Chapter 4 Four

Lara's eyes wandered around the room, her mind consumed by thoughts of Liam.

It was the next day she just woke up and couldn't think of anything.

She picked up her phone and proceeded to call Liam.

He held the phone to her ear in her lying position

The phone rang and went silent as Liam picked it up.

"Hello"

"I don't know if I can do this Liam," Lara said her voice barely above a whisper.

She stared into nothingness wondering how she'd ended up in this situation.

"Do you have someone you love, cause I'm not ready to lose or leave you."

"LIAM!, I spoke to your girlfriend, you're in a relationship!"

Lara said almost crying

She was quick to get attached, she'd fallen in love with Liam now, but he was dating someone else and didn't want to leave her.

"Lara I can't lose you,"

He sounded so sweet and calm she could hear it from the other end of the phone.

"I found this great coffee shop close to my place want to check it out with me?" He said with a soothing voice

"Liam..."

"Lara" he cut her "I'll pick you up after work"

"Okay," Lara said, she couldn't even say no

"I'll pick you up by 6pm, take care," he said as he hung up.

She dropped her phone at the bedside she wasn't given a chance to even have an opinion about it.

He said 6pm

She raised her eyes to the wall clock in her room it was 1pm already.

She headed to the bathroom

She filled the bathtub with warm water, adding a few drops of her favorite lavender essential oil. She lit some candles and turned on her favorite playlist, the soft melodies and soothing lyrics enveloping her in a calming atmosphere.

As she sank into the warm water, she let out a contented sigh, feeling her muscles relax. The music seemed to wash away her worries, and she closed her eyes, letting the tranquility of the moment wash over her.

The warm bath and soothing music worked their magic, and Lara's thoughts drifted to Liam. She wondered what their coffee date would be like, what they would talk about, and whether there would be any sparks flying between them.

As she lay there, her mind began to wander, imagining scenarios of their date. She pictured them laughing together, sharing stories, and maybe even discovering some common interests.

The warm water and calming music had worked their magic, and Lara felt more relaxed and centered. She got out of the bath, feeling refreshed and rejuvenated, ready to take on the rest of the day – and her coffee date with Liam.

After the bath she wrapped herself in a towel and stepped into her bedroom, picked a silk dress from her wardrobe, she realized she needed to fuel up with some food. She didn't want to meet Liam on an empty stomach.

She walked into the kitchen, scanning the fridge and cupboards for something quick and easy. She settled on making herself a grilled cheese sandwich and a bowl of tomato soup.

As she waited for the sandwich to toast, Lara's mind wandered back to Liam. She wondered what he was like, what they would talk about, and whether they would hit it off.

Once the sandwich was ready, Lara took a seat at the kitchen table, savoring the gooey cheese and crunchy bread. She dipped the sandwich in the soup, feeling the warmth and comfort of the meal spread through her.

With her hunger satisfied, Lara felt more energized and focused. She glanced at the clock, realizing she had just enough time to finish getting ready before Liam arrived.

After finishing her meal, Lara pushed her chair back and headed to her bedroom to get dressed.

She slipped into a comfortable yet stylish outfit, she chose a fitted white blouse, a dark skinny pair of jeans, and a simple silver necklace.

She moved to the mirror to style her hair and applied some light makeup, she wanted to look polished without overdoing it.

A few swipes of mascara, a light dusting powder, and a swipe of lip gloss

The sound of a car honking cut through her process

She moved her eyes immediately to the clock, it was almost 6pm

She was sure it was Liam

She was about to take one final look in the mirror again when her phone rang.

She picked up and didn't let him say anything

"I'm coming."

As a final touch, Lara picked up her favorite perfume from her dresser and spritzed a subtle mist onto her wrists and neck. The sweet, floral scent wafted up, enveloping her in a delicate fragrance that made her feel feminine and elegant. With a satisfied smile, Lara set the perfume bottle back down, feeling completely ready to take on the evening with Liam.

As Lara walked towards his car, Liam's eyes were drawn to her effortless elegance. Her face lit up the evening he couldn't help but feel a flutter in his chest. As she opened the passenger door and slid into the front seat, Liam caught a whiff of her perfume, a subtle yet alluring scent that left him wanting more. He felt a sense of excitement and nervousness wash over him as he took in the sight of her beside him, her eyes sparkling in the fading light. Liam's heart skipped a beat as he realized he was looking forward to this evening more than he had anticipated.

" you look stunning Lara, I'm glad you said yes," Liam said smiling

"Did he just say that?" She thought to herself, as far as she could remember he didn't let her say yes or no.

"Thanks, Liam," she says with a straight face.

"You good babe"

"Babe?" It echoed in her head

Men are walking mad

"So where are we off to ?" She asked curiously

"You'd love it I promise you," he said grinning mischievously as he turned the key in the ignition and the car roared to life. He shifted into gear and pulled away from the curb.

"How was your day?" Lara asked she didn't want to be selfish even though she was still conscious that he had a girlfriend. He had come from work to take her out without getting home first

She wasn't sure how she felt about it

"Long, we're in the middle of a big project in the office and it's been keeping me up late every night"

"Oou sorry that sounds tough," she said sympathetically.

Liam brought the car to a smooth stop in front of The Cozy Cup, and Lara's eyes lit up as she took in the charming signboard that hung above the entrance. The wooden sign creaked gently in the breeze, bearing the coffee shop's name in elegant, curly letters. Below the name, a smaller inscription read, "Warm drinks, warm hearts." Lara smiled, feeling a sense of anticipation and relaxation wash over her. "We're here," Liam said, turning off the engine and smiling at her. "Shall we go in?"

"Sure."

Liam and Lara stepped out of the car, stretching their legs and taking in the cozy atmosphere of the surroundings. The evening air was crisp and cool, carrying the scent of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods from The Cozy Cup. Liam walked around to Lara's side of the car and offered her his arm, escorting her towards the entrance of the coffee shop. As they stepped inside, she was enveloped in a cozy atmosphere, complete with a plush armchair, soft lighting, and richly colored wooden tables.

Liam and Lara made their way to a cozy table by the window, the soft hum of conversation and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee enveloping them. As they sat down, Lara picked up the menu, which was bound in a rustic wooden cover and adorned with charming illustrations of coffee cups and pastries. She scanned the options, her eyes widening at the variety of specialty drinks and delicious-sounding treats. Liam leaned back in his chair, watching her with a smile as she deliberated over what to order. "What catches your eye?" he asked, his voice low and relaxed.

"I'll have the flaky croissant, chocolate-filled, please," Lara said, smiling up at the waiter.

"And I'll have the same, but with a large coffee, black, no sugar," Liam added, handing the menus back to the waiter.

The waiter, a friendly young man with a warm smile, nodded and scribbled down their orders. "I'll put those in for you right away. Would you like your pastries heated up or served at room temperature?" he asked.

Lara and Liam exchanged a glance, and then Lara spoke up. "Heated up, please. That sounds wonderful."

The waiter nodded and headed off to place their orders, leaving Lara and Liam to enjoy the cozy atmosphere and each other's company.