Outside, the evening air was cooler.
Street lights had started glowing softly.
They stopped near the sidewalk.
Cars passed slowly.
She could feel her pulse in her fingertips.
He looked at her carefully.
"You're still thinking too much," he said.
"I'm not."
"You are."
She exhaled softly.
"Okay, maybe I am."
He smiled.
Not teasing.
Just gentle.
"I didn't mean to scare you with the note," he said quietly.
Her chest tightened slightly.
"You did."
"I know."
He didn't argue.
Didn't defend himself.
That made it harder to stay angry.
She looked down for a second.
"You should've just told me."
"If I had," he said softly, stepping half a step closer, "you would've walked away."
Her heart skipped again.
He wasn't wrong.
Silence lingered.
Then he asked—
"Can I ask something?"
She hesitated.
"Okay."
"Can we take a picture?"
Her eyes widened slightly.
"A picture?"
"So next time you say you didn't imagine anything, I'll have proof."
She tried not to smile.
"That's unfair."
"Please."
The way he said it wasn't demanding.
Just hopeful.
She nodded slowly.
"Just one."
He stood beside her.
Not too close.
But close enough that she could feel the warmth of his shoulder near hers.
The phone camera opened.
For a second, she became hyper-aware of everything—
His height next to her.
The faint scent of his cologne.
The quiet steadiness in his posture.
Click.
The picture was taken.
He looked at it briefly and smiled softly.
"Good," he murmured.
"What?"
"Now this isn't just messages."
Her heartbeat shifted again.
She stepped back slightly.
"You still haven't told me your name."
He looked at her for a second.
Then said—
"Nick."
Simple.
No dramatic pause.
Just—
"Nick."
The name fit him.
Calm. Clean. Steady.
"Nick," she repeated quietly.
He smiled faintly.
"And you already know mine," he added playfully.
She rolled her eyes.
"Don't start."
He laughed softly.
Not loud.
Not showy.
Just warm.
She turned to leave.
Took two steps.
Then stopped.
For a second, she looked back.
He was still standing there.
Hands in his pockets.
Watching her walk away.
Not stopping her.
Not calling her back.
Just… letting her go.
And somehow—
That felt closer than anything else.