Few minutes later, Naomi's phone buzzed insistently against the polished surface of the restaurant table. Her fingers froze mid-air, hovering over the screen as she stole a glance at Tasha. The corner of Tasha's mouth lifted, sensing the familiar spark of curiosity mixed with excitement lighting up her friend's features.Naomi unlocked her phone, and her eyes widened slightly as the message came into focus:8 o'clock then, I will pick you up.The words were simple, almost mundane, but they carried a weight Naomi couldn't quite define. Her pulse hitched. She looked up at Tasha, whose expression shifted immediately from playful curiosity to quiet intrigue. Both girls stared at each other, letting the message hang between them like a secret neither dared to voice."Does he know where you live?" Tasha finally asked, voice low, teasing but edged with concern.
Naomi shook her head slowly, though she tried to appear casual. "I guess not," she replied, tapping at the screen reflexively.Tasha leaned closer, elbows on the table, eyes gleaming with mischief. "Send him another text. With your address. Come on, don't be shy."Naomi hesitated for barely a second before pulling her phone closer and typing quickly. Her thumb hovered over the send button for a heartbeat longer than necessary, a small flutter of nerves running through her chest. Finally, she pressed send and placed the phone down, a faint thrill lingering behind her ribs."Not long now," Tasha whispered conspiratorially, leaning back against her chair, arms folded but still radiating that unmistakable, mischievous energy. "He'll know exactly where to find you. And you know he's watching every little detail, don't you?"
Naomi swallowed hard, a laugh escaping despite the fluttering tension coiling in her stomach. "I just… I don't know. I mean, it's just dinner. He probably just wants to discuss some project ideas. That's all."Tasha raised an eyebrow, her grin widening. "Naomi, girl. Don't lie to me. I see the way you're glowing. That's not just project ideas. That's anticipation. That's… something else entirely."Naomi rolled her eyes, though the warmth creeping over her cheeks betrayed her denial. She leaned back in her chair, letting a brief pause hang between them, the restaurant's soft background chatter filling the space around their booth. She watched the waiters move between tables, heard the soft clinking of glasses, and tried to focus on the mundane rhythm of the room to distract herself—but her mind refused to cooperate.The phone buzzed again, snapping her out of her reverie. Naomi's fingers moved almost on their own as she opened the message "l know ."
Her eyebrows shot up. She looked at Tasha, incredulous. "How did he know?" she whispered, a mix of shock and amusement in her voice.Tasha's laughter was soft, teasing, and low. "Don't look at me. Maybe the same way he got your home contact," she replied, her eyes sparkling.Naomi's jaw tightened slightly. "Oh… he went through my personal files again." Her voice carried a trace of irritation, though she tried to mask it with a small, wry smile. "He could have just asked me instead of doing that."Tasha's grin softened, but her gaze remained sharp, almost assessing. "Don't take it too seriously, girl. It doesn't matter. He's the company manager, Naomi. He's entitled to access files. You know that. It's his world; we just live in it."Naomi rolled her eyes, though the faint curve of her lips betrayed her amusement. "Whatever," she murmured, though the words felt hollow even to her own ears. She felt the tiniest shiver of excitement mixed with the tension of not knowing what exactly Michael had planned."Save that energy for later," Tasha said, her tone teasing, but there was an undercurrent of warmth in her voice. "Trust me, tonight's going to need all your wits and charm, so don't waste it on worrying about files."Naomi glanced down at her phone again, her thumb brushing lightly over the screen. Every little vibration made her heart skip a beat, and she felt herself leaning slightly forward, unconsciously attentive. She couldn't stop imagining Michael's calm demeanor, his easy smile, the subtle way he seemed to command attention without ever raising his voice. It was intoxicating in a way that made her stomach flutter and her mind race with scenarios she wasn't ready to admit aloud—even to Tasha.
Tasha noticed the small movements Naomi kept making: the way her eyes flitted back to the screen, the subtle bite of her lip, the way she shifted forward in her seat. She smirked knowingly. "Girl, you're glowing. I told you. Look at you. Sitting here all composed, but your eyes tell another story entirely."Naomi huffed, a soft laugh escaping her despite herself. "I'm not glowing," she said quickly, though her cheeks betrayed her words."Sure, sure," Tasha replied, tilting her head playfully. "You're in denial. But that's fine. I'll let you have your secret glow. Just… remember to breathe tonight, okay? Don't let the butterflies get the better of you."Naomi's fingers tapped lightly against her water glass, a nervous rhythm she couldn't seem to control. "I'll try," she whispered, almost to herself, though Tasha's piercing gaze made her heart race faster. She could feel the adrenaline mixing with the excitement, the tension of the unknown pressing against her chest in an intoxicating way.Another vibration pulled her attention back to the phone. She froze before unlocking it, the anticipation thick enough to taste. The message read:See you at 8 then?
Naomi exhaled softly,as she replied the text message with "yes".Her stomach twisting into knots that felt like both dread and thrill at once. She looked across at Tasha, who tilted her head knowingly."You're sweating," Tasha said with a chuckle, the teasing in her voice undercut by a genuine softness. "It's just a dinner, Naomi. Relax. You'll be fine. And besides," she leaned closer, lowering her voice, "he seems like the kind of guy who knows exactly what he's doing."Naomi swallowed hard, nodding, though she wasn't sure if she was convincing herself or Tasha. "Yeah… I just…" She trailed off, her mind drifting again to the possibilities of the evening: how he might greet her, the subtle ways he might try to read her reactions, the silent games of charm and wit she suspected he excelled at.
Tasha reached across the table, squeezing her hand briefly. "You'll do fine. And hey, if he's as smooth as you think, enjoy it. Don't overthink, don't overanalyze. Just… live a little."Naomi's lips curved into a small smile, a mixture of nerves and excitement tightening in her chest. She glanced at her phone one last time, then placed it face down on the table. The simple act felt like a symbolic surrender to the anticipation, a conscious choice to let the evening unfold.Tasha leaned back, arms crossed, still watching her friend with that piercing, amused look that could read any emotion unspoken. "Now, go on. Let's finish this meal before your butterflies turn into a storm. You've got a big night ahead, my friend," she teased, though the warmth in her voice made Naomi's chest tighten.Naomi nodded, finally lifting her glass to take a sip, letting the sparkling water cool the heat in her throat. Her mind, however, was already racing ahead, imagining every detail of the night: the drive, the conversation, the first impression she'd make, and the subtle thrill of uncertainty that made her pulse dance faster with every passing second.
For the first time in a while, Naomi felt alive, caught in a swirl of expectation, curiosity, and something dangerously close to excitement. The restaurant around them—the muted chatter, the clink of cutlery, the faint aroma of roasted meat and baked bread—faded into the background. All that existed in that moment was the tiny phone glowing on the table, the words he had sent, and the anticipation coiling tight in her chest.Tasha's laughter broke the spell. "Girl, you're in trouble if you don't slow down. I've seen this look before, and it's bad news for anyone who tries to resist your attention tonight."Naomi smiled faintly, a mix of nerves and excitement pressing her lips together. "It's just… complicated."Tasha leaned back, grinning, clearly enjoying every second of Naomi's inner turmoil. "Complicated? Oh, sweetheart, that's just the start. Enjoy the chaos—it makes it all the sweeter."And as Naomi's phone buzzed again on the table, she hesitated just a moment before reaching for it, her fingers trembling slightly. She knew another message was waiting, another small thrill hidden in words that would shape the rest of her evening. She glanced at Tasha, who winked knowingly, and then finally unlocked the screen.
Just the timer, lunch time is over.