"He waited. Not because he had nothing else to do, but because she was the only one worth waiting for." ~ Unknown
The restaurant was tucked away on a quiet street, warm light spilling from its windows into the evening air. Selina's heart was beating faster than it should have been as she pushed open the door.
She spotted Michael immediately. He was seated at a table near the window, dressed casually in jeans and an oversized sweatshirt, his white hair loose. He had his AirPods on and was gazing out at the street with a quiet contentment.
As always, he looked so handsome.
She walked toward him slowly, her footsteps soft on the polished floor. He must have sensed her presence, because he turned.
She saw the casual indifference in his grey eyes shift to something warmer, making her breath catch.
"Hi," she said, sliding into the chair across from him.
"Hi." He straightened, and a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "You came early."
"So did you." She nodded toward the window. "There were still fifteen minutes left."
He shrugged. "I didn't want to make you wait."
She understood. She had come early because she didn't want to keep him waiting. He had done the same.
Her cheeks warmed.
Michael's smile widened slightly. "I'm joking," he said. "But why did you come early? What if I'd been late? You'd have waited a long time."
"I don't like making people wait." She picked up the menu, mostly to have something to do with her hands. "I'd rather be early."
"I see." He was quiet for a moment, his gaze thoughtful. She looked up, curious.
"What are you thinking?"
He met her eyes. "I was thinking about what you said. You don't like making others wait." He paused. "I'm different. I like being punctual, neither early nor late, just on time. But sometimes…" He looked away. "Sometimes I like waiting for others."
Selina stared at him. "Really? That's the first time I've heard anyone say that. Isn't it frustrating?"
"No." He shook his head slowly. "Not at all. You'd understand if you've ever waited for someone you love."
She didn't know what to say. She had never waited for anyone the way he meant. But looking at him now, she thought she might want to.
The waiter appeared, and the moment broke. They ordered pasta for her, something lighter for him, and the conversation turned to easier things: the trip, their plans for the coming weeks, the classes they would be returning to. When the bill came, they argued politely over who would pay, settling finally on splitting it evenly.
Outside, the night had cooled.
"Where should we go?" she asked.
"Anywhere you like." He zipped his jacket, his movements unhurried. "Is there somewhere you've wanted to try?"
She considered. "I can't think of anything."
"Do you like games? We could find an arcade."
"I've been to arcades plenty of times." She shook her head. "I want to do something new. Something fun." An idea sparked. "I've never played many outdoor sports, just tennis and golf. But you were the basketball team captain in school. Why don't we play that?"
Michael looked surprised. "Basketball?"
"Where would we play? I don't have a ball."
"There's a court nearby. We could find a shop on the way, or borrow from someone on the ground." She was already excited by the idea. "It's not too late."
He studied her for a moment. "Are you sure?"
"I'm not a fan of sports," she admitted. "But they're fun to play with friends."
A slow smile spread across his face. "Alright. How did you get here?"
"My chauffeur dropped me. I'd rather ride with you, if that's alright. I can send him home."
Michael raised an eyebrow. "You're not scared?"
"As long as you don't race or do stunts." She grinned. "I'll be fine."
He laughed, a real laugh, warm and unguarded. "Okay."
She sent her chauffeur away.