I've always heard that women can't separate sex from feelings, yet Clara seems to succeed. I never sent her away after sex, but she freely never showed up when I woke up.

Except this morning.

For the first time in about a month, I rolled over in my bed and found her in front of me. She slept peacefully.
The sensation I experienced was strange, but pleasant. It's not bad waking up next to someone, it's never happened to me before. Even if that wasn't our arrangement and Clara actually seemed to take it lightly, I didn't want her to feel used. I'm not that kind of person.
After a shower and a lot of silence, I suggested to go out for breakfast.

And here we are. She holds my arm and smiles. «I would have left "after", but I collapsed. I'm sorry.»

«It's not a problem.» I smile and see her expression change. I'm confused. She releases my arm and becomes thoughtful. «Did I say something wrong?»

She stops, forcing me to turn in her direction. «I don't want to complicate something born to be simple. You and I have sex, that's all. I don't want a relationship and I don't want just because I slept with you that you think I'm a delicate little flower. If that's why you're taking me out for breakfast, save it. I don't need a comforting coffee or anything like that.»

What a dude. She took offense for a breakfast. A smile escapes me and I approach to her. «It's always been clear to me. There was nothing to eat at my place and I need a good espresso in the morning.» She keeps staring at me, like she's looking for the truth in my eyes and I feel like she really can. I don't know if she would be happy to find it. My words were sincere, perhaps they concealed a truth more similar to "her words". I wanted to have breakfast, yes, but I also wanted to be nice and give her something in return, because I felt like things were starting to change for her, even though she was trying so hard to hide it.

Her calls had become more and more frequent and she started texting me. I'm also sure that if she sees me with someone else, she might take it badly. For a moment I considered closing it here, but her words stopped me. Maybe my assessment was wrong.

She's still staring at me, but her shoulders have relaxed. «Okay», she says simply.

«Now that we've cleared up the matter, can we go get breakfast?» She smiles at me and clings to my arm again.

There's a queue. It happens when you wake up late. There are those who have to escape to work, those who are out with friends and those who have to go to university and in the hustle and bustle of the cafeteria, I can see a familiar face. The feeling I get is new. I have butterflies in my stomach and my breath stops for a few seconds.

Serena is sitting at the table next to the window, with another woman, and she looks in my direction. Our eyes met at the same instant.

«It's our turn.» Clara grabs my hand and drags me to the counter.

Clara. I almost forgot she was there. I forgot "everyone" was there. For a moment I felt like it was just me and Serena in this place.

«Everything's fine?» Clara asks, giving me a questioning look.

«Sure. I was deciding what to order.» I've always hated to lie, but what can I say to her if even I don't know what's happening to me? I turn back to Serena. She's leaving without even saying goodbye, but she gives me another look. Immediately after she looks at Clara and leaves the café. What was that? What just happened? I may still be dazed from sleep, but she looked annoyed.

«So? Did you decide?» Clara brings me back down to earth. Maybe I should just stop getting certain ideas.

«Just a coffee, thanks.»

«And did you have to think too?» she laughs at me and shakes her head.

«Shut up.» I smile and she seems to light up. I don't think I was wrong about her. But would it really be that bad? Basically I like her.

Stay in the office on sunny days is a torture. After reviewing old cases, I had to tidy up all the files exhumed from the meanders of the archive of Alberto Cursi's old office, senior lawyer of the firm, who has passed away. Each of us took a certain number of files to catalog and digitalize. Good old Cursi was not a technological type.

My desk looks like a battlefield. «What the hell!» I interlace my fingers on my head and stretch out in the chair. I wish I was home already.

My mind moves away from this place, getting lost in the memories of holidays spent between deckchairs and crystal clear sea. My mood seems to change slowly. Then someone knocks on my office door. With a small leap I put myself together. «Yes?» I adjust my tie and pretend to read one of the pages in front of me.

«It's me, Serena.»

Those words repeat in my mind like an echo. Compulsively, I try to tidy up as much as possible, letting most of the files slip into the desk drawers. I check my appearance in the mirrored frame of Van Gogh's "Starry Night" reproduction that hangs on the wall behind me. I'm a disaster. I sigh frustrated and go to open it.

Boom! Her eyes on me make me feel like a bomb has just gone off, with that resulting feeling of disorientation.

«Do I bother you?» Her lips part and I am mesmerized. «Daniele?»

«Yes.» I recover from the small moment of absence. «No! No.» I make her sit in the office. «I meant, no, you don't bother me. Please, take a sit», I clear my throat, «why are you here?»

She had never come to my office, not even in the company of Claudio. It's unusual and I really don't need her to start giving me these kinds of surprises. It was already hard to figure out what was happening to me without her around. I try to distract myself by thinking about Clara. It worked last night. Then she pushes her soft hair to one side and her neck catches my attention. Damn it! I look down at the paperwork in front of me. I lift them up to cover my view and my face takes on an expression of pain.

«I need your help.» She pulls a folder out of her bag and places it on my desk.

«How can my skills help?» I put my things away and open his briefcase.

«Someone stole our design drafts and we would like to file a lawsuit against these people. You are the best lawyer I know in this business.» She gives me a perfect smile.

I begin to browse the data that brought me, to get a general idea. «Your company data is missing.» I make notes in my notebook.

«What? Everything should be there.» She gets up and joins me behind the desk. She leans forward and searches through the papers. She's so close that I can feel her scent enveloping me. Her face is right next to mine and I can see her flawless skin turning from pink to a slight blush. Her lips have turned almost white, drawn in and clamped between her teeth. I completely ignore the folder and see nothing but her. A single thought hits my head. Kiss her. If only she wasn't my best friend's wife.
I close my eyes and regain control of my thoughts.

«Here they are», she pulls a sheet from the stack in front of me. «Here's all the data you need.»

I reach out to take the paper and my fingers brush hers. Our eyes meet in that moment, frozen in time. Why her? Why now? And more important, why does she seem to want the same things that I do? That little voice again. Kiss her.
I don't know if I'll be able to ignore it this time. We're close, too close, and we're looking at each other, as we've never done before. I feel a punch in the stomach and the desire becomes urgent.

Knocking at the door.
Saved by the bell.