Four
ELODIE
The early morning light seeps through the window of my little apartment, painting the walls in soft shades of gold. I’ve never been a morning person, but there’s something about this place, the mountains, the crisp air, that makes even early mornings feel like a quiet kind of peace. The hum of the kettle on the stove brings me back to the present, and I shake my head as I prepare my usual cup of coffee.
I’m still thinking about him. Kyle.
It’s been a couple of days since that dinner at Antonio’s, and I can’t seem to get him out of my head. Not that I want to. I can’t remember the last time I felt this... well, this giddy about someone. It’s strange, really. I’m not used to feeling like this. My life has been simple, predictable. I work at the quarry, volunteer at the animal shelter, read romance novels when I get the chance to unwind. And that’s always been enough. But now, there’s Kyle.
I can’t figure out what he sees in me.
When he kissed me that night, soft and slow under the streetlamp, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of excitement and confusion. He’s everything I’m not, wealthy, famous, and seemingly immune to the noise of the world. I’m just me; trying to make a life for myself in the quiet. So why would someone like him, want to spend time with me?
I take a long sip of my coffee, the warmth soothing, and force myself to stop overthinking for a moment. My phone buzzes on the counter, and I grab it, expecting it to be a text from my best friend, Maisie. We’ve been texting back and forth about the Valentine’s Gala, mostly because I’m still trying to figure out what I’m supposed to wear. Maisie’s been my sounding board for years, the one person I can always count on to give it to me straight.
But when I see the name on the screen, my heart skips a beat.
It’s Kyle.
I stare at the screen for a moment, unsure of what to do. It’s unexpected. I wasn’t expecting to hear from him today. Not that I have any right to be surprised. He’s been sweet, calling me and checking in, and even texting me once or twice, asking how my day’s been.
I press the green button, holding the phone to my ear. “Hello?”
“Elodie?” His voice is low, familiar, and I can practically feel the smile in his tone. It still throws me off a little when he sounds so casual, so...normal. After all, he’s Kyle Kingston. Billionaire, best-selling author, and the man who’s made my quiet life feel anything but.
“Hi,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady. “What’s up?”
“I was just thinking about you,” he says, and it sounds so effortless, so easy, that I can’t help the smile that tugs at my lips. “How’s your day going so far?”
I pause for a moment, trying to gather my thoughts. It’s a simple question, one that’s probably the kind of thing he asks all the time, but it feels different coming from him. Genuine, almost. “It’s been good,” I reply, my voice a little more relaxed than I expected. “Busy. You know how it is.”
“Yeah, I get it. How’s work at the quarry?”
I chuckle softly, feeling lighter with each word. “Same as usual. Nothing exciting. Just a lot of paperwork and numbers. You know, the fun stuff.”
There’s a brief silence on the other end before he laughs, and it’s warm and easy. “I’m sure you’re doing amazing things with those numbers, though. You strike me as the kind of person who knows how to make things work.”
I can’t help but feel a little flustered at his words. It’s strange to be complimented like this, to be seen in a way that feels so...real. Like I’m more than just the quiet girl at the quarry who goes home at the end of the day to read books and volunteer at the shelter. “I try,” I say, feeling a little self-conscious. “It’s not the most glamorous job, but it keeps the lights on.”
“You’re doing something important, Elodie. Trust me, that’s more than enough.” His voice is sincere, and it catches me off guard. I never expected someone like him to see the value in something as simple as my job, or the small life I’ve carved out for myself.
I swallow the sudden lump in my throat, trying to brush off the tenderness that’s stirring in me. “Thanks,” I reply softly, unsure of what else to say.
“So,” he continues, as if nothing serious was just said, “are you still up for the gala? I know it’s getting closer, and I figured I should check in and see if you were still planning on going with me.”
The mention of the gala sends a flutter of nervous excitement through me. I had almost forgotten it was only a few days away. “Yeah, I’m still planning to go. I guess I’m just not sure what to wear,” I admit, trying to keep my tone light and joking. “I’m not exactly a gala kind of person.”
Kyle laughs softly, and it feels like he’s laughing with me, not at me. “I get that. I mean, I don’t exactly have a lot of experience either. But hey, you’ll look amazing no matter what you wear.”
“You’re making me blush,” I mutter, shaking my head as if it’ll stop the flush of warmth from spreading across my cheeks.
“I’m serious,” he says, and I can hear the sincerity in his voice. “You don’t need a fancy dress or anything to impress me. I just want to spend time with you.”
I’m taken aback by the simplicity of his words. It’s... humbling. For someone with so much, he doesn’t seem to expect anything in return. And then I remind myself, I’m just a temporary girlfriend for the night. He’s being nice because he needs me there. No strings attached. My stomach aches.
Before I can respond, Kyle clears his throat lightly, as if breaking the moment. “Anyway, I just wanted to check in and see how you’re doing. I know you’re busy with work, but I hope things are going well.”
“Thanks for calling,” I say, the words slipping out before I can stop them. It feels... nice. Comforting, even, to hear his voice. To know that he’s thinking of me, even in the middle of his busy life.
“No problem. Take care of yourself, Elodie.”
“You too,” I reply softly, then hang up, still feeling a bit stunned by the whole conversation.
I sit there for a moment, staring at my phone as if waiting for some kind of explanation. It was just a casual check-in, right? Nothing special. But somehow, it felt different. Easy. Like we were friends, or something more, and I don’t know which one scares me more.
The rest of the day drags on in a blur of meetings and paperwork. My thoughts keep drifting back to Kyle, to the way he makes me feel like I matter. Like my ordinary life is worth something. I can’t shake the feeling that there’s something between us. But every time I let myself think that, doubt creeps in.
By the time I get home that evening, I’m exhausted. The little apartment I rent feels cozy and quiet, the walls lined with bookshelves and small trinkets that make it feel like my own. I drop my bag by the door and collapse onto the couch, pulling a blanket over me as I reach for my phone.
I almost don’t want to check it, but I do anyway. There’s a message from Maisie, and I smile when I read it:
“So, spill it. How was dinner with Mr. Kingston? Is he as swoon-worthy as he seems?”
I let out a breath and type back: “He’s definitely swoon-worthy, but I’m still trying to figure out why someone like him would be interested in me.”
It doesn’t take long for Maisie to respond: “Girl, are you serious? He asked you to the gala. He’s into you. Trust me, just see where it goes. You’re not going to know until you let him in.”
I stare at the screen for a moment, the weight of her words sinking in. Maybe she’s right. Maybe I’m just overthinking things.
I text back: “Maybe you’re right. I guess I’ll just have to see.”
As I set the phone down, a strange sense of peace settles over me. Maybe I don’t have all the answers. Maybe I never will. But for once, I’m willing to see where this goes.