The small cafe hummed softly with the sound of rain against the windows and the faint chatter of patrons. Jamie sat at his usual corner table, a book open in front of him, though he hadn’t turned a page in at least ten minutes. His attention had been thoroughly hijacked by the person sitting a few tables away—a stranger who looked as if they’d wandered into the wrong movie, like the lead in a story far more glamorous than this quiet, rainy-day scene.

She was engrossed in a book, her head tilted just slightly as sheread, occasionally pausing to sip from her coffee. Jamie’s mind raced. He’d always been a planner, and now was no different. Ideas and hypotheticals spun through his brain like a whirlwind, each more far-fetched than the last.

Plan A: Wait for her to notice him. Not happening—she was too absorbed in her book.

Plan B: Bump into her on the way out. Too risky. What if shejust brushed him off?

Plan C: Be brave. Walk up and introduce himself. Sure, the odds of success were slim, but wasn’t it worth the chance? Jamie liked to think he was a golden retriever kind of guy—enthusiastic, maybe a little too eager, but never afraid to go for what he wanted. And right now, he wanted to know her.

Taking a deep breath, Jamie adjusted his glasses and stood, his tall frame unfolding awkwardly as his chair scraped against the floor. He hesitated for a moment, clutching the book he wasn’t reading like it was a shield. Then, before his courage could falter, he walked toward their table.

When she glanced up, Jamie froze. Her eyes met his, and in that split second, his carefully crafted lines scattered like leaves in the wind. They looked surprised, but not unkind.

“Hi,” Jamie blurted, his voice slightly higher than intended. He cleared his throat, trying to recover. “I, uh, I was sitting over there and… well, I couldn’t help noticing you seem really into your book.”