacking anymore, what would you do?"

Amelia thought for a moment.

Then smiled.

"I honestly don't know."

Adam laughed softly.

"That's probably the best answer."

For a moment neither spoke.

Then Amelia nudged him lightly.

"Okay, surgeon."

Adam sighed.

"There it is."

"There what is?"

"The fact I'm never escaping that nickname."

"Nope."

"Excellent."

"You're welcome."

The smile he gave her afterwards lingered slightly longer than either of them intended.

---

A little later the group decided to walk through the nearby woodland trails.

The paths wound between tall trees.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves overhead.

People naturally spread out.

Talking.

Laughing.

Exploring.

At one point Josh disappeared entirely.

Nobody was surprised.

Five minutes later he reappeared carrying a giant stick.

Still nobody was surprised.

"Look what I found."

"You are twenty six years old."

"And yet..."

He proudly held up the stick.

The group immediately burst into laughter.

---

Further along the trail, Amelia found herself walking beside Adam again.

It was happening more often now.

Neither seemed to mind.

"So."

Adam glanced at her.

"So?"

"You work with children."

"Mm hm."

"You drive a Range Rover."

His eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"I do."

"And somehow you're still refusing to explain yourself."

Adam laughed.

The sound echoed softly through the trees.

"I enjoy watching you try to figure it out."

Amelia gasped dramatically.

"So there is something to figure out."

"There might be."

"Adam."

"Amelia."

"You are the worst."

"No."

He smiled.

"Josh is the worst."

Unfortunately, he had a point.

---

A few minutes later they reached a small wooden bridge crossing a stream.

The group began gathering along it.

Taking photos.

Leaning over the railings.

Throwing leaves into the water.

The usual.

Amelia rested her arms against the wooden railing.

The afternoon breeze lifted a few loose curls from around her face.

Beside her, Adam seemed unusually quiet.

"What?"

He looked at her.

"What?"

"You've got your thinking face on."

"My thinking face?"

"Yes."

"I don't have a thinking face."

"You absolutely do."

Adam laughed softly.

Then shook his head.

"You're very observant."

The compliment caught her off guard.

Neither looked away immediately.

For a second everything else faded.

Again.

The chatter.

The laughter.

The noise.

Just them.

Then Josh fell into a bush.

The moment vanished instantly.

A loud crash echoed through the woods.

Everyone turned.

Josh emerged looking deeply offended.

"The bush attacked me."

And just like that, the spell was broken.

The group dissolved into laughter.

Including Amelia.

Including Adam.

Yet as she glanced towards him, she realised something.

The butterflies hadn't gone away.

If anything...

They were getting worse.

Chapter 11

The paintballing trip was chaos.

Absolute chaos.

And Amelia loved every second of it.

---

The moment the first whistle blew, she disappeared.

Gone.

Vanished into the trees.

Leaving half her team confused and the other half concerned.

"Where did she go?" Josh whispered.

"I don't know."

"Should we be worried?"

Adam adjusted his mask.

"Probably."

The answer did not reassure anyone.

---

Ten minutes later Amelia appeared behind the opposing team.

Completely unnoticed.

Until three paintballs landed in quick succession.

One.

Two.

Three.

"WHAT?"

The victim spun around.

Too late.

Amelia was already gone.

Again.

---

By lunchtime her team had won almost every round.

Mostly because nobody could find her.

Adam was laughing so hard he nearly spilled his drink.

"This is genuinely terrifying."

Amelia looked delighted.

"I told you."

"You absolutely did."

"You didn't believe me."

"No."

"I was offended."

"You'll survive."

---

The rest of the group quickly reached a conclusion.

Amelia looked sweet.

Friendly.

Approachable.

Then turned into a tactical nightmare the moment competition was involved.

Josh looked traumatised.

"You shot me six times."

"You deserved it."

"I absolutely didn't."

"You definitely did."

Adam laughed.

Again.

And for some reason Amelia found herself paying more attention to that laugh than the conversation.

Which was becoming a problem.

---

A few days later another group meet up was organised.

This time by the river.

A mixture of walking trails, picnic spots and kayaking.

The weather was perfect.

The river sparkled beneath the summer sun.

People wandered around carrying paddles and life jackets.

The atmosphere felt relaxed.

Easy.

The kind of day that suited their friendship group perfectly.

---

Amelia spotted Adam almost immediately.

And, annoyingly, so did her heart.

He was helping Chloe adjust a life jacket.

Patiently.

Calmly.

As always.

Then he looked up.

Saw her.

And smiled.

The smile appeared so quickly it made something flutter inside her chest.

"Hi."

"Hi."

Neither seemed capable of greeting each other normally anymore.

---

A little later everyone climbed into pairs.

Josh immediately demanded his own kayak.

Nobody trusted him.

With good reason.

Eventually the groups were sorted.

Amelia found herself standing beside Adam.

Trying very hard not to smile too much.

"Looks like you're stuck with me."

Adam picked up a paddle.

"Tragic."

"Devastating."

"I'll try to cope."

She laughed.

And just like that, they were off.

---

For the first ten minutes everything went surprisingly well.

The water was calm.

The scenery was beautiful.

Nobody had fallen in.

Then Josh happened.

Somehow.

Nobody was quite sure how.

One minute he was paddling.

The next he was upside down in the river.

The entire group burst out laughing.

Including Josh.

Who somehow managed to laugh while falling in.

---

Unfortunately, the chaos didn't stop there.

A few minutes later Amelia attempted to turn their kayak.

Attempted being the important word.

The kayak tilted.

Dangerously.

"Oh no."

"Oh yes."

Adam's expression immediately changed.

"Amelia."

"Adam."

"Don't."

"I'm trying not to."

The kayak tipped.

Completely.

Both disappeared beneath the water.

---

A second later they surfaced.

Spluttering.

Laughing.

Dripping wet.

Amelia pushed soaked curls from her face.

"What just happened?"

"You happened."

"Rude."

"Accurate."

They both laughed.

The kayak floated a few feet away.

Neither seemed in any rush to get back to it.

At least not immediately.

---

Amelia had always been a strong swimmer.

But before she could start moving towards the kayak, Adam's arm settled naturally around her waist.

Steadying her.

Protective without even thinking about it.

His other hand kept them balanced in the water.

For a moment neither spoke.

The river around them suddenly seemed very quiet.

Very still.

Amelia looked up.

Adam was already looking at her.

Close.

Far too close.

Water droplets clung to his dark curls.

Her own hair had escaped into two soaked curly bunches hanging either side of her face.

Completely drenched.

Yet somehow Adam looked like he was trying very hard not to smile.

"What?"

His eyes flickered briefly towards her hair.

"You look cute."

Amelia laughed.

"I'm soaked."

"Still cute."

The smile that followed was impossible to stop.

Neither seemed to notice how close they were.

Or perhaps both noticed.

Very much.

The world seemed to narrow.

Just slightly.

The river.

The sunshine.

The group.

Everything faded.

Until all Amelia could really focus on was him.

And all Adam seemed able to focus on was her.

Neither moved.

Neither looked away.

The distance between them somehow feeling smaller by the second.

For one suspended moment it felt as though the rest of the world had disappeared.

---

"OI!"

Josh's voice exploded across the river.

Both blinked.

Reality immediately returned.

"ARE YOU TWO COMING BACK OR ARE YOU STARTING YOUR OWN KAYAK COMPANY?"

Laughter erupted from the rest of the group.

Amelia burst out laughing.

Adam dropped his head.

Shaking it.

"He's impossible."

"He really is."

Yet neither could quite hide their smiles.

Or the fact they'd both let out the exact same disappointed sigh.

---

Climbing back onto the kayak proved significantly less graceful.

Amelia slipped twice.

Adam nearly tipped them over again.

Both ended up absolutely drenched and laughing so hard they could barely sit upright.

Her two curly bunches dripped water down her shoulders.

His hair was flattened against his forehead.

Both looked ridiculous.

Neither cared.

The best thing about curls, Amelia thought, was that once they dried, they'd probably look exactly the same anyway.

---

By the end of the day everyone was exhausted.

Happy.

But exhausted.

As Amelia watched the sunset reflecting across the water, she found herself smiling.

Not because of the kayaking.

Not because of the paintballing.

Not even because of Josh and his endless chaos.

She was smiling because every time she looked up lately...

Adam was already looking at her.

And somehow that felt like the most dangerous thing of all.

Chapter 12

The problem with almost moments was that once they happened, they became impossible to forget.

At least for Amelia.

Because every time she thought about the kayaking trip, she remembered the same thing.

Not the river.

Not Josh falling in.

Not even ending up soaked.

It was the way Adam had looked at her.

And that was becoming increasingly inconvenient.

---

Wednesday evening.

Amelia was working.

Or at least attempting to.

Her laptop sat open.

Three tabs needed attention.

Two reports needed reviewing.

And absolutely none of it was happening.

Because her phone kept buzzing.

Adam

Important question.

Amelia smiled.

Last time you said that, it involved ducks.

This is more serious.

Go on.

Favourite book?

Amelia blinked.

That's your emergency?

Yes.

I'm hanging up.

You haven't called me.

Details.

She laughed.

Again.

Which was becoming a recurring problem.

---

By Friday evening the group chat had become unusually active.

Mostly because Josh had discovered a new obsession.

Board games.

Nobody understood why.

Nobody wanted to.

Yet somehow everyone ended up agreeing to meet at Chloe's house on Saturday.

---

The moment Amelia arrived she knew it was going to be chaos.

People filled the living room.

Snacks covered every available surface.

Music played quietly in the background.

And Josh was already explaining rules nobody had asked for.

"Absolutely not."

Chloe took the rule book from him.

"We are not listening to a twenty minute presentation."

"It was eight minutes."

"It was not."

---

Amelia laughed as she stepped inside.

Then immediately felt eyes on her.

Adam.

Of course.

Sitting on the sofa.

Looking entirely too pleased to see her.

Her heart did that annoying little flutter again.

The one it seemed determined to keep doing lately.

"Hi."

His smile widened.

"Hi."

Neither seemed capable of saying anything else first anymore.

---

As the evening went on, people split into teams.

Arguments broke out.

Rules were ignored.

Josh cheated.

Repeatedly.

Then somehow acted offended when everyone noticed.

The usual.

---

At one point Amelia found herself squeezed onto the sofa beside Adam.

Not enough room.

Too many people.

Too much chaos.

Their shoulders touched.

Neither moved away.

Neither mentioned it.

The game continued.

Yet Amelia was becoming increasingly aware of how close he was.

The warmth from his arm.

The occasional brush of his hand.

The fact she was suddenly forgetting whose turn it was.

Repeatedly.

---

"You've lost."

Amelia blinked.

"What?"

Adam looked amused.

"The game."

She glanced down.

Apparently her entire team had been eliminated.

"Oh."

"You weren't paying attention."

"I was."

"You really weren't."

Amelia narrowed her eyes.

"Maybe I was distracted."

The second the words left her mouth she regretted them.

Adam's eyebrows lifted slightly.

A smile slowly appearing.

"Oh?"

Heat immediately rushed into her cheeks.

"Don't."

"I'm not saying anything."

"Your face is."

His laugh made her want to hide behind a cushion.

---

A little later Chloe announced she was making hot chocolate.

Half the group followed her into the kitchen.

Leaving only a few people in the living room.

For the first time all evening things became quieter.

Calmer.

Amelia sat back against the sofa.

Exhaling.

Finally enjoying a moment of peace.

Beside her, Adam smiled.

"Tired?"

"A little."

"You've become antisocial."

"I've spent three hours listening to Josh explain board games."

"Fair."

---

For a moment neither spoke.

The comfortable silence settling around them again.

The kind that never felt awkward.

Never needed filling.

Then Adam glanced towards her.

"You know..."

"What?"

"I'm glad you came."

The words caught her off guard.

Because he sounded completely sincere.

Not teasing.

Not joking.

Just honest.

A warmth settled somewhere deep inside her chest.

"I'm glad I came too."

His smile softened.

The sort of smile she was becoming dangerously fond of.

---

Then Chloe reappeared carrying mugs.

The moment disappeared instantly.

As usual.

"Right."

Everyone looked up.

"Movie time."

Groans followed.

Arguments followed the groans.

Then more arguments.

And somehow Josh ended up choosing the film.

Which was probably a mistake.

---

As everyone settled down, Amelia found herself smiling.

Not because of the film.

Not because of the board games.

Not because of the snacks.

She was smiling because lately every good memory seemed to have one thing in common.

Adam was in it.

And whether she was ready to admit it or not...

That probably meant something.

Chapter 13

The movie Josh chose was terrible.

Absolutely terrible.

Nobody was surprised.

---

"This is the worst film I've ever seen."

Josh looked offended.

"It has ninety three percent."

"From who?"

"People."

"What people?"

Josh opened his mouth.

Then closed it again.

The group burst out laughing.

---

By the halfway point, almost nobody was watching.

Some people were talking.

Some were scrolling through their phones.

A few had disappeared into the kitchen.

The film continued playing in the background.

Entirely ignored.

As it deserved.

---

Amelia found herself sitting at one end of the sofa.

A blanket across her lap.

A mug of hot chocolate balanced carefully in her hands.

The room glowed softly from the television.

The atmosphere felt cosy.

Comfortable.

Relaxed.

Beside her, Adam looked equally uninterested in the film.

"You have no idea what's happening, do you?"

His smile appeared immediately.

"Not a clue."

"I thought so."

"You don't either."

"No."

At least they were honest.

---

The evening drifted on.

Easy conversation.

Laughter.

The occasional complaint about the film.

At one point Josh dramatically demanded everyone's attention because "the important part" was about to happen.

Nobody listened.

Including Josh.

---

Eventually people began leaving.

One by one.

Yawning.

Stretching.

Making plans for the following week.

The usual.

By the time Amelia stood to leave, only a handful of people remained.

---

Outside, the evening air felt cool against her skin.

The street was quiet.

The sky above them filled with stars.

Amelia walked towards her car.

Then paused.

Footsteps behind her.

Adam.

Of course.

For a second neither spoke.

The comfortable silence settling between them naturally.

The same way it always seemed to.

---

"You know..."

Adam shoved his hands into his pockets.

"I think Josh owes us compensation."

Amelia laughed.

"For what?"

"For making us watch that film."

"Fair."

"A formal apology at minimum."

"I'll draft the paperwork."

The smile that followed reached his eyes.

And once again Amelia found herself smiling back before she even realised she was doing it.

---

For a moment neither moved.

Neither seemed in a rush to leave.

The conversation slowing naturally.

The way conversations did when neither person wanted them to end.

---

Then Adam smiled.

A softer smile than usual.

"You free next Saturday?"

Amelia's heart immediately became interested.

Far more interested than it should have.

"Maybe."

His eyes narrowed.

"Maybe?"

"Depends."

"On?"

"The question."

Adam laughed.

Recognising his own words from weeks earlier.

"Fair."

He took a breath.

Then looked directly at her.

"I was wondering if you'd like to do something."

The butterflies returned immediately.

Not gently.

Not politely.

Immediately.

---

"What kind of something?"

Adam looked amused.

"A date."

The word hung between them.

Simple.

Clear.

Impossible to misunderstand.

For a second Amelia simply stared at him.

Not because she didn't know the answer.

Because she'd been hoping he'd ask.

For weeks.

---

His smile faded slightly.

Not completely.

Just enough to reveal the nerves underneath.

Which somehow made the moment even sweeter.

Then she smiled.

A proper smile.

The kind she couldn't stop.

"I'd like that."

The relief on his face was immediate.

And adorable.

There was no other word for it.

---

"Good."

The word came out a little too quickly.

Amelia laughed.

"Good?"

"Good."

He looked completely unapologetic.

"I was hoping you'd say yes."

The warmth spreading through her chest made it impossible to look away.

"Me too."

---

For a second neither spoke.

Neither needed to.

The answer had already been given.

The excitement already there.

The anticipation already building.

---

Eventually Adam glanced towards her car.

"You should probably head home."

"I probably should."

Neither moved.

Adam laughed first.

"We're terrible at saying goodbye."

"Apparently."

"Maybe we should work on that."

"Maybe."

Neither sounded particularly interested in doing so.

---

Eventually Amelia opened her car door.

Then paused.

Looking back.

Adam was still standing there.

Watching her.

Smiling.

The same smile that had become one of her favourite things.

"Goodnight, Adam."

His smile widened.

"Goodnight, Amelia."

---

As she drove home that evening, one thought kept returning.

Again.

And again.

And again.

Next Saturday.

Just the two of them.

Not the group.

Not a chance encounter.

Not a random meet up.

A date.

An actual date.

And for the first time in a very long time...

Amelia found herself counting down the days.

Chapter 14

The week leading up to Saturday felt unusually long.

Not because anything was wrong.

Quite the opposite.

For the first time in years, Amelia found herself genuinely looking forward to something.

Which was both exciting and slightly irritating.

---

By Wednesday, Chloe had become unbearable.

"Three days."

Amelia looked up from her laptop.

"What?"

"Three days until your date."

Amelia sighed.

"We've already been on dates."

Chloe gasped dramatically.

"Oh my goodness."

"What now?"

"You admitted they were dates."

Amelia froze.

Realising her mistake immediately.

Chloe pointed triumphantly.

"I win."

"You are the worst."

"I know."

---

The rest of the week passed painfully slowly.

Phone calls became longer.

Messages became more frequent.

Somehow they now spoke every day.

Not because they had to.

Because they wanted to.

At one point Amelia looked at the clock after hanging up.

Two hours.

Two whole hours.

She wasn't even sure what they'd talked about.

Everything.

Nothing.

The usual.

---

Saturday finally arrived.

The weather couldn't have been more perfect.

Warm sunshine.

Clear blue skies.

A gentle breeze.

Amelia stood in front of her wardrobe.

Staring.

Thinking.

Changing outfits.

Changing back.

Then changing again.

Before finally settling on something simple.

A soft sage green summer dress.

Pretty.

Comfortable.

Very Amelia.

Her curls were half up and half down.

The rest falling softly around her shoulders.

Natural makeup.

A little blush.

Mascara.

A touch of lip gloss.

Nothing dramatic.

She wanted to look like herself.

---

When she arrived, Adam was already there.

Of course he was.

He leaned casually against his car.

Hands in his pockets.

The second he saw her, he smiled.

And just like that...

The butterflies returned.

Again.

"Hi."

His eyes travelled briefly over her outfit.

Not lingering.

Just appreciating.

The smile that followed made her cheeks warm.

"Hi."

For a moment neither moved.

Just smiling like complete idiots.

Then Adam laughed.

"You look beautiful."

The words caught her completely off guard.

Not because she'd never been complimented before.

Because of how sincere it sounded.

Heat rushed into her cheeks.

"Thank you."

The smile he gave her afterwards seemed worth the embarrassment.

---

The plan was simple.

A countryside walk.

Followed by lunch.

Nothing fancy.

Nothing extravagant.

Exactly the sort of thing both of them preferred.

The walking trail wound through woodland and open fields.

Wildflowers lined the path.

Birdsong echoed through the trees.

For a while they simply enjoyed it.

The easy conversation.

The comfortable silence.

Being together.

---

About halfway through the walk they reached a hill overlooking a valley.

The view stretched for miles.

Rolling green fields disappearing into the distance.

"Wow."

Amelia stopped.

Taking it all in.

Adam watched her smile.

Not the view.

Her.

Again.

"You do that a lot."

Amelia glanced across.

"What?"

"Forget the scenery."

"What are you talking about?"

Adam looked entirely too amused.

"You always catch me looking."

The butterflies immediately returned.

Stronger this time.

Amelia folded her arms.

"You're admitting it now?"

"I wasn't aware it was a secret."

The confidence of the answer made her laugh.

And blush.

Which only made Adam smile more.

---

A little later they found a quiet spot beneath a large oak tree.

Lunch spread between them.

Sunlight filtering through the branches above.

The afternoon felt peaceful.

Comfortable.

The sort of day Amelia never wanted to end.

At one point she reached for a drink.

At exactly the same moment Adam reached for his.

Their hands brushed.

Both froze.

Just slightly.

Neither pulling away immediately.

Neither entirely sure why.

The contact lasted barely a second.

Yet somehow felt much longer.

Eventually both continued as though nothing had happened.

Which fooled absolutely nobody.

---

As the afternoon wore on, conversation drifted towards relationships.

Not intentionally.

It just happened.

Past dates.

Embarrassing stories.

Bad advice from friends.

The usual.

"How many terrible blind dates have you been on?"

Adam groaned.

"Too many."

Amelia laughed.

"Same."

"Any good ones?"

She pretended to think.

"Hmm."

Adam waited.

Patiently.

Then Amelia smiled.

"One."

For a second he looked surprised.

Then his smile slowly appeared.

The one that reached his eyes.

The one she was becoming increasingly fond of.

Neither said it.

Neither needed to.

---

The walk back felt shorter somehow.

The way good days always do.

Too quick.

Too fleeting.

Before either of them realised it, they were back beside the cars.

Again.

That same hesitation.

That same reluctance.

The same feeling neither wanted the day to end.

Adam looked at her.

Really looked at her.

His expression softer than usual.

"Can I tell you something?"

Amelia's stomach fluttered.

"Okay."

A small smile appeared.

"I think meeting you was one of the best things that's happened to me in a long time."

The words stole every clever response she possessed.

Every sarcastic comeback.

Every joke.

Gone.

For once she simply stared at him.

Speechless.

Adam looked slightly nervous now.

As though he'd revealed more than he'd intended.

Then Amelia smiled.

The softest smile he'd ever seen from her.

"I was literally thinking the same thing."

The relief on his face was immediate.

And somehow that made her heart ache in the nicest possible way.

---

As they said goodbye that afternoon, neither realised it.

But they were becoming dangerously close to a line neither of them would be able to ignore much longer.

Because the feelings weren't growing anymore.

They were already there.

Waiting.

Patiently.

For one of them to finally be brave enough to do something about it.

Chapter 15

After the walk, something changed.

Not dramatically.

Neither suddenly confessed their feelings.

Neither made some grand romantic gesture.

Yet something felt different.

More certain.

As though both of them had quietly stopped pretending there wasn't something there.

---

Tuesday evening.

Amelia was working late when her phone buzzed.

Adam

Need your professional opinion.

She smiled immediately.

That sounds dangerous.

It probably is.

Proceed.

A photo arrived.

Adam had somehow managed to lock himself out of an online account.

The problem wasn't serious.

The fact he'd ignored multiple instructions before asking for help absolutely was.

Amelia spent the next ten minutes laughing at him.

Adam

You're supposed to be helping.

Amelia

I am helping.

Adam

You're mocking me.

Amelia

Also helping.

A few moments later another message appeared.

Dinner tomorrow?

Amelia stared at the screen.

Her heart immediately decided to stop behaving normally.

Not a group meet up.

Not a random outing.

Not returning a hoodie.

Dinner.

Just them.

A smile spread across her face.

Are you asking me on a date?

Several seconds passed.

Long enough that she wondered if she'd broken him.

Then:

I think I might be.

The smile that followed could probably have powered a small city.

Then yes.

---

Wednesday arrived.

Amelia spent entirely too long getting ready.

Not because she was nervous.

She was nervous.

But she wasn't admitting that.

Not even to herself.

Eventually she stepped back from the mirror.

The dress she'd chosen was elegant without trying too hard.

A fitted summer maxi dress that skimmed her figure beautifully before flowing towards her ankles.

A modest side split revealed just enough of her leg when she walked.

The off shoulder Spanish style neckline sat gracefully across her shoulders.

Feminine.

Elegant.

Sophisticated.

Paired with delicate sandal heels, it felt effortlessly beautiful.

Her curls had been pinned into an elegant updo, with loose tendrils framing her face.

Small earrings caught the light when she moved.

Her nose ring remained.

A touch of blush warmed her cheeks.

Nude lipstick softened her smile.

Black eyeliner defined her eyes.

Mascara finished the look.

Simple.

Elegant.

Entirely Amelia.

---

By the time she arrived, the restaurant was bathed in golden evening sunlight.

The outdoor terrace overlooked the water.

String lights hung overhead.

The sunset painted the sky in shades of gold, orange and pink.

People chatted quietly around candlelit tables.

As Amelia stepped onto the terrace, several conversations noticeably paused.

A few heads turned.

A couple of people looked twice.

Amelia noticed none of it.

Because she was already looking for Adam.

Then she found him.

And suddenly everything else faded into the background.

Adam had been halfway through taking a sip of water when he looked up.

Then froze.

Just slightly.

Barely noticeable.

Except it was Adam.

Nothing usually caught him off guard.

His eyes followed her as she walked towards him.

For a moment he genuinely forgot what he'd been about to do.

A second passed.

Then another.

Amelia smiled.

"Hi."

Adam blinked.

Realising he'd been staring.

A smile slowly appeared.

One that reached all the way to his eyes.

"Wow."

The word escaped before he could stop it.

Warmth rushed into Amelia's cheeks.

Adam stood immediately.

Still looking at her.

Still slightly stunned.

"You look..."

For once.

The surgeon who always seemed to know exactly what to say couldn't find the words.

Amelia laughed softly.

"That bad?"

The smile that followed from Adam was impossible to miss.

"No."

His eyes met hers.

Not looking away.

"Definitely not."

And for the rest of the evening, he couldn't quite stop looking at her.

The worst part?

Amelia wasn't sure she wanted him to.

---

Dinner was easy.

The food was good.

The conversation was better.

Hours seemed to disappear.

Neither running out of things to say.

Neither checking their phones.

Neither wanting the evening to end.

At one point Adam was telling a story about medical school.

Amelia was laughing so hard tears appeared in her eyes.

"You are impossible."

"I've heard that before."

"From everyone?"

"Pretty much."

They both laughed.

The waitress walked past smiling.

The kind of smile people gave when they thought they knew exactly what was going on.

Neither mentioned it.

---

As the sun dipped lower, the restaurant became even more beautiful.

Soft fairy lights glowed overhead.

The water reflected the last of the sunset.

Music drifted quietly from somewhere nearby.

For a while neither spoke.

Simply enjoying the moment.

Adam looked across the table.

Studying her.

Not in a way that made her uncomfortable.

In a way that made her feel seen.

The real her.

Not just how she looked.

Who she was.

"What?" Amelia asked.

Adam smiled.

"Nothing."

"Liar."

A small laugh escaped him.

"I was just thinking."

"Dangerous."

"Very."

His eyes remained on hers.

"You know what my favourite thing about you is?"

The question caught her completely off guard.

"No."

"You make everything feel easy."

The words settled somewhere deep inside her chest.

Somewhere important.

For once, Amelia didn't have a witty reply.

She simply smiled.

And Adam smiled back.

---

Eventually they left the restaurant.

Neither mentioning how quickly the evening had gone.

Neither mentioning how neither wanted it to end.

The waterfront path stretched ahead of them.

Streetlights beginning to glow.

The evening air cool against their skin.

Their shoulders occasionally brushed as they walked.

Neither moved away.

Neither seemed to notice.

Or perhaps both noticed.

Very much.

---

When they finally reached Amelia's car, both stopped.

Again.

That same hesitation.

Only stronger this time.

Neither seemed ready to say goodbye.

"I had a really lovely evening," Amelia said softly.

Adam's expression warmed.

"So did I."

A comfortable silence settled between them.

Neither moving.

Neither wanting to.

Then Amelia stepped forward.

Before she could overthink it.

Before she could lose her nerve.

She wrapped her arms around him.

A proper hug this time.

Not accidental.

Not brief.

Intentional.

Warm.

For a second Adam seemed surprised.

Then his arms wrapped around her too.

Naturally.

Comfortably.

As though they'd always belonged there.

Neither rushed to pull away.

Neither wanted to.

Eventually they did.

Both smiling.

Both looking slightly flustered.

And very pleased about it.

"Goodnight, Adam."

His smile widened.

"Goodnight, Amelia."

As she climbed into her car, she couldn't stop smiling.

And as she drove home beneath the glow of the streetlights, one thought stayed with her the entire way.

For the first time in her life, she wasn't wondering whether she liked someone.

She already knew she did.

The question now was whether she was brave enough to let herself fall.

Chapter 16

The problem with butterflies, Amelia discovered, was that once they arrived, they refused to leave.

Not that she was complaining.

Entirely.

Her phone buzzed.

Adam

I have a complaint.

Amelia smiled immediately.

Already? It's only 9am.

You shot me eight times.

Skill issue.

A serious skill issue.

Sounds personal.

It is personal.

Amelia laughed.

---

Saturday arrived bright and warm.

The group had organised a day by the river.

Kayaks.

Picnic blankets.

Snacks.

And, judging by Josh's excitement, an alarming amount of potential chaos.

The river sparkled beneath the summer sun.

People wandered around carrying paddles and life jackets.

The atmosphere felt relaxed.

Easy.

The kind of day that suited their friendship group perfectly.

Amelia spotted Adam almost immediately.

And, annoyingly, so did her heart.

He was helping Chloe adjust a life jacket.

Patiently.

Calmly.

As always.

Then he looked up.

Saw her.

And smiled.

The smile appeared so quickly it made something flutter inside her chest.

"Hi."

"Hi."

Neither seemed capable of greeting each other normally anymore.

---

A little later everyone climbed into pairs.

Josh immediately demanded his own kayak.

Nobody trusted him.

With good reason.

Eventually the groups were sorted.

Amelia found herself standing beside Adam.

Trying very hard not to smile too much.

"Looks like you're stuck with me."

Adam picked up a paddle.

"Tragic."

"Devastating."

"I'll try to cope."

She laughed.

And just like that, they were off.

---

For the first ten minutes everything went surprisingly well.

The water was calm.

The scenery was beautiful.

Nobody had fallen in.

Then Josh happened.

Somehow.

Nobody was quite sure how.

One minute he was paddling.

The next he was upside down in the river.

The entire group burst out laughing.

Including Josh.

Who somehow managed to laugh while falling in.

---

Unfortunately, the chaos didn't stop there.

A few minutes later Amelia attempted to turn their kayak.

Attempted being the important word.

The kayak tilted.

Dangerously.

"Oh no."

"Oh yes."

Adam's expression immediately changed.

"Amelia."

"Adam."

"Don't."

"I'm trying not to."

The kayak tipped.

Completely.

Both disappeared beneath the water.

---

A second later they surfaced.

Spluttering.

Laughing.

Dripping wet.

Amelia pushed soaked curls from her face.

"What just happened?"

"You happened."

"Rude."

"Accurate."

They both laughed.

The kayak floated a few feet away.

Neither seemed in any rush to get back to it.

At least not immediately.

---

Amelia had always been a strong swimmer.

But before she could start moving towards the kayak, Adam's arm settled naturally around her waist.

Steadying her.

Protective without even thinking about it.

His other hand kept them balanced in the water.

For a moment neither spoke.

The river around them suddenly seemed very quiet.

Very still.

Amelia looked up.

Adam was already looking at her.

Close.

Far too close.

Water droplets clung to his dark curls.

Her own hair had escaped into two soaked curly bunches hanging either side of her face.

Completely drenched.

Yet somehow Adam looked like he was trying very hard not to smile.

"What?"

His eyes flickered briefly towards her hair.

"You look cute."

Amelia laughed.

"I'm soaked."

"Still cute."

The smile that followed was impossible to stop.

Neither seemed to notice how close they were.

Or perhaps both noticed.

Very much.

The world seemed to narrow.

Just slightly.

The river.

The sunshine.

The group.

Everything faded.

Until all Amelia could really focus on was him.

And all Adam seemed able to focus on was her.

Neither moved.

Neither looked away.

The distance between them somehow feeling smaller by the second.

For one suspended moment it felt as though the rest of the world had disappeared.

---

"OI!"

Josh's voice exploded across the river.

Both blinked.

Reality immediately returned.

"ARE YOU TWO COMING BACK OR ARE YOU STARTING YOUR OWN KAYAK COMPANY?"

Laughter erupted from the rest of the group.

Amelia burst out laughing.

Adam dropped his head.

Shaking it.

"He's impossible."

"He really is."

Yet neither could quite hide their smiles.

Or the fact they'd both let out the exact same disappointed sigh.

---

Climbing back onto the kayak proved significantly less graceful.

Amelia slipped twice.

Adam nearly tipped them over again.

Both ended up absolutely drenched and laughing so hard they could barely sit upright.

Her two curly bunches dripped water down her shoulders.

His hair was flattened against his forehead.

Both looked ridiculous.

Neither cared.

The best thing about curls, Amelia thought, was that once they dried, they'd probably look exactly the same anyway.

---

The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur of sunshine, laughter and riverbank picnics.

People spread blankets across the grass.

Shared snacks.

Played games.

Josh somehow managed to fall over twice more.

Nobody was surprised.

At one point Amelia wandered away from the group slightly.

Just enough to enjoy the view.

A few moments later Adam appeared beside her.

Naturally.

Neither questioned it anymore.

They simply seemed to end up beside each other.

Again.

And again.

And again.

"It's nice here."

Adam looked out across the river.

Then looked at her.

"Yeah."

There it was again.

That look.

The one that made her feel like she was the only person in the world for a second.

Not intense.

Not overwhelming.

Just...

Warm.

Safe.

Real.

---

As the afternoon stretched on, someone produced a football.

A terrible idea.

Within minutes Josh had kicked it directly into the river.

A second later he was trying to retrieve it.

A third later he slipped.

Again.

The laughter could probably be heard for miles.

---

By the time the sun began setting, everyone was exhausted.

Happy.

But exhausted.

People started gathering their things.

Preparing to head home.

The golden evening light painted everything in warm colours.

Amelia stood watching the water.

Lost in thought.

Until she felt someone step beside her.

Adam.

Of course.

For a moment neither spoke.

Then Adam quietly said,

"I've been wanting to do something all day."

Amelia's heart immediately forgot how to function.

"Oh?"

Adam smiled.

A little nervous.

For the first time since she'd met him.

A very human expression.

A very real one.

"Ask you something."

Amelia exhaled.

Trying not to laugh at herself.

"What?"

His smile widened slightly.

"Next Saturday."

She waited.

"Just us."

Her heart skipped.

Again.

"Okay."

Adam looked relieved.

Genuinely relieved.

"Okay?"

"Okay."

The smile that followed was impossible to hide.

On either side.

As the sun disappeared behind the trees, neither of them realised something.

They kept wondering what happened next.

Kept wondering where all of this was leading.

Kept imagining how much their lives were about to change.

The truth was...

Their lives already had.

Somewhere between football matches, hospital visits, phone calls, bookshops, walks and stolen moments beside rivers, they'd quietly become part of each other's everyday lives.

Neither looked at their phone quite the same anymore.

Neither walked into a room without searching for the other.

Neither had realised how much space the other person had begun to occupy in their thoughts.

Or their heart.

And as they headed home that evening, both found themselves smiling for exactly the same reason.

Because next Saturday suddenly felt very far away.

Chapter 17

The problem with agreeing to a date a week in advance was having to wait for it.

Seven days.

Which apparently lasted approximately seven years.

At least according to Amelia.

---

By Wednesday, Chloe had become unbearable.

"Three days."

Amelia looked up from her laptop.

"What?"

"Three days until your date."

Amelia sighed.

"We've already been on dates."

Chloe gasped dramatically.

"Oh my goodness."

"What now?"

"You admitted they were dates."

Amelia froze.

Realising her mistake immediately.

Chloe pointed triumphantly.

"I win."

"You are the worst."

"I know."

---

The rest of the week passed painfully slowly.

Phone calls became longer.

Messages became more frequent.

Somehow they now spoke every day.

Not because they had to.

Because they wanted to.

At one point Amelia looked at the clock after hanging up.

Two hours.

Two whole hours.

She wasn't even sure what they'd talked about.

Everything.

Nothing.

The usual.

---

Saturday finally arrived.

The weather couldn't have been more perfect.

Warm sunshine.

Clear blue skies.

A gentle breeze.

Amelia stood in front of her wardrobe.

Staring.

Thinking.

Changing outfits.

Changing back.

Then changing again.

Before finally settling on something simple.

A soft sage green summer dress.

Pretty.

Comfortable.

Very Amelia.

Her curls were half up and half down.

Loose around her shoulders.

Natural makeup.

A little blush.

Mascara.

A touch of lip gloss.

Nothing dramatic.

She wanted to look like herself.

---

When she arrived, Adam was already there.

Of course he was.

He leaned casually against his car.

Hands in his pockets.

The second he saw her, he smiled.

And just like that...

The butterflies returned.

Again.

"Hi."

His eyes travelled briefly over her outfit.

Not lingering.

Just appreciating.

The smile that followed made her cheeks warm.

"Hi."

For a moment neither moved.

Just smiling like complete idiots.

Then Adam laughed.

"You look beautiful."

The words caught her completely off guard.

Not because she'd never been complimented before.

Because of how sincere it sounded.

Heat rushed into her cheeks.

"Thank you."

The smile he gave her afterwards seemed worth the embarrassment.

---

The plan was simple.

A countryside walk.

Followed by lunch.

Nothing fancy.

Nothing extravagant.

Exactly the sort of thing both of them preferred.

The walking trail wound through woodland and open fields.

Wildflowers lined the path.

Birdsong echoed through the trees.

For a while they simply enjoyed it.

The easy conversation.

The comfortable silence.

Being together.

---

About halfway through the walk they reached a hill overlooking a valley.

The view stretched for miles.

Rolling green fields disappearing into the distance.

"Wow."

Amelia stopped.

Taking it all in.

Adam watched her smile.

Not the view.

Her.

Again.

"You do that a lot."

Amelia glanced across.

"What?"

"Forget the scenery."

"What are you talking about?"

Adam looked entirely too amused.

"You always catch me looking."

The butterflies immediately returned.

Stronger this time.

Amelia folded her arms.

"You're admitting it now?"

"I wasn't aware it was a secret."

The confidence of the answer made her laugh.

And blush.

Which only made Adam smile more.

---

A little later they found a quiet spot beneath a large oak tree.

Lunch spread between them.

Sunlight filtering through the branches above.

The afternoon felt peaceful.

Comfortable.

The sort of day Amelia never wanted to end.

At one point she reached for a drink.

At exactly the same moment Adam reached for his.

Their hands brushed.

Both froze.

Just slightly.

Neither pulling away immediately.

Neither entirely sure why.

The contact lasted barely a second.

Yet somehow felt much longer.

Eventually both continued as though nothing had happened.

Which fooled absolutely nobody.

---

As the afternoon wore on, conversation drifted towards relationships.

Not intentionally.

It just happened.

Past dates.

Embarrassing stories.

Bad advice from friends.

The usual.

"How many terrible blind dates have you been on?"

Adam groaned.

"Too many."

Amelia laughed.

"Same."

"Any good ones?"

She pretended to think.

"Hmm."

Adam waited.

Patiently.

Then Amelia smiled.

"One."

For a second he looked surprised.

Then his smile slowly appeared.

The one that reached his eyes.

The one