Sara tugged at the hem of the dress for the third time, even though it didn't budge much. The slit felt higher under the night air, and the neckline—though elegant—suddenly made her feel like she'd tried too hard. She wasn't uncomfortable, not exactly. But a nervous flutter twisted in her chest as if Elijah might see her and think she was... performing. Dressing up like she was trying to impress him. Which she wasn't. Not really. Right?
She exhaled sharply, pulled her coat tighter around herself, and stepped out into the soft hush of evening.
Outside, Elijah stood leaning against the door of a Rolls-Royce Ghost—sleek and obsidian black, gleaming like polished ink beneath the streetlights. The car looked like it belonged at a palace gate. He was glancing at his watch, his profile sharp in the golden glow of the lamps lining the apartment complex.
The moment he heard her heels, he looked up.
And then he froze.
His gaze didn't just meet her—it lingered, his eyes widening slightly as if trying to make sure he was seeing right. Sara's steps faltered just a little when she noticed, and she rubbed her shoulder with an awkward, half-toothed smile.
"Um," she began, the words tripping on her tongue, "I asked a friend to help me dress up for tonight. I've never really been to a formal thing like this so if it's too much, I can—uh—I can go change into something else. I know it's a bit—"
"Don't." His voice cut through her ramble, soft but firm.
Elijah took a breath. A deep, visible one. Then shook his head with a short laugh that sounded slightly stunned.
"Sara… I thought you were beautiful the first time we met," he said, stepping closer, the distance closing with the sound of slow, deliberate footsteps on concrete. "But this..."
He stopped in front of her, his voice dipping just enough to make her stomach flutter.
"This is beyond anything I could've imagined. You look absolutely breathtaking."
Her breath caught. She wasn't sure if it was the way he said it, low and unhurried, or the sincerity in his eyes, but her pulse stumbled.
"I mean it," he added. "In no version of reality did I think you could look even more stunning. But somehow… here we are."
Sara blinked, momentarily speechless. Compliments usually made her shrink or laugh them off, but this one lodged itself right into her chest. It felt different. Real.
"I… thank you," she whispered, and for a second her voice felt too small, too soft.
He smiled. "We can't let a lady stand out in the cold looking like that." He reached for the car door and opened it with a small flourish. "Your chariot awaits."
She hesitated for just a beat before stepping in, the inside of the car warm and rich with leather and quiet music humming low. As he closed the door behind her and circled around to the driver's side, Sara stared out the window, her cheeks still hot.
When Elijah slid into the seat beside her and started the engine, the car purred like something alive. Smooth. Luxurious. Effortless.
As they drove through the winding roads toward the heart of the city, he stole quick glances at her.
And every time he did, his smile deepened, as if even the passing streetlights couldn't distract him from the fact that tonight, she was the most beautiful thing in the car—and maybe the entire city.
He wasn't being subtle either.
She could feel the heat creep into her ears, and she tried not to squirm in her seat. It wasn't that she didn't like the attention. She just… wasn't used to it. Not like this.
"You look nervous," Elijah said suddenly, his voice teasing but gentle.
"I'm not," she lied, tugging lightly at the edge of her dress again.
He chuckled. "If your boyfriend saw you right now, he'd be jealous of every guy at this party."
Sara blinked, then turned to him, amused. "I don't have a boyfriend."
"No?" His brows lifted slightly. "Then… fiancé, maybe?"
She laughed, soft and unbothered. "Not yet. For now, I'm just very single."
He seemed surprised, like that answer didn't quite match the woman beside him. "Really?" he said. "That's… unexpected."
Sara shrugged, her fingers tracing the seam of her clutch. "I guess I just haven't felt ready. I've got a few things I'm still figuring out. I don't want to bring my mess into someone else's life. It wouldn't be fair."
He nodded, his voice dipping into something more thoughtful. "That's a pretty mature reason. But… have you ever thought about sharing the mess? I mean—maybe the right person could help lift some of it. Isn't that kind of what relationships are about? Not carrying the weight alone?"
She paused at that. It wasn't that she disagreed—it just wasn't how she'd learned to think.
"Maybe," she said after a moment. "But I haven't really thought that far ahead."
She turned to look at him, and this time, her smile carried a little mischief. "And what about your girlfriend? Would she be okay with you picking up mysterious women and driving them to parties?"
Elijah gave a warm, low laugh. "I don't have a girlfriend."
She tilted her head, matching his earlier tone. "Fiancée, then?"
He grinned, glancing over at her with a knowing glint in his eyes. "You know you asked that in the exact same way I did?"
Sara pretended not to hear that and kept her gaze fixed forward, trying not to smile too much.
"No fiancée either," he said after a pause. "I've… sort of been stuck on someone. For a long time."
Her eyes widened, curiosity flickering in her expression. "Stuck? How long are we talking?"
"Fifteen years."
Sara nearly choked on her own breath. "Fifteen years?" she echoed. "You've been in love with someone for fifteen years and never moved on?"
He gave a soft shrug, his hand draped over the steering wheel, eyes briefly catching the city lights. "Sometimes it's not that easy. Some people just leave that kind of mark."
She looked at him, genuinely stunned. "So… you just never got over it?"
He didn't answer right away. Then, as they pulled to a smooth stop at a red light, he turned his head slowly toward her. There was something different in his eyes now—something playful, but edged with sincerity.
"I think," he said quietly, "I finally might."
The light turned green.
And for a few seconds, Sara forgot to breathe.