Chapter Four

Few days later, Lydia walked into work still feeling the lingering buzz from her unexpected encounter with Scott. She hadn’t been able to get him out of her mind, replaying their laughter and his warm smile over and over. Betty, always quick to notice, caught Lydia spacing out as she organized dresses in the store.

“Someone looks like she’s in another world,” Betty teased, nudging Lydia playfully. “Did you happen to dream about a certain someone in a suit?”

Lydia rolled her eyes, though a smile crept onto her face. “Alright, maybe a little,” she admitted. “But it’s not like anything will come of it. It was just… nice, you know? Meeting someone who wasn’t just talking about themselves for once.”

Betty grinned. “Well, don’t be so sure. Life has a funny way of bringing people back together, especially in this city.”

As if on cue, the door chimed, signaling a new customer. Lydia turned and nearly froze when she saw who had just walked in. Scott stood there, glancing around the store with a faint smile. He looked effortlessly polished, yet there was a softness in his gaze as his eyes landed on Lydia.

For a moment, Lydia was speechless, her heart racing as she watched him approach. “Scott?” she said, trying to keep her voice steady. “What… what brings you here?”

Scott replied, “Oh! I’m here to buy a necklace or a bracelet for someone I know. Today’s their birthday.”

Lydia was initially taken aback, wondering if he might have a girlfriend. However, something about his words and tone seemed to suggest he was single, though he didn’t explicitly say so.

Lydia tried to keep her expression neutral, but her curiosity was piqued. “Oh? Anyone special?” she asked, her voice casual, though her heart pounded a little faster.

Scott chuckled, glancing at the display case. “Well, she’s a close friend. Someone who’s always been there for me.”

Lydia felt a small flutter of relief, though she wasn’t sure why. “That’s really thoughtful of you. I’m sure she’ll love whatever you choose.”

He smiled, meeting her gaze for a moment. “Thanks. I hope so.” He picked up a delicate bracelet and turned it over thoughtfully. “What do you think of this one?”

Lydia leaned in to look, trying to ignore the way her heart skipped a beat being so close to him. “It’s beautiful,” she said honestly. “Elegant but not too flashy. I think it would suit her well.”

Scott nodded, satisfied, and brought it to the counter. As the shop assistant started wrapping it up, he turned back to Lydia. “So… what brings you here? Shopping for anyone in particular?”

Lydia hesitated, feeling slightly caught off guard. “Oh, I work here,” she replied, hoping he wouldn’t notice the slight blush on her cheeks.

Scott raised an eyebrow, surprised. “You work here? I had no idea.” He gave her an approving nod. “It suits you.”

Lydia managed a small smile, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “Thanks. It’s a nice place, and I get to meet interesting people.”

Scott chuckled. “I guess I’m one of those ‘interesting people’ now?”

She laughed softly, feeling more at ease. “Maybe,” she replied, playfully. “Though I didn’t expect to see you shopping for jewelry.”

He grinned. “I’ll take that as a compliment.” He glanced at the wrapped box in his hand and then back at her. “Well, I’d better get going. Wouldn’t want to be late with the gift.”

Lydia nodded, feeling a twinge of disappointment but hiding it well. “Right. Hope she likes it.”

Scott hesitated for a moment, as if wanting to say something more, then gave her a warm smile. “Thanks, Lydia. See you around?”

“Yeah… see you around,” she replied, watching as he walked out of the shop, the little gift in hand.

As soon as he was gone, Lydia let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding, her mind still replaying the exchange.

Lydia spent the rest of her shift trying to focus, but her thoughts kept drifting back to Scott. The way he’d smiled, the way his eyes softened when he talked about his friend… She couldn’t help but wonder about the person he’d bought the bracelet for.

As she was closing up from work later that evening, she heard the chime of the door and looked up, startled. To her surprise, Scott was back, looking a bit uncertain as he stepped inside.

“Scott? Did something happen?” she asked, unable to hide her curiosity.

He gave a small, awkward laugh. “Actually… yeah. I, uh, realized I never asked if you’d like to join us.” He scratched the back of his neck, looking a bit shy. “My friend is having a small get-together tonight, and I thought maybe you’d want to come along?”

Lydia blinked, surprised. “You… want me to join you?”

Scott nodded, his gaze earnest. “Yeah. It would be nice to have you there. If you’re free, of course.”

She hesitated for a moment, feeling a thrill of excitement but trying to play it cool. “I think I’m free,” she said, smiling. “Just let me get my bag.”

As I walked into the locker room, my coworkers greeted me with mischievous grins and started teasing right away.

“So, who’s the mystery guy that swept you off your feet?” one of them asked, winking.

“Yeah, a handsome gentleman inviting you out to meet his friends already? Sounds serious!” chimed in another.

I felt my cheeks warm as I tried to explain. “It’s not like that. We just met a few days ago. It’s really casual.”

They exchanged knowing glances, clearly amused but also a bit surprised. “Still, it’s kind of quick to be meeting his friends, don’t you think?” one of them pointed out.

Another coworker’s expression turned a little more serious. “Just be careful, okay? Sometimes, guys have their own agendas, and getaways can be a trick to… well, get close.”

One of them even handed me a small can of pepper spray with a playful but protective look. “Just in case, alright? Better safe than sorry.”

I laughed, tucking it into my bag to humor them. “I’ll be careful,” I assured them as I left the locker room, feeling both flustered and touched by their concern.

But as I stepped outside, I couldn’t help but feel a mixture of excitement and nerves. After all, it wasn’t every day someone like Scott came along, and I hoped my coworkers’ warnings wouldn’t dampen the night ahead.

When I stepped outside, Scott was leaning casually against his car, his face lighting up with a warm smile as he spotted me.

“Ready to go?” he asked, opening the passenger door for me.

I nodded, trying to keep my cool, though my heart was racing. “Yeah, let’s go.”

As we drove, Scott kept the conversation light, talking about his work and a few funny stories about his friends. His easygoing nature helped put me at ease, and I started to relax, enjoying his company more with each passing minute. But I couldn’t shake my coworkers’ warnings entirely; a small part of me stayed cautious.

We finally arrived at a cozy little restaurant with warm lights and a welcoming atmosphere. Inside, a few of his friends were already gathered around a large table, chatting and laughing. Scott introduced me, and they greeted me with genuine smiles, making me feel instantly welcomed. They joked around, teased Scott a bit, and soon the whole group was laughing and sharing stories.

As the night went on, I realized that Scott’s friends were genuinely nice people. They seemed happy to have me there, and I couldn’t help but feel more comfortable. Scott stayed by my side, occasionally checking in with a quick smile or an inside joke, and each time, I felt a little closer to him.

At one point, his friend Lena leaned over and whispered, “Scott’s always been the shy type, so it’s nice to see him finally bringing someone along.” She gave me a wink, and I couldn’t help but blush.

By the end of the evening, I felt like I had known them all for longer than just a few hours. Scott walked me to the car, both of us quiet as we replayed the night in our minds. As he opened the car door for me, he hesitated, then looked at me with a soft smile.

“I’m glad you came tonight,” he said, his voice gentle.

“Me too,” I replied, smiling back, my heart fluttering.

As we drove back, I knew my coworkers’ warnings had been out of care, but tonight had shown me something different about Scott—a kindness and warmth that felt real.