Page 26 of Heart Strings

“So, tell me about your day,” Connor says, leaning back and genuinely looking interested.

“Well, it was mostly just the usual at the bookstore. Although, Mrs. Peterson came by and asked about you,” I share, watching a flicker of amusement cross his face.

“Mrs. Peterson, huh? Still trying to set you up with her grandson?” Connor chuckles, remembering the ongoing joke among our friends.

I laugh, nodding. “Yep, every single time. I told her we’re figuring things out, and she seemed pleased... in a very matchmaking grandma kind of way.”

Connor’s laughter joins mine, filling the space between us with a warmth that reaches deep inside me. “Well, she does have good taste, I’ll give her that.”

When the food arrives, it’s as delicious as it smells. We dig in, passing plates back and forth, commenting on each dish. Connor’s enthusiasm when he tries the duck makes me laugh, and his insistence that I try a piece, even though I’m already halfway through the Kung Pao chicken, is endearing.

“This is really good,” I say after tasting the duck, surprised at the burst of flavor. “You always pick the best dishes.”

“I just follow my gut,” he replies with a shrug, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “It usually knows what’s up, especially when it comes to food.”

I can’t help but raise an eyebrow, leaning in a little closer across the table, lowering my voice just a touch. “Oh really? And does that intuition of yours extend beyond the menu?”

Connor’s smile widens, and he leans in too, matching my tone. “You could say it has a pretty good track record. Maybe I could help you explore a few more choices... see if my gut steers us right again.”

I laugh softly, enjoying the playful banter. “I might just take you up on that. With guidance like yours, I’m sure I’ll discover all sorts of new favorites.”

Then I start freaking out because I did NOT just start flirting with Connor! Oh my God, Sophie will have a field day!

As we finish our meal, Connor reaches across the table, his fingers brushing against mine. “This was great, Tink. Not just the food, but being here with you, like this.”

I feel my heart swell at his words, the simplicity of the moment encapsulating everything I feel. “I agree. It’s been a perfect night.”

We linger over tea, neither of us in a hurry to end the evening. It’s clear that whatever this is between us, it’s something we both treasure, something worth exploring with patience and care.

As Connor and I step out of the restaurant, the cool evening air wraps around us, creating a contrast to the warm, lively atmosphere we’ve just left behind. We’re walking side by side down the dimly lit street toward my apartment up the road, and I can feel an unusual tension between us—a mix of anticipation and hesitation that wasn’t there during our dinner.

My heart races, thoughts swirling. The playful banter and laughter from just moments ago now feel like distant memories as we both grapple with the tension that has settled between us.

I glance at Connor, trying to gauge his thoughts. His hands are tucked into his jacket pockets, his gaze fixed on the path ahead. The silence stretches, growing heavier with each step, and I find myself missing the ease that had defined our dinner.

Just as I’m about to break the silence, Connor stops walking. He turns to face me, his expression unreadable in the dim light of the street lamps. My breath catches in my throat, the air between us charged with an energy I can’t quite name.

“Gracie,” he starts, his voice low and slightly uncertain.

He steps closer, reducing the space between us to mere inches. His hand reaches up, hesitating for a moment before gently tucking a stray lock of hair behind my ear. The simple touch sends a shiver down my spine, my skin tingling where his fingers briefly brushed.

I look up at him, my heart pounding in my chest, and I see the resolve forming in his eyes. It’s now or never, I realize, and the thought both terrifies and excites me.

Without another word, Connor leans down, his eyes locking onto mine. Time seems to slow down, the background fading away until all I can see is him. And then, his lips are on mine. The kiss is tentative at first, as if he’s still asking for permission, but as I respond, it deepens, growing more confident.

The world around us disappears, and there’s nothing but Connor and me and this kiss that seems to have been inevitable from the start. His hands move to my back, pulling me closer, and I melt into him, every nerve ending alight with a warmth that spreads rapidly through my body.

It feels as though Connor has always known my body; one hand at the back of my neck and tangled in my hair, while the other holds me closer to him. I’m drowning in the scent of him and the feel of his pierced tongue against mine.

As we finally pull apart, both of us are slightly breathless. Connor rests his forehead against mine, and I can feel the smile forming on his lips. “I’ve wanted to do that for a long time,” he admits softly.

“Me too,” I whisper back, my voice barely audible, my heart still racing from the kiss. The uncertainty that had shadowed the evening is gone, dissolved by the clarity of the moment.

We stand there for a moment longer, just basking in the afterglow of our kiss, before he gently kisses my forehead and takes my hand in his. “Let’s walk you home,” he says, and I nod, feeling like everything has somehow fallen into place.

As we resume walking, the awkwardness gone, replaced by a comfortable silence, I feel a profound sense of rightness. It’s as if everything leading up to this moment, every laugh, every tense silence, had been paving the way here.

Chapter 20

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