Aurora had crossed out three ideas before she had even finished her morning coffee.
The amusement park was still an option, but she wasn't sure Felix would enjoy spending his free day surrounded by crowds. The pottery class remained in her notebook, mostly because the thought of watching him struggle with a lump of clay still amused her.
She tapped her pen against the page. "You're making this harder than it needs to be," she muttered to herself.
Candace's advice from the previous day returned to her mind. She didn't have to impress Felix. She simply had to choose something they could enjoy together.
That sounded easy enough.
So why was she still staring at the same three ideas?
Her phone buzzed beside her notebook, and she glanced down at the screen.
Felix: Good morning, Rora.
A small smile appeared on her face before she could stop it.
Aurora: Morning. Have you started training already?
Felix: Not yet. Why? Planning to come and watch me?
Aurora rolled her eyes.
Aurora: Don't flatter yourself.
Felix: Too late. I'm already flattered.
She laughed quietly, shaking her head as she typed her reply.
Aurora: Do you have any plans for the weekend?
Felix: Training on Saturday morning, but I haven't figured out the rest yet. Why?
Aurora stared at his message for a moment.
She couldn't exactly tell him she was planning their second date. That would ruin the surprise.
Aurora: No reason. Just curious.
Felix: Hmm... Should I be suspicious?
Aurora: You should be suspicious of your own imagination.
Felix: Too late, I'm already sus.
She dropped her head against the back of her chair. "You're impossible."
Felix: Iheard that.
Her eyes widened as she looked around to make sure she wasn't mistaken.
Aurora: No, you did not.
Felix: I can imagine it.
She laughed, then put her phone down before he could distract her any further.
At least she had learnt when he would be free. Saturday afternoon gave her enough time to arrange something, and she could still leave him the morning to train without feeling as though she was asking him to sacrifice an important part of his life.
Aurora looked at the pottery class idea again. Perhaps she should stop imagining whether Felix would enjoy it and simply give it a chance.
She opened her laptop and searched for pottery studios in Eldlyria. After a few minutes, she found a small studio that offered beginner sessions on Saturday afternoons. The photographs showed a quiet room, wooden tables, shelves of unfinished pottery, and large windows that allowed sunlight to spill across the floor.
It looked peaceful.
And, more importantly, it sounded like something neither of them had tried together.
Aurora checked the available times and made a booking for two.
Then she leaned back in her chair, studying the confirmation email.
She had actually done it.
A pottery class.
She imagined Felix sitting in front of the clay, trying to maintain his usual confidence while everything refused to take the shape he wanted. A grin slowly spread across her face.
"Oh, this is going to be interesting."
Her assistant, Amaya, appeared at the open door a moment later, holding a folder.
"Am I interrupting something?"
Aurora immediately straightened in her chair. "No. Why?"
Amaya glanced at the laptop, then at Aurora's unusually cheerful expression.
"Nothing. You just look very pleased with yourself."
"I am pleased with myself."
"Should I be worried?"
Aurora took the folder from her. "You should be worried about the meeting in twenty minutes."
Amaya gave her a knowing look but wisely decided not to ask any further questions.
Once she had left, Aurora glanced at the confirmation email again. She still needed to choose somewhere they could eat afterwards, preferably a quiet place where they could sit and talk without having to shout over music.
She found a small café near the studio and saved its address.
That was enough planning for one morning.
For once, she closed her laptop without feeling the need to search for another possibility.
Her phone buzzed again.
Felix: You've gone suspiciously quiet.
Aurora smiled.
Aurora: I'm working.
Felix: Of course you are.
Aurora: Some of us have actual responsibilities.
Felix: And some of us have a coach who thinks sleep is optional.
Her smile softened.
Aurora: Don't push yourself too hard, Felix.
His reply came after a short pause.
Felix: I'll try. You do the same, Rora.
She looked at his message for a moment longer than necessary before setting her phone aside.
She hoped he would enjoy Saturday. More than that, she hoped they could spend a few hours together without worrying about deadlines, training schedules, or everything waiting for them beyond the weekend.
It didn't have to be extraordinary. She just wanted another day with him.
And for the first time since she had started planning, Aurora was certain she had found the right place to begin.