She woke up that morning feeling happy, a spark of relief that had eluded her in the past few days. The unexpected appearance of Alex had brought a new feeling to her heart – hope. As she got ready for work, she found herself humming a tune, dancing a little in front of the mirror, and wearing a genuine smile that had been absent for far too long. Emily couldn't help but anticipate the day ahead, eagerly hoping to catch another glimpse of Alex at the nursery.

However, as the day passed, her excitement slowly turned to disappointment. Marnie arrived at the nursery, brought by Mrs Kargle, but there was no sign of Alex. The whole week went by without a trace of him, leaving Emily to wonder where he had disappeared to. Despite the strong bond she had formed with Marnie, she couldn't help missing him, even though they had barely crossed paths.

How can I miss someone I barely know? Emily pondered to herself, trying to make sense of the strange feelings that had welled up inside her. At least I haven't seen any figures lately either, she thought to herself trying to look at the positives, but it did little to comfort her.

The following Monday, as she was about to leave work, she was taken aback as a silhouette of a man appeared right in front of her. She jumped and was about to start running back inside, but then she noticed a familiar grin on the man's face. 

"Sweet cheese on a cracker, Alex! You need to stop appearing out of the blue!" Emily exclaimed. Marnie had already been taken home by Mrs. Kargle, but there he was, leaning casually against a tree near the nursery. His sudden approach caught her off guard, and he wasted no time in getting straight to the point.

"Sorry. You up for a drink?" Alex asked abruptly, his directness leaving Emily feeling a mix of confusion and intrigue. She couldn't help wondering where he had been all this time, showing up out of the blue and asking her out without even a simple greeting.

"I don't drink," Emily replied, instinctively rejecting his invitation, though every bone in her body was yearning to say yes, to spend time with him.

Alex smirked in response, a hint of mischief in his eyes. "Judging by your groceries the other day, I'd say you definitely drink at least milk."

His casual remark caught her off guard, and Emily looked at him, puzzled and slightly irritated. "What in the fresh hell is wrong with you? Not even a hello first..." she began to vent, not entirely sure why she felt so compelled to voice her frustration.

He cut her off with a playful tone. "Let's go, buttercups. You can tell me all about how horrible I am while we sit down and drink a cup of coffee."

His confidence and nonchalance amused her, leaving her unsure of how to respond. Part of her wanted to continue arguing, yet another part couldn't deny the pull she felt toward him. There was something about Alex that intrigued her, and despite her initial resistance, curiosity won over caution, and she decided to take a leap of faith.

"Fine. And don't call me that," she said, trying to sound nonchalant even though her heart was racing.

A smile tugged at the corner of Alex's lips as he led the way to a nearby café. The atmosphere inside was warm and inviting, with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee filling the air. Emily settled into the cozy booth, while Alex gallantly offered to fetch their drinks. Emily's eyes followed his every move with an irresistible curiosity. 

Her gaze was drawn to his broad, masculine shoulders that exuded strength and a sense of protection. He donned a black leather jacket that fit him perfectly and complemented his rugged yet refined appearance. It only heightened his allure, giving him an air of edginess and adventure that stirred something within her. The neatly tied bun that held his dark, tousled hair back only added to his appeal. It revealed the sharp angles of his face, the strong jawline that spoke of determination and resilience. He seemed like a man who had seen the world, who had stories to tell and secrets to share.

As she studied him, she found herself immersed in exploring every detail of his appearance. There was something about him that pulled her in. His every movement, from the way he walked with a confident swagger to the way he effortlessly carried himself, captivated her attention. But just as she was getting lost in her observations, he turned around, and she quickly averted her eyes. The sudden realization that he might catch her staring made her momentarily self-conscious, yet she couldn't help but admire his presence from a distance.

Returning with two drinks in hand, Alex placed them on the table - one neat whiskey and the other on the rocks, which he slid over to her. Emily noted the choice of drinks, and as he sat down, she couldn't help but remark, "Not exactly a cup of coffee."

He chuckled in response, taking a sip of his whiskey, and teasingly retorted, "Well, you looked like you could use a drink."
Sensing Emily's eagerness to ask questions, he added "Ask away."

Emily started to formulate her inquiries, but as she thought about the depth of her curiosity, she realized they were far too personal. Holding back, she chose to tease him instead. 

"Sooo, the talk of the nursery is that you like me."

"I see Mar sold me out." 

With a grin, Emily confirmed, "Yup, the minute you went into the office, she started spilling all your secrets."

"I suppose I should reward Mar with chocolate for her part in the scheme". 

Emily quipped back, "What scheme?"

"That's a secret," he said winking at her. She rolled her eyes, but a smile escaped her lips.
"Thank you, by the way," he added.

"For what?" she asked confused.

"For taking such good care of Marnie. She can't seem to shut up about you. It's actually getting annoying," he said smirking. "But seriously, thank you. It's nice to see her happy for a change."

"Aww, I'm glad to hear that. She really is such a sweet kid."
Despite her curiosity about Alex's past and a million questions in her head, she resisted the urge to pry.

As the day went on, time seemed to lose its grip on them, with their conversation flowing effortlessly. They spoke of everyday things, playfully goofed around, and for the first time in a while, Emily felt a sense of normalcy returning to her life. There was an unspoken agreement between them not to delve into anything disturbing or too deep; instead, they immersed themselves in the pure joy of talking and laughing, simply enjoying each other's company.

The evening wore on, and Alex beckoned the woman behind the bar over to their table for the third time, indicating that they wanted another round of drinks. Annie, the café's proprietor and a kind-hearted older woman, approached them with a familiar smile. During one of their conversations, Alex explained to Emily that Annie had been lifelong friends with Alex's father, and she had known Alex ever since he was a mere baby. Throughout the evening, Emily couldn't help but notice the genuine affection between them as they conversed effortlessly, exchanging playful banter and heartfelt remarks. 

As Annie approached the table this time, she interrupted their bubble of bliss. "Sorry, dear. I'm gonna have to cut you off. Nancy called. Said you need check your phone."

Alex's face tensed as he glanced at his phone, and he exclaimed: "Shit!"

"What's wrong?" asked Emily, noticing his concerned look.

Without uttering a word, he pointed to the clock hanging on the wall above the bar stools, and Emily's eyes widened with surprise. "Jiminy Cricket, is that clock working??" 

Alex's nod confirmed that it was indeed 10 pm, much later than they had realized. "I have to go pick up Marnie. Nancy is gonna kill me," Alex said, concern etched on his face.

"Nancy as in Mrs Kargle?" Emily asked, connecting the dots.

"Yeah," Alex replied, "She's also an old family friend. Used to babysit me when I was little."

"Ah, I see. Well, you better get going before you face her wrath," Emily said with a playful smile on her lips.

Alex laughed, "You know, despite her stern exterior, she's actually very gentle. But I doubt I'll see that side of her tonight."

"I wouldn't count on it either," Emily agreed, "I should head home too. My horses must be starving."

"I'll give you a ride, if you want." 

Emily hesitated for a moment before replying, "Um, that's okay. I can't just leave my bike here." 

"We'll put it in the trunk," Alex suggested, trying to convince her to come along.

"No, no. You go. Marnie's waiting for you. And you don't want to anger Mrs Kargle any further," Emily urged him. "Just go, I'll see you around," she added, trying to conceal her own internal struggle. She desperately wanted to go with him. It would have been easier than to cycle back to her home when it was getting cold outside and the roads were still soaked from last night's storm, but Emily was still holding back.

"Okay then, if you're absolutely sure?" Alex said, raising his eyebrow as if to ask her one last time to join him. Emily nodded in response.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Emily. Sweet dreams," Alex said with a warm smile, sensing her hesitation but respecting her decision.

"Good night, Alex. Say hi to Marnie from me," Emily bid him farewell as he closed the car doors and drove away.

Although she cited her bike as a reason not to join him, secretly, Emily grappled with a deeper fear, rooted in a tragic event from her past. As Alex drove away, Emily sighed with relief, knowing she had made the right decision.