A few days later, Emma's phone buzzed with a message:
Lunch today? I know a place you'll like.
Her stomach fluttered as she replied yes. By noon, they were seated at a cozy corner table in a small bistro. Conversation flowed easily, laughter spilling between bites of sandwiches and sips of tea.
"You always make me laugh," Leo said, smiling across the table.
Emma's cheeks warmed. "You make it easy."
Hours passed like minutes. When lunch ended, Emma felt a strange reluctance to part ways, a sense that this connection was just beginning. She tucked the memory of his smile into her heart, realising this was no ordinary friendship.