You got out of the elevator holding your cell phone and a cup of cold coffee, exhausted from the week. And it was just crossing the reception that his heart jumped: Hayden, casually leaning against the black car, arms crossed, sunglasses and a corner smile just for you.

He took off his glasses slowly when he saw you.

“You survived the week, congratulations. Now it’s my responsibility to take care of the rest.”

You laughed, going down the last steps to him.

“Were this an invitation to a romantic kidnapping?”

“It’s Friday. I’m authorized.”

“Is there wine involved?”

“And pizza. And a separate Fleetwood Mac album just for you.”

You approached, looking at him from top to bottom.

“Are you like this just to pick me up at work? White shirt, neat hair, new perfume...?”

He smiled, opening the car door for you.

“Maybe I like to impress the most beautiful woman in the city.”

You arched your eyebrow.

“How many more are you trying to impress today?”

He approached slowly, holding the door open with one hand and lightly touching his waist with the other.

“Just one. And she seems to like pretending she’s not completely into me.”

You got into the car with your cheeks burning, and he turned around, getting into the driver’s seat. For a few seconds, you were silent, just the sound of the street around you, and that kind of peace that only exists when the connection is real.

At the traffic light, he cast a quick look in your direction.

“I thought about you all day.”

You turned your face slowly.

“And what exactly did you think?”

He smiled with that scoundrel and soft corner of his mouth.

“In how beautiful you would look going out of that door. In how I wanted to be the first to see. In how I’m screwed with you.”

You bit your lip and laughed.

“You’re worse than a romance character.”

He looked at you sideways.

“And you? Are you in love with the character?”

“Maybe a little. But he’ll have to deserve the happy ending.”

Hayden stretched out his hand, intertwining his fingers in his, while the car followed the avenue.

“So he better not ruin everything. Because he wants this more than any ending he’s ever written in his life.”