After dinner, Amulya and Alaric bid goodbye to the couple and headed back home. It was very quiet ride back, none of them spoke. The lift ride up to their floor was even quiet.

It's the first time they have been alone in each other's presence after finding out that they talked to each other on tinder; flirted even.

"I had a good time today" Amulya said, when they stopped at her door, "Thank you for inviting me. Your sister was really sweet, and I loved the dinner"

She looked up at him. He was staring at her with an emotion in his eyes, which she couldn't decipher.

"Thank you for coming, Amy" he said. They just smiled at each other for a while before she turned around and opened the door. She leant against the door frame and looked at him, none of them knowing how to say goodbye.

Both of them not wanting to say goodbye.

"So, I'll see you around?" She asked

"Yeah, Sleep tight" Rick smiled at her before hesitating a moment.

She stared at him as he suddenly lifted his hand and gently pushed her hair behind her ear.

"Goodbye Rick" she smiled at him, and closed the door.

She leaned against the door for a moment, thinking about the day. A wide smile spread on her face. It did not fade away, even after she fell asleep that night.

Alaric sat on his couch with his laptop in front of him. He was going to write the next chapter. He was slacking lately, writing less than half a chapter a day. Hilary was going to kill him if he didn't keep up.

He wrote about the characters meeting each other for the first time. He wrote how the attraction was obvious. They were made for each other; perfect for each other in all ways. It was what the readers liked to read.

They wouldn't want a story that runs slow would they? A story that talks about love, that talks about process, that talks about two people, how different they are, how similar they are. People like things to go a certain way. They wouldn't know what to do if things were out of control. If they are faced with something new, something dangerous, something they haven't seen before.

Alaric typed away on his laptop, not seeing if he was making any sense. He was writing from his heart. He can edit later; he just needs something to edit.

Finally he managed to finish the chapter and let his mind wander. He thought about Amulya, how he hasn't recognised her voice over phone. He thought about that night in her balcony. She talked about having a bad day at the hospital, yet he couldn't place them together.

How could he think that they are the same person? What are the odds?

He smiled involuntarily, as his thoughts drifted to that morning. He didn't think she would agree to come with him to the amusement park. He knew Hilary was going to tease him next time they meet. She knew it wasn't the kids that asked for her. For some reason, he wanted her to come spend time with him and the important people of his life.

He was very happy to see Amulya and Hilary get along so well. His sister lacked the friend department just as much as he did, but he was glad Amulya became her friend easily. She was good with the kids too. They didn't ask for her this time, but he is sure they will ask for her until he brings her back. Devin was the shy one among them. Devin and Hilary were married for almost ten years, and were in a relationship for five years before that. It was very rare that he laughs and opens up to someone easily.

It was almost midnight, when Alaric prepared to go to bed. He was almost dozing off when his phone vibrated.

Good night Alaric

He smiled when he saw the text. His heart warmed up.

Sweet dreams, Amulya.

~*~
19.04.20