Chapter 6- shadows of the past

Natalie's week flew by in a blur, yet her coffee date with Adrian lingered in her mind. His warmth, his genuine interest—it had been so long since she'd experienced that with someone. And yet, every time she thought about him, Jason's shadow loomed over her.

At work, she found herself staring out the window of her office more often than usual. She could still picture Jason walking through the doors to surprise her with lunch or flowers, his confidence drawing every eye in the room. He had been the perfect fiancé—until he wasn't.

But Adrian wasn't Jason, she reminded herself. She'd told herself this a hundred times, and yet the thought of opening herself up again made her stomach twist.

Her phone buzzed, interrupting her thoughts. It was a message from Adrian.

Adrian: Hey, I just saw the trailer for that new thriller you mentioned. Want to catch it this weekend?

Natalie hesitated. Spending time with him had been fun, but meeting him again so soon felt like a step she wasn't sure she was ready to take.

She typed a reply and deleted it. Then typed another and deleted that too. Finally, she settled on a neutral response.

Natalie: Maybe. I'll let you know.

She hated herself for the uncertainty. Adrian didn't deserve her hesitation, but trust was still a mountain she hadn't climbed yet.

Later that evening, Natalie visited Emma, hoping for some clarity. Emma was lounging on the couch with a glass of wine, her eyes lighting up when Natalie walked in.

"You've got that look," Emma said, smirking.

"What look?"

"The one that says you're overthinking everything again. Spill."

Natalie sighed, sinking into the armchair across from her. "Adrian asked me to see a movie with him this weekend."

"And?" Emma asked, raising an eyebrow.

"And I don't know if I'm ready. What if it's too much? What if he expects more? What if—"

Emma held up a hand to stop her. "You're doing it again. Listen to me, Nat. Not everyone is Jason. Not every man is going to break your heart. And even if Adrian isn't the one, that doesn't mean you shouldn't enjoy his company."

Natalie stared at her hands, twisting her fingers together. "But what if I get hurt again?"

Emma leaned forward, her expression softening. "You're stronger than you think, Nat. You've already been through the worst, and you're still standing. Don't let your fear keep you from moving forward."

Natalie nodded, Emma's words sinking in. Maybe she was right. Maybe she needed to take another step forward, no matter how small.

The next day, Natalie found herself at the bookstore during her lunch break. She remembered Adrian's list of book recommendations and thought it might be a nice gesture to pick one up.

As she browsed the shelves, her phone buzzed with another message from Adrian.

Adrian: No pressure about the movie. Just let me know if you're up for it. Either way, I'm glad we met.

Her heart softened at his words. Adrian had never pushed her, never made her feel like she owed him more than she could give.

She picked up a book from his list—a psychological thriller—and smiled.

That evening, Natalie finally replied to Adrian's message.

Natalie: Let's do it. Saturday works for me.

His response came quickly.

Adrian: Great! I'll grab the tickets. Looking forward to it.

For the first time, Natalie felt a flicker of excitement instead of dread.

Saturday arrived, and Natalie spent far too long picking out an outfit. She settled on something simple: dark jeans, ankle boots, and a soft cream sweater. When she arrived at the theater, Adrian was already waiting, holding two tickets and a bag of popcorn.

"You made it," he said, his smile as warm as ever.

"I did," Natalie replied, her nerves easing at the sight of him.

As the movie started, Natalie found herself relaxing. Adrian didn't try to hold her hand or move closer. He respected her space, making her feel safe in a way she hadn't felt in years.

By the time the credits rolled, Natalie realized something surprising: she'd had fun.

Walking out of the theater, Adrian turned to her. "So, what did you think?"

"It was good," she said, smiling. "Thanks for inviting me."

"Thanks for saying yes," he replied. "And no pressure, but next time, you're picking the movie."

Natalie laughed, the sound feeling lighter than it had in months. For the first time, she let herself believe that maybe, just maybe, this could be the start of something new.