7

Sarah Thompson.

I looked at Edgar, who was standing a little behind me, and he said he would wait there, a little further back.

I nodded, still smiling, a little nervous, but I went over to my friends and started talking, holding Julia's arm.

“Hey, do you want to have dinner with me? Edgar invited me, and he invited you too,” I said, looking at their faces.

Julia and Sabrina looked at each other with those suspicious smiles, the smiles of accomplices who had already planned everything without telling me.

“Oh, Sarah... we'd love to, but...” Julia began, giving me that sly look.

“But we have to go; she and I have something urgent to take care of, friend.” Sabrina added, biting her lip hard to keep from laughing.

I rolled my eyes but smiled, unable to hide my embarrassment.

I knew what they were doing; it was obvious.

“Oh, is that it? You're going to leave me alone with him?” I gave them a nervous smile, and they nodded.

“Exactly!” Julia replied, laughing. “Enjoy, girl. He seems like a rare gentleman.” She winked at me.

“Good luck!” Sabrina smiled, moving away from me and pulling Julia with her.

I said goodbye to them, to the other writers, and to my parents, who were smiling as if I had won an award. Proud. Radiant. Supportive as always.

I told them I was leaving now, going to dinner. They hugged me and said those typical things that loving parents say.

To be careful, to get home safely.

They had always taken good care of me, ever since I was a child.

I kissed them and walked away.

I went back to Edgar, taking a deep breath to hide my nervousness.

“Can we go?” I asked, trying to sound natural.

He nodded with a calm smile, and with steady steps, we walked out of the building together.

His car was black, four doors, a classic model. Elegant. Serious. It suited him.

“What a beautiful car!” I commented without thinking, admiring it.

He smiled slightly and thanked me kindly, opening the door for me like a true gentleman.

I walked to the door and got in. Edgar closed the door carefully.

I sat in the car seat, adjusted my dress, and put on my seatbelt. I looked forward and tried not to look so anxious. But my heart was beating fast; I felt it jumping in my chest.

Felt those emotions when we were on the first date.

That silly feeling of a first date. I was nervous, smiling like a fool, didn’t know if I looked at him or diverted my eyes.

There was a time that I did not go on a date with a guy; I think about 2 years, or three.

But what I was feeling that night was different; no guy had touched me like this before.

He turned the car key, Edgar fastened the seat belt, and stepped on the accelerator slowly; the car began to move through the street.

The lights passed by like little stars outside. It was late at night, and the London cold was starting to bother me. I was shivering slightly, and he noticed.

Without saying anything, he closed the windows and turned on the heat.

He put his hand over the air vent to see if it was comfortable. It wasn't too hot; it was perfect.

A few seconds later, the soft, comfortable warmth began to spread through the car. I already felt warm.

I smiled. Almost automatically, our eyes met.

That sparkle in his eyes made me feel silly.

“How do you feel now? Is it warm enough for you?” he asked in that deep, calm voice.

“Yes... thank you,” I replied, touching my arms to hide the shiver. But that shiver wasn't just from the cold.

It was... because of him.

It was strange how his simplest gestures seemed like something big, as if he had done something amazing for me.

Like his care, the tone of his voice, the way he looked at me, everything made me feel… It made me feel protected somehow.

When we arrived at the restaurant, he parked calmly and got out first. I got out right after him, closing the door carefully.

The cold air hit my face all at once, and I instinctively hugged my arms. Then he turned to me, taking off his jacket.

“Can I put this on you? It's pretty cold out here...”

I hesitated, feeling awkward.

But I nodded, accepting.

He approached me carefully, and the coat slid over my shoulders. The fabric was still warm, soft... with his scent—such a good, strong scent. So delicious.

The touch of his hands was subtle but striking. One second. Two. Nothing more. But my body reacted as if it had been a whole hug.

And the smell on his coat was his scent, which lingered around me—an addictive smell because it was so good.

I looked up at him, not noticing how tall he was until then. I was certainly only up to his shoulder. Broad, strong shoulders.

He smiled.

And at that moment, I felt small... but safe.

He went ahead and opened the restaurant door for me.

The space was beautiful, very discreet, elegant. I was looking, impressed.

The environment was quiet, with little lighting—nothing exaggerated. Wooden floor, calm atmosphere, people talking low, smiling. And it had very soft background music that made everything more pleasant.

We sat across from each other. And for a while, we were silent.

The silence was not embarrassing.

Nothing needed to be said for now.

Edgar looked at me in that intense way, as if he really knew me. As if I could see inside me, where I kept my secrets, my manias, that only I knew.

I, who always kept silent behind the words of books... well, it seemed to be being read by him without even knowing how.

I felt my heart race.

'' Well, Sarah, let’s look at the menu and ask? '' she asked me, adjusting her posture in the chair, smiling slightly.

I nodded slowly, looking at the menu.

''Sure, we will.'' I said, trying to decide what I would ask. I raised my face and looked at him. Edgar was smiling...

A small smile, with that restrained, polite air that made everything seem more intense.

And that was it. For a few minutes, the world outside ceased to exist. The cold, the weather, my fears—everything was on pause.

At that moment… I allowed myself to feel all those feelings that I thought only existed on paper.

Maybe he was different from anything I had ever experienced.

Possibly... this was the beginning of something new.