Chapter 3 Colliding Paths

The coffee shop was warm and lively, but Ivy felt out of place. She sat tucked away in the corner, her laptop open in front of her, though she hadn't typed a single word. Outside, the London streets bustled with life, but inside her mind, everything felt stuck.

Her favorite coffee shop was usually her go-to spot for inspiration. There was something about the blend of chatter, clinking cups, and the comforting aroma of roasted beans that helped her focus. But today, even that familiar charm couldn't pull her out of the funk she was in.

The problem wasn't the work itself. Photography had always been her safe space, a way to express what she couldn't put into words. It was a craft she loved, and most days, it felt like second nature. But lately, her creativity had felt stifled, as though she were chasing something just out of reach.

And then there was Ethan.

No matter how much she told herself it was ridiculous, her thoughts kept circling back to him. She barely knew him, had spoken to him for less than ten minutes, yet his words lingered like a melody she couldn't shake.

"You're overthinking again," she muttered under her breath, glaring at the blank screen.

Her phone buzzed, cutting through her frustration. She glanced at the screen and saw Olivia's name.

"Saved by the extrovert," she murmured, swiping to answer.

"Tell me you're not sitting in that café sulking," Olivia said without preamble.

"I'm not sulking," Ivy replied defensively.

"Uh-huh. And I'm not calling to drag you out of your self-imposed misery. Oh, wait-I am."

Ivy sighed. "What do you want, Olivia?"

"A coffee date. Right now. I'm five minutes away, so don't even think about running off."

"I didn't-" Ivy began, but Olivia had already hung up. She stared at her phone for a moment, then closed her laptop with a resigned sigh. There was no escaping Olivia when she got like this.

Sure enough, five minutes later, Olivia breezed into the café, her presence as loud as her floral scarf. She spotted Ivy immediately and made a beeline for her table.

"You look terrible," Olivia announced as she slid into the seat opposite her.

"Thanks," Ivy deadpanned.

"Seriously, though, what's going on with you? And don't say 'nothing.' I know you better than that."

Ivy hesitated, debating whether to share the truth. Olivia was her best friend, but she also had a tendency to blow things out of proportion.

"It's just... work," Ivy said finally. "I'm in a rut."

Olivia raised an eyebrow. "Work, huh? This doesn't have anything to do with a certain mysterious gallery guy?"

Ivy's cheeks flushed. "I told you, it's nothing. I barely know him."

"But you're thinking about him," Olivia pointed out.

"Not in the way you're implying."

"Then what way?"

Ivy hesitated, searching for the right words. "It's like... he said something that stuck with me. Something about capturing the storm, not the calm. It's been nagging at me ever since."

Olivia leaned back in her chair, studying her friend. "Maybe he struck a nerve because he's right. You've always been drawn to the quiet, the subtle moments. But what if you're avoiding the bigger, messier picture?"

Ivy frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Just that maybe it's time to step out of your comfort zone," Olivia said with a shrug. "In work, in life... maybe even with him."

Ivy shook her head. "You're reading too much into this. It was one conversation."

"Sure," Olivia said, though her tone suggested she didn't believe a word of it. "But let me know when you're ready to admit otherwise."

---

Ethan didn't believe in fate, but he couldn't deny the strange pull Ivy had left behind.

He'd spent the last few days trying to shake the memory of her, telling himself it was pointless to dwell on someone he'd only just met. Yet here he was, replaying their conversation in his mind like a favorite song.

It wasn't just her quiet intensity or the way she seemed to see through the chaos around her. It was the vulnerability she tried so hard to hide, as though she'd built walls so high even she couldn't see over them.

Ethan sighed, running a hand through his hair. He was usually good at compartmentalizing, at keeping his personal life from interfering with his work. But Ivy had slipped through the cracks, and he wasn't sure what to do about it.

He needed a distraction.

Grabbing his coat, he decided to take a walk. The streets were alive with the hum of the city, and the cool evening air felt refreshing against his skin. As he wandered aimlessly, he found himself drawn to Hyde Park.

The park had always been a place of solace for him, a rare pocket of calm in the middle of the city's chaos. Tonight, the setting sun painted the sky in shades of gold and crimson, casting long shadows across the grass.

And then he saw her.

Ivy was crouched near the edge of the path, her camera raised as she captured the way the light filtered through the trees. She was so focused that she didn't notice him approaching, her expression a mixture of determination and wonder.

For a moment, Ethan hesitated. He didn't want to startle her, didn't want to intrude on whatever moment she was capturing. But something compelled him to speak.

"Still chasing the perfect shot?" he said softly.

Ivy jumped, nearly dropping her camera. She turned quickly, her eyes widening when she saw him.

"You," she said, her voice a mix of surprise and something else he couldn't quite place.

"Me," Ethan replied, a small smile tugging at his lips.

"What are you doing here?"

"Walking," he said simply. "What about you?"

"Working," she said, gesturing to her camera.

"Well, don't let me interrupt," he said, stepping back.

Ivy hesitated, then sighed. "You're already here. Might as well stay."

Ethan chuckled, taking that as an invitation. He sat down on the bench nearby, watching as she adjusted her lens and snapped a few more shots.

"Do you always take photos like it's life or death?" he asked after a while.

She glanced at him, frowning. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Just that you seem... intense about it."

"Photography is important to me," she said, her tone defensive.

"I can see that," Ethan said. "But what about it matters so much?"

Ivy hesitated, caught off guard by the question. Most people didn't bother asking her why she did what she did; they just assumed it was a hobby or a way to pass the time.

"It's how I make sense of things," she said finally. "The world is messy, complicated. But through the lens, I can focus on one moment, one detail. It helps me find clarity."

Ethan nodded, his expression thoughtful. "That makes sense. Sometimes the smallest details hold the most meaning."

They fell into a companionable silence after that, the sounds of the park filling the space between them. Ivy found herself relaxing in his presence, the tension she'd been carrying for days easing slightly.

After a while, Ethan stood. "Have dinner with me."

Ivy blinked, caught off guard. "What?"

"Dinner," he repeated, his tone casual but sure. "No pressure. Just... a chance to talk."

She hesitated, her instincts screaming at her to say no. But something about the way he looked at her-the quiet confidence in his eyes-made her reconsider.

"Okay," she said softly.

Ethan smiled, and for the first time in a long while, Ivy felt like she wasn't so lost after all.