Chapter 8 - Hot Chocolate and Coffee

Emma arrived at Riverside Café at exactly 2:57 p.m.

This time, she refused to be early.

She adjusted the strap of her bag and stood outside for a moment, staring at her reflection in the glass.

"You've already talked to him on the phone," she whispered to herself.

"This is the same person."

It helped.

A little.

Taking a quiet breath, she pushed open the door.

The familiar bell chimed overhead.

The café was warm and comfortably busy. Afternoon sunlight streamed through the windows, and soft music drifted through the room.

Emma scanned the tables.

A young couple.

Two students sharing a slice of cake.

An elderly man reading a newspaper.

No Daniel.

She checked the time.

2:59 p.m.

She smiled to herself.

Still early.

She chose a table near the window and sat down.

A waitress approached with a menu.

"Would you like to order something while you wait?"

"Hot chocolate, please."

The waitress nodded with a smile.

"I'll be right back."

Emma reached for her phone.

She opened Daniel's chat.

Just as she was about to type—

"I'm sorry."

Emma looked up.

A man stood beside her table.

Blue shirt.

Dark jeans.

The same gentle smile she had imagined while reading his messages.

"I hope I didn't keep you waiting."

For a moment, Emma simply stared.

Daniel looked exactly like his profile picture.

Maybe a little taller.

Maybe a little more handsome.

But somehow...

He also looked familiar.

She had only heard his voice once.

Yet seeing him smile made it feel as though she already knew him.

Daniel rubbed the back of his neck.

"I think I should introduce myself."

Emma laughed softly.

"I was thinking the same thing."

He held out his hand.

"I'm Daniel."

She looked at his outstretched hand before placing hers in it.

"I'm Emma."

Their handshake lasted only a second.

Still...

It somehow made everything feel real.

"May I?" Daniel asked, gesturing toward the empty chair.

Emma nodded.

"Of course."

He sat down across from her.

For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.

Then they both laughed.

"What?" Emma asked.

Daniel smiled.

"I don't know."

"I think I forgot everything I wanted to say."

Emma smiled.

"I thought you said that on the phone."

"I did."

"And it happened again?"

"I'm beginning to think talking to you makes me forget things."

Emma laughed.

"That's a terrible excuse."

"It is."

The waitress returned with Emma's hot chocolate.

"And for you, sir?"

"Just a black coffee, please."

She nodded before walking away.

Emma folded her hands around her mug.

"So..."

Daniel smiled.

"There it is."

"What?"

"'So.'"

Emma laughed.

"I couldn't think of anything else."

"Neither could I."

The silence that followed wasn't awkward.

It was comfortable.

Like picking up a conversation they had only paused an hour ago.

Daniel glanced at her mug.

"So... hot chocolate."

Emma looked down.

"You remembered."

"You told me."

"And you still chose coffee."

"I did."

She smiled.

"I still don't understand how people drink coffee without milk."

Daniel looked amused.

"I still don't understand how people go to a coffee shop and order hot chocolate."

Emma laughed.

"I knew you were going to say that."

"You did?"

"You've been teasing me about it all week."

"I have, haven't I?"

"You definitely have."

The waitress returned with Daniel's coffee.

"Would you like anything else?"

Daniel looked at Emma.

"You should order something."

Emma blinked.

"Me?"

"You told me to eat breakfast."

"I did."

"So now I'm telling you to eat something too."

Emma smiled despite herself.

"That's not fair."

"It is a little."

She opened the menu again.

"Fine."

"I'll have the grilled cheese sandwich."

"Good choice," Daniel said.

She looked at him suspiciously.

"You planned that."

"I might have."

Emma shook her head, smiling.

Their food arrived a few minutes later.

The conversation came easily after that.

They talked about architecture.

The bakery.

Books they wanted to read.

Movies they had never gotten around to watching.

There were no long pauses.

No uncomfortable silences.

Only two people discovering that talking face-to-face felt just as easy as talking through a screen.

At one point, Emma caught herself simply watching Daniel as he spoke.

He smiled exactly the way she had imagined while listening to his voice.

Only now...

She could finally see it.

Daniel noticed.

"What?"

Emma quickly looked away.

"Nothing."

"I don't believe you."

She smiled into her hot chocolate.

"I was just thinking..."

She hesitated.

"...I'm glad we finally met."

Daniel's expression softened.

"So am I."

Outside, the afternoon continued quietly.

Inside, neither of them noticed the time.

Not because they had forgotten.

But because, for the first time in a long while, neither of them wanted to be anywhere else.