Chapter Two
Julian didn't say anything after I smiled.
That alone was suspicious.
Normally, he would have pointed it out, commented on it, or ruined the moment just to prove he could. Instead, he stood up, stretched like someone who had decided he was done sitting, and said, "Alright."
I blinked. "Alright what?"
"We're leaving."
I frowned. "Why?"
"Because we've been here long enough."
"That's not a reason."
"It is to me."
I stared at him. "You don't get to decide that."
He picked up his jacket. "You're already standing."
I looked down.
I was.
"I hate you," I muttered.
"No, you don't," he said calmly. "You're just annoyed because I noticed first."
We walked out of the café together, turning in the same direction without saying a word about it. That part annoyed me too, the way it happened automatically, like muscle memory.
"You know," I said, "normal people usually discuss plans."
Julian shrugged. "Normal people are exhausting."
"We are also exhausting."
"Yes," he said, "but we're exhausting together."
"That doesn't make it better."
"It absolutely does."
We hadn't even gone far when he stopped suddenly.
"Wait."
I sighed. "What now?"
He turned around, walked back a few steps, and stared at the café window. "You forgot your receipt."
"I don't need it."
"You will," he replied. "In three days, when you're cleaning your bag and questioning every decision you've made."
I snatched it from his hand. "You didn't have to come back."
He smiled. "I know."
Five minutes later, we were inside a grocery store neither of us had planned to enter.
I pushed the basket. Julian followed behind me, immediately picking things up and putting them back for no reason other than to irritate me.
"You don't need cereal," he said.
"I do."
"You bought cereal last week."
"That cereal is gone."
"You don't eat breakfast."
"I eat breakfast sometimes."
"You drink coffee."
"That counts."
He put the cereal back.
I put it in again.
We stared at each other.
"You're not in charge of the basket," I said.
"I'm quality control."
He picked up a random item and frowned. "Why does this exist?"
"Put it back."
"No."
"Julian."
"What if I want it?"
"You don't."
"You don't know that."
I took it from his hand and placed it back on the shelf.
He gasped. "Violence."
"You started it."
We moved to another aisle. Julian leaned on the cart, pretending to steer it.
"You drive like this," he said, swerving slightly.
"That's not how I drive."
"That is exactly how you drive."
"I am a responsible driver."
"You once missed a turn because you were talking."
"You were talking."
"About something important."
"You were explaining a meme."
"It was layered."
I laughed, before I could stop myself.
He pointed at me. "There it is."
"What?"
"That laugh. That's when I know I've won."
"You didn't win anything."
"I absolutely did."
At checkout, the cashier glanced between us and smiled. "Do you want your bags together?"
"Yes," Julian said immediately.
I turned to him. "Why would you say yes?"
"Efficiency."
"We live in different places."
"And yet," he said, "we'll still end up unpacking this together."
I hated that he was right.
Outside, we sat on a low wall near the store, splitting snacks we hadn't planned to buy.
Julian handed me one without asking.
I took it without thanking him.
This was normal.
"You know," he said, chewing thoughtfully, "we spend a lot of time together."
"Do we?" I asked.
"Yes," he replied. "An unreasonable amount."
"Since when do you measure time?"
"Since you tried to deny it."
I nudged his shoulder. "You're annoying."
"And you still came with me."
"I didn't choose anything."
"You followed."
"That's different."
He smiled. "Is it?"
We sat there longer than necessary, watching people pass, commenting quietly, making up stories about strangers.
"That guy definitely owns a boat," Julian said.
"That woman judges everyone silently," I added.
"That couple is on a first date."
"They won't last."
"You're harsh."
"I'm observant."
Julian leaned back on his hands. "Do you ever notice how easy this is?"
"Easy how?"
"Being here. Doing this. Not planning."
I thought about it. "Because there's nothing to prepare for."
He nodded. "Exactly."
After a while, Julian checked his phone. "I should probably go."
"So should I," I said.
Neither of us moved.
"Five more minutes," he said.
"Fine."
Five minutes became ten.
Eventually, he stood and held out his hand. "Come on, before we accidentally decide on dinner."
I took his hand, laughing as he pulled me up.
As we walked away together, bags swinging between us, one thought stayed with me.
Dating always felt like effort, this didn't..