JUNE 22:16
Aurora stood in her living room, her fingers twisting slightly against the fabric of her jean as the doorbell chimed softly through the quiet space. Brownie had told her Crystal was coming over, and now a mix of anticipation and a hint of nervousness danced in her stomach. She took a breath, smoothed her hair back briefly, and walked to the door.
When she opened it, Crystal was standing on the porch, a bouquet of wildflowers—dainty white blooms with yellow centers and wispy green stems—in his hand. A sheepish smile played on his lips as he held out the flowers toward her. "Hey," he said, his voice a little low. "I brought these. I remembered you liked the smell of wildflowers from the park."
Aurora's expression softened instantly, a warmth spreading through her as she took the flowers from him. The soft petals brushed against her fingers, and the gentle scent of wildflowers wafted up, fresh and earthy. "They're beautiful. Thank you," she said, smiling at him. She stepped aside, opening the door wider. "Come on in."
Crystal walked into the living room, his movements quiet in the space. Aurora followed, closing the door behind him, then they settled down on opposite ends of the couch. Crystal glanced around the room briefly—at the photos on the walls, the books scattered on the marble table—before his gaze came back to rest on her. "So... about last night... I wanted to check in on you," he said, his voice a little serious. "You passed out pretty suddenly."
Aurora laughed awkwardly, a small sound, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Yeah, I wasn't exactly handling my drinks well. Thanks for... taking care of me, I guess." Her eyes met his for a moment, and in that brief glance, something like understanding passed between them.
Crystal smiled back at her, his eyes crasing with hers for a fleeting moment before he looked away slightly. "No problem. I'm just glad you're okay," he said, his tone easy now.
As the visit wound down, Aurora and Crystal chatted about light topics—the charm of their neighborhood, the upcoming summer festival in the park, the new café that had opened downtown. Their conversation flowed easily, both of them skirting around anything too deep about the night before or their feelings toward each other. The air in the living room grew a little more relaxed, their laughter mingling softly.
As they began to wrap up the visit, Crystal stood up, his movements casual but his eyes lingering on hers for a moment. "Would you want to grab coffee sometime this week?" he asked, his voice low and smooth. "Maybe catch up more normally?"
Aurora hesitated for a brief moment, her thoughts flicking over the idea of seeing him again outside this visit. Then she nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "Yeah, I'd like that."
Crystal smiled back, a pleased look in his eyes. "I will text you the address later," he said as he made his way toward the door.
But then Aurora spoke up quickly, "Or why don't you just wait—let me get dressed?" She hadn't planned to say it, but the words came out naturally, a hint of spontaneity in her tone.
Crystal turned back to her, a smile breaking out. "That would be great," he replied, leaning against the doorframe while he waited.
"One sec," Aurora said, already turning toward her room. She hurried off to get ready, a flutter in her chest at the thought of walking out with Crystal, grabbing coffee together like it was a normal, easy thing between them.
Crystal took Aurora to a cozy café nestled in the neighborhood, just around the corner from where she lived. The café exuded a quiet ambiance, perfect for a relaxed conversation over coffee. Soft jazz floated through the air, a melody that Crystal had picked up on from their last meeting at the bar—a detail that Aurora noticed with a touch of appreciation. At the bar, there had been a live jazz performance that had set the mood for their unexpected night together.
Crystal had arrived a few minutes early before bringing in Aurora, wanting to secure a good spot for them. He found a table by the window, where sunlight filtered through the panes in gentle patterns on the wooden tabletop. The view outside showed a quiet street lined with trees and a few pedestrians strolling by. When Aurora arrived, he stood up to greet her, a smile on his face.
The café was doing a quiet business mid-afternoon, with only a handful of patrons typing away on their laptops or chatting softly over their drinks. The barista greeted them warmly, and Crystal helped Aurora decide on a cappuccino before ordering a black coffee for himself.
"Thanks for coming," Crystal said, his eyes crasing with Aurora's as they settled into their seats at the cozy café. "No problem," Aurora replied, smiling back at him, feeling a sense of ease in the quiet ambiance filled with soft jazz. They ordered their coffees—a cappuccino for her, with frothy milk swirling on top, and a black coffee for him, steaming hot in a simple mug—and started chatting about everything from books to their favorite spots in the neighborhood.
As they talked, Aurora found herself laughing more easily with Crystal. He had a dry sense of humor that caught her off guard at times but made her enjoy the conversation more with each passing minute. They discussed a local art exhibit coming up—a showcase of neighborhood artists in the community center—and Crystal mentioned he'd love to check it out. Aurora agreed it sounds like a good idea, imagining walking through the exhibit with him, discussing the art.
As they finished their coffees and lingered over the conversation, Aurora brought up a topic that caught Crystal off guard. "You know how I've been talking about my dad's company?" she said, leaning in slightly. "There's a sales position open there, and I think you'd be really good at it. I was actually thinking of offering it to you."
Crystal looked at her with a grin on his face, amused by something. "You already did," he said, a hint of laughter in his voice. He was recalling the night at the bar—the night she had been drinking a bit too much, to be fair. Aurora had handed him her business card in a somewhat blurry moment.
Aurora looked surprised for a moment, then interested. "Really? I did?" she asked, a touch of embarrassment mingling with curiosity.
"Yes," Crystal answered, his grin still present. He seemed to find the memory of that night amusing, and Aurora couldn't help but laugh a little too, recalling bits of how she had acted.
"So do you think I'd be a good fit?" Crystal asked, his eyes locking onto Aurora's with a hint of curiosity.
"Definitely," Aurora said with a smile, her expression warm and encouraging. "You've got a lot of potential, and sales in my dad's company could be a great opportunity for you. Plus, you'd be working in a field that's doing well, and it'd be nice to have you around."
Crystal raised an eyebrow slightly, a playful note entering his voice. "Have me around? You don't work there," he said, his tone teasing but also curious about her meaning.
Aurora looked back at him confidently, her gaze meeting his without hesitation. "Who knows, I may start soon," she answered, a hint of a smile lingering on her lips as she looked into his eyes.
Crystal considered the offer for a moment, his expression thoughtful as he processed the idea. "That sounds like a really interesting opportunity," he said finally. "I'd definitely be interested in learning more about it. What would the job entail exactly?"
Aurora nodded, happy he was considering it. Her eyes lit up slightly as she began explaining the position.
"It's a sales role focused on our company's specialty products," she said. "You'll need to build relationships with clients, meet sales targets—that sort of thing. My dad's pretty hands-on with the sales team, but it's a good environment to learn and grow."
Crystal asked a few more questions about the job, seeking clarification on specifics. "What's the salary range for this position?" he asked, his eyes focused intently on Aurora's as he leaned slightly forward in his chair.
Aurora thought for a moment before answering, her fingers playing with the edge of her cup. "The salary range is competitive for someone with your experience," she said. "We typically offer a base salary plus commission for sales roles. The Manager can discuss the exact numbers when you meet with him, but I think you'll find it fair considering the opportunities for growth."
Crystal nodded thoughtfully, processing the information. Then he asked another question. "What about benefits? Health insurance, vacation time—that sort of thing."
Aurora smiled warmly. "We offer standard benefits for full-time employees," she explained. "Health insurance is covered partially by the company, and you get two weeks of paid vacation after your first year. My dad's pretty good about looking out for his employees."
Crystal considered the information for a moment, his brow furrowed slightly in thought. Then he asked one more thing. "What are the expectations for sales targets? Is it a high-pressure environment?"
Aurora leaned back slightly in her chair, a thoughtful look on her face. "Sales targets are set quarterly, and while there's definitely a push to meet them, my dad's more about building relationships with clients than just pushing for numbers. He wants people who fit in with the company culture."
After a few minutes of discussion, Crystal nodded thoughtfully. "I think I'd be interested in taking the job," he said, a hint of excitement in his voice. "I'd like to meet with the Manager to discuss more specifics, though. Is that okay with you?"
Aurora smiled, pleased with his decision. "Absolutely. I'll set up a meeting with him. I'm happy you're considering it."
Crystal smiled back, a touch of humor in his voice. "Well, I'm lucky you considered me."
Aurora laughed lightly. "You have to thank Daniel for that," she said, referring to the circumstances that had led to their meeting.
"I will drink to that" he said with a smile.