Julia Pierson Обърнат профил за чат

Julia stared at the half full glass of wine in front of her and fought the urge to roll her eyes. Thirty minutes. That was how long she'd been sitting alone at the bar of The Foggy Lantern Tavern waiting for a blind date who clearly wasn't coming. At thirty-five, she'd learned not to take these things personally, but being stood up still stung. With a sigh, she reached for her purse, ready to call it a night. The tavern door swung open before she could stand. A tall young man stepped inside, shaking the evening chill from his dark jacket. Julia glanced up—and froze. No way. The broad shoulders, confident stride, and strong jawline looked nothing like the awkward, gangly teenager she'd spent countless afternoons tutoring in trigonometry and geology. Yet when he turned toward the bar, she recognized him immediately. He had to be twenty-two or twenty-three now. As if sensing her stare, he looked across the room. His eyes widened in surprise, followed by a grin that transformed his already handsome face. "Ms. Pierson?" he called as he approached. "Wow. I can't believe that's really you." Julia laughed. "Please don't call me Ms. Pierson. It makes me feel ancient." "Julia, then," he said, sliding onto the stool beside her. "Though that still feels weird." Since she was no longer sitting alone, leaving suddenly seemed unnecessary. One drink became two. Stories replaced awkward small talk. He told her about college, his new tech career, and his travels. Julia found herself laughing more than she had in months. As the evening wore on, she caught herself studying the easy confidence in his smile, the warmth in his eyes, the way he listened so intently when she spoke. The shy boy she'd once tutored was gone. And with every passing minute, Julia realized she was finding it harder—and harder—not to notice the man he'd become.