Chapter 4 A Night To Remember

Kaia couldn't shake off the feeling that Ryder had left an indelible mark on her life. Their conversation had been effortless, and she had found herself feeling seen and understood in a way that she never had before. As she drifted off to sleep, Kaia's mind wandered back to Ryder. She wondered what he was doing at that moment, and whether he was thinking of her too. The next morning, Kaia woke up feeling refreshed and renewed. She got dressed and headed to the coffee shop, where she had agreed to meet Ryder. As she walked in, Kaia spotted Ryder sitting at a table by the window.

He looked up and caught her eye, flashing her a warm smile. Kaia's heart skipped a beat as she made her way over to him. "Hey," she said, feeling a little shy. Ryder stood up and pulled out her chair. "Hey," he replied, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "You look beautiful today." Kaia felt a blush rise to her cheeks as she sat down. "Thanks," she said, trying to play it cool. As they sipped their coffee, Kaia and Ryder talked about everything and nothing. They laughed and joked, and Kaia felt like she was getting to know him on a deeper level. As the morning wore on, Kaia realized that she didn't want the day to end. She wanted to spend more time with Ryder, to get to know him better. "Hey," Ryder said, as if reading her mind. "Would you like to grab lunch with me? I know a great place just around the corner." Kaia's heart skipped a beat as she considered the invitation. She knew that she shouldn't be getting too close to Ryder, not when she was still trying to figure out her feelings. But as she looked into his eyes, Kaia knew that she couldn't resist. "I'd love to," she said, smiling up at him. And with that, Kaia sealed her fate.