Imagine Niall talking to you on the phone.
Man, I'd wish that the call never ended.

_

Carina's POV

TWO DAYS LATER.

As I sat at a table at the far end of my cafe, I couldn't help but think about Niall and my dates.

The first date was an utter shock. It was something I never imagined would happen. I thought my feelings for Niall were one-sided, but he proved me wrong by asking me to go out on a date with him.

The second date was unexpected. I thought Niall would find out what a weirdo I was, and there wouldn't be anymore dates. But then, once again, he proved me wrong.

I can't believe he even put his arms around me and almost kissed me!

The mere thought of our dates brought a smile to my face.

"Carina!" Caleb yelled, dragging me out of my utopia and back to reality.

"What?" I groaned, looking at him nervously stand in front of the booth I was sitting in.

"There's nothing much to do today; as you know, there aren't too many customers," he motioned to the almost empty cafe with barely two or three people around us.

One was an elderly woman reading the newspaper as she sipped on her coffee, and the other two were high schoolers who were probably bunking their classes.

"Yeah, so?" I asked, looking back at Caleb.

"I was wondering if I could get the day off. I promised to take my girlfriend Amanda out for Thanksgiving shopping today," he said nervously.

"Thanksgiving shopping already?" I raised my eyebrows as I questioned.

"Oh, she's such a fashion freak. She's going to spend an entire week hunting for just her outfit, one full week for matching footwear, another week for her make-up, and another one for the right handbag. But believe me, she still won't be ready for Thanksgiving," he said with a sigh followed by a small laugh.

"Heavens, I'm guessing you're going to have a tough time," I chuckled as he smiled.

"So, can I?" he asked nervously after a few seconds of silence.

"Yeah, sure. Have a good time," I said as he let out a breath of relief.

Tuesdays were the least busy days of the week for us. So, I guess he could take the rest of the day off.

Caleb left after waving adieu to the rest of the staff.

Aiden took his own sweet time and walked up to the booth I was sitting in, asking, "Can I join you?"

"Sure, Aiden," I said with a smile.

Aiden was the kind of guy who'd make anyone smile with just his presence around them.

There was something about him. Maybe it was his towering six-foot frame. Maybe it was his beautiful marble grey eyes. Maybe it was his smile with deep dimples. Maybe it was his quiet nature.

He sat in front of me and looked nervous.

"Aiden, is everything alright?" I asked, and I saw him relax instantly.

"Nothings wrong. I mean, you're my boss, and that makes me nervous when I'm around you," he said.

The sun rays entering through the full-length windows spread over him, making his brow hair look like gold streaks. His eyes twinkled in the bright sunlight, making him cover his face.

Damn, it took me almost a whole damn month to really admire how gorgeous Aiden is.

"Carina?" he asked, drifting me out of my thoughts about his handsomeness.

"Yes, Aiden?"

"You zone out a lot. I've been noticing you for the past month, and I've observed that you zone out so much," he said with a chuckle.

"I know, I know. That's such a bad habit. Like, someone's talking to me, and I zone out right there in their face," I said, covering my face.

"That's quite alright, though," he said as he took my hands out of my face.

"Don't you ever hide that pretty face," he said in a deep voice.

Why am I suddenly attracted to Aiden?

Niall, where are you?

"So, what are you doing this weekend?" Aiden asked as he fiddled with his fingers, not meeting my eyes.

"I don't know. Maybe Netflix and chill?" I stated, but that definitely sounded like a question.

He smiled broadly.

"Damn, you're so different from the other girls who party every weekend," he said as he lazily placed his face in his right hand, which he placed on the table between us, not taking his eyes away from me.

"Yeah, I guess."

"So, um, you know, how about we, um?" He said as he broke eye contact again.

"Yeah?" I asked when there was silence between us.

"Will you.." he asked, soon interrupted by Noah.

"Hello there, is there a little staff meeting without me, the coolest and best employee of your cafe?" He joked as he scooted down next to Aiden.

Aiden scoffed at Noah, who, in turn, rolled his eyes back.

"Well, aren't you supposed to be checking out those teenagers over there?" Aiden asked Noah, pointing to the two teenagers. "You've been doing that for the past week."

"Nah, man, they're kids. I ain't interested in them," Noah says with a weird accent, which makes us laugh.

"Alright, I'm going to go and give Katie company before she has a mental breakdown looking at the three of us together," he says as he gets up from the booth.

"Yeah, see you never again," Aiden mumbles, but Noah hears it.

He gives him a glare and leaves after saying, "And you continue looking at Carina like you always do."

Aiden's face turns red, and I'm pretty sure I've mirrored his expression.

"Um, forget him. He's crazy and talks crap," he said in an attempt to reduce the awkwardness between us.

"Yeah," I mumble, not looking at him.

"Oh, you wanted to ask me something earlier?" I suddenly blurted out, making Aiden jump slightly.

"Oh yeah, about that, actually, would you?" He was interrupted by Katie this time.

"Carina, Can you please get here? There's a call for you," she yells from behind the counter.

Goodness, was it just Aiden who had bad timing?

"I'm really sorry. I'll be back," I said to Aiden, who looked disappointed.

I jogged across my cafe and was soon behind the counter.

There were three missed calls from Niall.

Alright, I shouldn't have left my cell phone at the counter.

Katie eyes me suspiciously and passes me a fake smile.

I called his number as I walked out of my cafe, stopping right in front of it.

He answered on the last ring, I suppose.

"Hey, Gangster Carina," he said with a low chuckle.

I could hear his tiredness, even though he tried to hide it.

"Speedy Niall," I said as a smile crept up my face.

"I hate to say this, but I won't be able to collect my coffee today. We have a band that is going to record their debut album, and my office is buzzing like crazy. I don't even think I can make it to your cafe before y'all close. So, since I couldn't miss a day talking to you, I decided to call you," he said, making me grin.

"Aw, someone's going to be really busy today. I'll miss you, Niall." I cooed like a baby.

"You have no idea how badly I want to see you right now, but no, I have the worst timing in the world," Niall groaned as I laughed.

I remembered Aiden's bad timing and randomly glanced back at my cafe.

Aiden was lazily gazing at me with a smile plastered on his face.

His smile widened when our eyes met.

I smiled back.

"Please tell me you're not zoning out while I'm talking to you," Niall groaned again, which made me laugh.

"Alright, Gangster Carina, I guess I should get going before I get fired and end up unemployed. I'll call you later tonight," he said like a kid. "And I miss you too."

I froze.

"Bye, Speedy Niall. I miss you more," I said, after which he hung up.

I really miss him right now.

I walk into the cafe as the two teenagers exit.

I looked at the old lady, who was still reading her newspaper and sipping her coffee.

Aiden walked up to me with new-found confidence in him.

"Alright, I'm just going to ask you this straight," he said as he breathed out. "Will you go out with me this weekend?"

My eyes widened at this statement.

Listening to Aiden I couldn't help but think, Am I the one who actually has bad timing?