"How is work?" Marie asks me while shaking the sugar sachet before opening it.

"I love it. Spend most of my day reading and making recommendations on what books I think we should publish. My manager is quite happy with my reviews, and I have the highest approval rate on the team." I say very chuffed while taking a small piece of the apple strudel on my plate. "It's not all grand, though. Sometimes I have to read some of the most boring manuscripts you can imagine. The other day, I had this one that was about dating on a budget." I chuckle, reminiscing about how horrendous those pages were.

"So, you don't miss it here?"

"I miss working with you guys and I miss Germany. I liked the internship, but I wasn't in love with what I was doing. And, it's not like I can do this job for a German publisher..."

Marie nods and rips the sugar pack before dropping it slowly in her espresso. She takes a spoon and slowly twirls it around the tiny cup. "I hear your boyfriend is coming to the wedding..."

I look up from my plate and frown. Boyfriend? And then I realise... George.

"I don't have a boyfriend." I respond, testing the waters. Clearly, Marie and Daniel are sharing a lot of information.

"That's what I heard. That you have a date for the wedding..."

"I do have a date for the wedding but he's not my boyfriend... who told you he was my boyfriend?" I look at her curiously.

Marie's face contorts. "Emily did..."

"Marie..." I scold her. "Daniel told you this. Not Emily."

Marie drops the spoon and takes the coffee to her lips. "Du  habst Recht. It was Daniel..." (You are right)

I smile but get lost in my thoughts. Why on earth would Daniel tell Marie this? He knows now that George is not my boyfriend...

"Please don't be angry with him..." Marie looks at my pensive look. "He called me so frantically that day and I didn't know what to say..."

"What day?"

"He called me a few weeks back and said he spoke to you via video and that you introduced him to your boyfriend..."

I slump in the chair. It makes sense now.

"I lied. George is a friend, but not my boyfriend, and I've told Daniel as much the other day."

Marie looks surprised, and it seems she wants to say something, but her eyes diverge somewhere else. I look behind and see Daniel walking towards us with his signature 'out of the office' look. He waves at us, approaching in quick strides.

"Hey..." he glances at Marie and then looks at me with a warm smile. "How was the boat? To your liking?"

I nod enthusiastically. "It's amazing! So what time tomorrow should I be there to help set up?"

"I think 10 would be okay. We also have catering coming in at midday."

"I think you guys should leave your clothes for the party there and then change when you bring Gunther and Emily." Marie interjects. "If not, you will give it away. We should also get them some clothes."

"How fancy is this thing we are planning?" I ask.

Daniel chuckles. "Slightly fancy." He looks at Marie amusedly. "I think Marie here went a tad overboard."

Marie lights up a cigarette and gives us a slide glance. "Sie sagten, eine tolle Party..." (You said an amazing party...)

"Well, if he said it..." I respond.

Daniel looks at me amusedly. "You understood?"

"Sie steckt heute voller Überraschungen." Marie responds with a smirk. (She's full of surprises today.)

I stick my tongue out and make a funny face to Marie. "So, what is the dress code for this thing? I might need to hit a shopping mall. The only fancy dress I have is that backless nightmare for the wedding..."

I remember the way Daniel looked at me the day before and steal a glance at him. He's staring at me with the same dark desire lingering in his eyes. My stomach rumbles loudly.

"Are you still hungry?" Marie asks. "We just ate..."

Daniel smirks knowingly and I curse myself and the feline that has come back to life in the past two days.

"I can take you shopping before we go to my parents..." Daniel offers and breaks the momentary awkwardness.

"Where are you two going now?" Marie asks.

"You won't mind?" I ask Daniel, avoiding Marie's question.

He shakes his head. "We can go to the department store. I can stay in the cafe. Have some stuff to work on, anyway..."

"Hello? Ich habe eine Frage gestellt." (I asked a question)

"I'm going for dinner at his parents. Remember, I used to live there?" I say to her pointedly.

Marie smirks. "I remember." And takes another puff of her cigarette.

I roll my eyes at her insinuation. "Are you sure? If you have work, I can just meet you back in the office when I'm done..."

"It's not the same work..." Marie teases. Daniel glares at her coldly, but Marie seems to be unphased by it. "He's also full of surprises..." she teases Daniel further.

"Let's go. I'll take you there and you can do your shopping and then we go to my parents." Daniel says. "Tschüss, Marie."

"Tschüss," she sings and waves us goodbye amusedly.

The department store is not far away. The building is five floors. The ground floor has a supermarket and a coffee shop, and the remaining four floors have a variety of department stores. The sheer number of people inside the store makes me cringe but I'm determined in getting a suitable dress for Emily's soiree.  

Daniel stays at the coffee shop while I walk through the different sections, trying to find something to wear. Although my hands browse different clothing items, my head is full of the weird exchanges between Marie and Daniel. 

I finally find something and purchase it although I'm not sure if this will fit the bill. I have a plethora of other options but time is limited and my budget restricted so I decide that the simple black dress can never go wrong. 

When I return to the ground floor, I make my way to the coffee shop and see Daniel in a corner table sitting down staring at his computer and holding his phone up in deep conversation with someone. I give him a small wave and he smiles back at me. He wraps up the conversation and gets up.

"Found everything you needed?"

"I think so..." I shrug. "I don't know how fancy this thing is going to be now. A bit worried either I overdid it or maybe not enough..."

He touches the paper bag that I'm holding. "May I?"

I nod and hand him the bag. He inspects the contents thoroughly.

"I think it's perfect." He offers me a small smile. "Are you ready to take the train again back to Meerbusch like old times?"

I smile and nod, but stay quiet.

The train rides back and forth were the best part of my day. When we were new friends, we would go over German words or joke around. And as new lovers, the train was still filled with laughter and German lessons but coupled with intimate moments with one another that I kept locked tightly in my heart.

When we sit on the train, Daniel's phone rings. He removes it and smirks.

"Marie..." He offers me an apologetic look. "She's going crazy with the party planning... I swear I should have learnt my lesson by now with her going over the top..." He looks up from his phone and holds his tongue from what he was going to say next. "I wasn't expecting karaoke for your birthday." He offers a small hesitant smile.

 I chuckle and remember my birthday. Thoughts of the events rush through my mind. I look back up at Daniel and it's clear his mind has also travelled to that day.

He looks away and clears his throat. "I'm happy you have reconnected. Marie and you," he clarifies.

"The boat, hey?" I smirk.

"It was the only way. She's very stubborn..." He smirks back. "I was happy to see you guys at your cafe..."

"Our cafe?"

"I saw you many times with her there. Back then... When Marie finally allowed you in, I could see how you guys were getting along. I'm glad I could orchestrate the get together..."

"I'm glad you did it, too. Marie is dear to my heart, and I'm glad I got the chance to make amends. So, thank you."

We both stare at each other. The conversation we should have lingered in the air, but neither of us is brave enough to start it. I look at my watch and offer an excuse that I should talk to my mother. He knows I'm avoiding a deeper conversation about us. The conversation that allows me to bring closure. The closure I should look for, but I'm just too terrified to get it.

The rest of the train ride is mostly quiet with minor exchanges, and I'm glad when we finally arrived. Walking around town is familiar and reminds me of a simpler time, although I wouldn't note it back then. But nostalgia hits home the moment we arrive at the small building. It looks the same as if I left apartment 2A just yesterday.

"It looks the same..."

Daniel smirks. "There are some changes. Your place..." He steals a glance at me, then focuses on opening the small gate leading to the door. "We refurbished the apartment next to my parents. It needed an update." He clears his throat and opens the main door. "And my former apartment has a tenant there now. He also made some changes..."

"I see..." My heart pangs slightly at his words. "So, where are you staying?"

"I'm staying with my parents. It thrilled my mom so much. I'm going to return with at least five extra kilos."

We both laugh.

"But you offered me a place to stay..."

"The apartment next door is vacant. We are thinking also to give in a long-term lease, but it's not occupied yet."

I nod and Daniel knocks at his parents' door.

Some much has changed. The feeling of security I was feeling outside the building has vanished and replaced it with dread for what other changes have come Daniel's way. My thoughts betray me by reminding me of his reconnection with Ava.

The door opens and his mom's smile pushes the dark thoughts away.

"Natalie!" she greets me and it feels like I'm back where I belong.