Chapter 13: A Step Forward

Evelyn spent the next few days immersed in work, avoiding distractions as much as possible. She poured herself into researching for her meeting with Daniel Harper, rereading her past articles and compiling new statistics on how digital communication was reshaping relationships. It felt good to have a goal, something solid she could focus on instead of the chaotic emotions that Alexander's return had stirred up.

By the time Friday arrived, she was prepared. She met Daniel at a quiet café downtown, a cozy place with bookshelves lining the walls and the scent of freshly brewed coffee filling the air. He was already waiting when she arrived, a tall man with sharp features and an air of quiet confidence. He stood and offered his hand as she approached.

"Evelyn Carter? It's great to finally meet you in person. I've been following your work for a while now."

She smiled as they shook hands. "Likewise, Daniel. I appreciate the interest in my article."

They settled into their seats, ordering coffee before diving into the discussion. Daniel was articulate and thoughtful, his questions insightful. He wanted to explore how social media shaped not only romantic relationships but friendships and professional connections as well. Their conversation flowed easily, and for the first time in days, Evelyn found herself genuinely engaged, her mind fully present in the moment.

Halfway through their meeting, her phone buzzed in her bag. She ignored it at first, but when it vibrated again, she instinctively glanced at the screen. It was Alexander. She hesitated, torn between answering and staying focused on her meeting.

Daniel noticed the slight pause and smiled. "If you need to take that, I don't mind."

"It's fine," she replied quickly, slipping the phone back into her bag. "Let's continue."

After an hour, they wrapped up, agreeing to meet again in a week to discuss potential collaboration ideas. As Evelyn stepped outside, she took a deep breath, letting the cool evening air clear her thoughts. It had been a productive meeting, one that made her feel like she was moving forward.

Her phone buzzed again. This time, she pulled it out and opened the message.

"Hey, I know you're busy, but I wanted to check in. Would love to see you again. No pressure—just coffee?"

She stared at the screen, her heart doing an annoying little flip. She could ignore it, pretend she was too occupied to respond. But the truth was, she wasn't sure she wanted to ignore it.

Before she could overthink, she typed out a quick reply.

"I'm free Sunday afternoon."

The response came almost instantly.

"Great. I'll pick the place. Looking forward to it."

She sighed, slipping the phone back into her pocket. She wasn't sure if this was the right choice, but for now, she was willing to take small steps forward.

Sunday came faster than she expected. When she arrived at the café Alexander had chosen, he was already there, sitting by the window. He looked up as she walked in, a slow smile spreading across his face. There was something different about him this time—not the overconfident charm she had once fallen for, but something quieter, more genuine.

"Hey," he said as she sat down.

"Hey," she replied, smoothing her hands over her lap. "So, what's the occasion?"

"No occasion. Just wanted to see you." He studied her for a moment before adding, "I know I don't deserve a second chance, but I'm hoping I can earn one anyway."

She exhaled slowly, the weight of their history pressing against her chest. "Let's just start with coffee and see where it goes."

And for now, that was enough.