Chapter 4 Glad I met you...

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a soft, golden light that filtered through the branches of the trees.

Amelia stood at the edge of the park, her fingers brushing the hem of her jacket as the cool autumn air swirled around her.

She hadn't planned on being here today, but somehow, the quiet calm of the park called to her.

It was a place where the world slowed down, where she could take a breath and let the weight of everything fall away, even if only for a moment.

As she made her way along the winding path, the crunch of fallen leaves beneath her boots filled the silence.

A few joggers passed by, their rhythmic footfalls quick and steady.

The laughter of children echoed from the playground in the distance, but Amelia barely noticed.

Her thoughts were elsewhere-tangled and heavy, a mix of frustration and longing.

She had been thinking about him again. Zeus.

She didn't know how to describe it, but there was something magnetic about him.

The way he carried himself, with a quiet confidence that never seemed forced, always made her heart skip a beat.

And then there was the way he looked at her, as if he could see right through her, into some deeper part of her soul that she herself barely understood.

It had been weeks since they'd first met at that café, their conversation light but charged with something unspoken.

He had mentioned meeting here in the park before, but they hadn't actually planned to meet today.

Yet, as if by some strange twist of fate, Amelia felt drawn to this spot. It was as though the universe had a hand in orchestrating this moment.

She took a deep breath and made her way toward the old oak tree at the center of the park, its twisted branches spreading like arms across the sky.

It was her favorite spot, one she had often visited when she needed to clear her mind.

As she reached the tree, her gaze wandered over the familiar surroundings, the patch of grass where she used to sit, the stone bench under the willow, the small pond in the distance.

But her thoughts were soon interrupted when she saw him.

Zeus was leaning against the tree, one arm casually draped across the bark, the other tucked into his jeans pocket. His dark hair was messy in that effortless way, and his eyes were hidden behind a pair of sunglasses. He didn't seem to notice her at first, lost in his own world, but then-just as she took a step closer-he looked up.

For a moment, time seemed to freeze. Amelia's heart skipped in her chest, and she felt the familiar rush of warmth spread through her. There was no mistaking it.

The chemistry between them was undeniable.

It was there in the way his lips curled into a slow smile, the way his eyes softened as they met hers.

They didn't speak immediately, as though both of them were waiting for the other to make the first move.

"Hey," Amelia said finally, her voice a little quieter than usual, as though she were unsure of how to break the silence.

"Hey." His voice was smooth, warm, and she felt a shiver of anticipation run down her spine.

He pushed his sunglasses up onto his head, revealing those deep, dark eyes that always seemed to search hers in a way that left her breathless.

"I didn't expect to see you here."

"Neither did I," she replied, a half-smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "I just... needed some air."

He nodded, his gaze never leaving hers. "I get that. This place has a way of doing that."

Amelia stepped closer, her boots crunching the leaves beneath her feet, and leaned against the tree beside him. They stood there in a comfortable silence for a few moments, just listening to the distant sounds of the park-children playing, dogs barking, birds singing.

It was a peaceful, almost surreal moment.

Zeus finally broke the silence. "So, what's been on your mind lately?"

Amelia hesitated.

She hadn't expected him to ask such a direct question.

It was as if he could read her, could sense the storm inside her, even when she didn't speak it aloud.

She shifted her weight, unsure of how much to reveal.

"Life's... complicated," she said, the words coming out slowly.

"Work's been stressful, and I'm still figuring out where I'm supposed to be in all of this."

Zeus studied her for a moment, his expression thoughtful.

"I get that," he said, voice quiet but firm. "It's easy to get caught up in all the noise.

Sometimes it takes just stepping away, even if it's for a minute, to realize what really matters."

Amelia's eyes met his, and for a brief moment, she felt like he understood her more than anyone else ever had.

He had this way of making her feel seen, in a way that was both disarming and comforting.

His words lingered in the air between them, carrying a weight that felt far too significant for a simple conversation.

"Do you ever feel like you're not where you're supposed to be?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

She didn't know why she was opening up to him like this.

Maybe it was the way he looked at her, or maybe it was just the raw vulnerability she felt in his presence.

Whatever it was, she couldn't stop herself.

Zeus's expression softened.

"All the time," he said quietly.

"But I think sometimes, that's when you're exactly where you need to be.

It's about finding peace with where you are, even if it doesn't feel perfect."

Amelia nodded slowly, his words sinking in.

She hadn't expected him to have such insight, but there was something about the way he spoke-calm and measured-that made her feel like she could trust him with her thoughts, even the ones she kept buried deep inside.

The conversation drifted after that, the two of them speaking in quiet, reflective tones.

They talked about everything and nothing, the way two people who were just beginning to really get to know each other often did.

They laughed about silly things, like the way people would always walk on the grass even when there was a perfectly good path, or how neither of them could ever remember the names of the birds in the park.

But as the conversation continued, Amelia couldn't help but feel the pull between them growing stronger.

There was something about the way he leaned in when he spoke, the way his eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that was both thrilling and unsettling.

It made her feel alive in a way she hadn't felt in a long time.

As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the park, Amelia found herself wishing the moment would never end. But she knew it had to.

"I should probably head out," she said reluctantly, breaking the silence.

"It's getting late."

Zeus nodded, though he didn't move right away. "Yeah, I should too."

He hesitated for a moment, as though he were searching for the right words.

"I'm glad you came here today, Amelia."

Her heart fluttered at the sincerity in his voice.

She wanted to say something in return, something that would capture the way she was feeling, but all she could manage was a quiet, "Me too."

They stood there for a moment, neither of them moving, both of them caught in the quiet space between goodbye and something more.

Finally, Zeus pushed himself off the tree, his hand brushing against hers as he straightened up.

"Take care of yourself," he said, his voice low, almost as if he were giving her a private promise.

"You too," Amelia replied, her voice steady but her heart racing.

As she turned to leave, Amelia couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted between them. Something unspoken, something undeniable. And as she walked away, she found herself hoping that this wouldn't be the last time their paths crossed in the park.