Emma and Max walked to the ice cream shop, enjoying the cool evening air. They chatted about their favorite flavors, and Emma laughed at Max's suggestion of peanut butter cup ice cream with bacon bits.
"You're kidding, right?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Max grinned. "I might be, but it sounds good to me!" he said, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
At the ice cream shop, they ordered their favorite flavors and sat down at a small table outside. Emma savored the taste of her strawberry ice cream, feeling happy and content.
As they licked their cones, Max asked Emma more about her writing. "What kind of stories do you like to write?" he asked, his eyes curious.
Emma thought for a moment before answering. "I love writing romance and women's fiction," she said. "I find it fulfilling to create characters and stories that readers can get lost in."
Max nodded, his expression thoughtful. "I can see why. Your passion is really inspiring," he said.
The conversation flowed easily, and Emma felt like she'd known Max for years. As they finished their ice cream, Max glanced at his watch. "I should probably get going," he said, sounding reluctant.
Emma nodded, feeling a pang of disappointment. "Yeah, I should probably get some work done too," she said.
Max walked Emma home, the night air filled with the sound of crickets and the distant hum of cars. As they stood outside her apartment, Max turned to her. "I had a great time tonight," he said, his eyes locked on hers.
Emma smiled, feeling a flutter in her chest. "Me too," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Max leaned in, his face inches from hers. Emma's heart skipped a beat as she wondered if he was going to kiss her.
But just as Max was about to make his move, his phone rang. He groaned, pulling away. "Sorry, I have to take this," he said, answering the call.
Emma nodded, feeling a little disappointed. "It's okay, I'll talk to you later," she said, smiling.
As Max walked away, answering his phone call, Emma couldn't help but wonder what would have happened if he had kissed her. Would she have kissed him back?