Page 438 of Hate Mates

“You have them walking away from each other for an entire year,” Daniel said. He laid Brianna’s outline on the table and shrugged. “I know story should be more like real life, but just once couldn’t we have a utopian world where boy meets girl and everything is hunky dory?”

“Most of my stories are like this,” Brianna said. “I don’t really believe love at first sight is realistic. It just doesn’t happen in real life.”

“Would you like to order?” the waitress asked as she joined them. As she went over the day's specials, Brianna noticed Daniel looking away, his face full of disappointment. As Brianna ordered, Daniel watched her, heartbroken for her because she’d never experienced love at first sight. He understood then that they lived in two different realities. He was always hopeful. She had obviously been disappointed by one too many men.

Brianna cleared her throat when the waitress left, sipping water before shifting her eyes to Daniel’s. “The co-writing thing is pretty difficult,” she said. “Maybe we should wait on it.”

Daniel nodded. “Probably for the best.”

They struggled through small talk for the next fifteen minutes, both thankful when the waitress arrived with their food. They ate mostly in silence, occasionally suggesting the food was outstanding and occasionally discussing the crowd expected at the event in the morning. When they were done eating, Daniel paid the bill.

They sat at the table for a long time, slowly sipping water, clearing throats, and waiting for each other to stand. “Well,” Daniel finally said.

“Yeah, I need to catch up on some writing.” Brianna stood. “Thank you for dinner, Daniel.”

Daniel followed Brianna from the restaurant and then to the elevator, where Brianna got on, and Daniel left for the lobby. He regretted not saying goodnight. That had been a dick move despite their disagreement about story. Fuck, he thought to himself. He walked into the casino and sat at a Blackjack table, losing a hundred bucks before getting pissed off at himself and going back to his room. Lying in bed, he thought about how vain writers could be. How stubborn they could be. In that instant, he gave up on love at first sight.

The next morning, Brianna got up early, dragged her books down to the convention center, and set up her table. When she finished, she noticed Daniel, two rows over, setting up his own table. She never saw him look her way, instead giving his attention to another writer at the table beside him. The idea of a co-writer had taken off and then burned in the air.

Despite the crowd around him, Daniel spent the next four hours of the event watching Brianna. Fuck, there had to be a midway point somewhere they could agree. He believed in love at first sight because he’d experienced it with Brianna. It was okay she didn’t feel the same. Life had a way of jading people. Despite that, he believed they could meet halfway.

At the end of the event, Daniel heard a slap-slap sound and then a yipe as everyone was dismantling their table setups. When he turned, he saw Brianna on the floor, surrounded by her books and banner, which had furled unexpectedly.

“Fuck,” Daniel said and darted around tables. He kneeled next to Brianna. “Damn, are you okay?”

Brianna caught the glint in Daniel’s eyes and let a smile cross her lips. Then, in front of everyone surrounding them, she began laughing. Daniel glanced at the others, who still looked on in shock, and then back at Brianna, laughing with her. He put his hands in Brianna’s and helped her up, the two finding each other’s arms around the other.

“The hero coming to the heroine's rescue,” Brianna said.

Daniel smiled. “Because of sight at first sight.”

Brianna blushed.

"Brianna," Daniel said softly, leaning in while the other writers watched. "I'm sorry if I seemed dismissive of your ideas. It's just... I guess I've always believed in the power of instant connections. The kind that hit you like lightning and change everything."

Brianna felt her heart skip a beat at his words, at the way his eyes seemed to be searching hers for something. She took a shaky breath. "I used to believe in that too," she admitted. "But life has a way of... complicating things."

Daniel reached out, his fingers brushing her cheek. The touch sent a jolt of electricity through her. "Maybe," he said, his voice low and intimate, "we've both been looking at this the wrong way. What if we combined our approaches? The instant attraction, the spark... but with the depth and growth you're proposing?"

Brianna found herself leaning in, drawn by Daniel's warmth and the possibilities in his words. "That could work," she said softly, " a balance between fantasy and reality."

"Exactly," Daniel smiled, his fingers now intertwining with hers. "Like us, maybe. The fantasy author and the romance novelist, finding a middle ground."

Brianna felt a flutter in her chest at his words. She looked up into Daniel's warm brown eyes, seeing the sincerity there. She felt a spark of hope for the first time in a long while. "I'd like that," she said softly. "Finding a middle ground." She tilted her head a bit, a glint in her eyes. “When Sasha sees Carson racing down the alley toward her, I think she can find something special about him. What does Carson do and say?”

Daniel's eyes lit up as he caught Brianna's meaning. He pulled her closer, their bodies just inches apart amidst the bustle of the convention center.

"Well," he said, his voice low and husky, "Carson races down the alley, his heart pounding. He sees Sasha cornered by those thugs, and something inside him just... ignites. He doesn't hesitate. He charges in, fists flying."

Brianna nodded, caught up in the moment. "And Sasha," she continued, "she's terrified, but when she sees this stranger coming to her rescue, she feels this... this rush. Like maybe the world isn't as dark as she thought."

"Exactly," Daniel murmured. His hand came up to cup Brianna's cheek. "Carson dispatches the thugs, then turns to Sasha. Their eyes meet, and it's like time stops. He reaches out a hand to help her up, and when their fingers touch..."

"Sparks," Brianna breathed.

"Sparks," Daniel agreed. His thumb traced her cheekbone gently. "But that's just the beginning. Because after that initial rush..."

"They have to get to know each other," Brianna finished. "To see if that spark can grow into something real."

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