The days following their afternoon at the park were quieter. Chloe couldn't help but notice how often her thoughts wandered back to the time they'd spent together. Becca had been a bit of a mystery to her, a puzzle Chloe couldn't quite piece together. But after seeing her interact with Sophie so naturally, something about Beca felt… different. Softer, even.

Chloe's phone buzzed with a text.

"Hey, Chloe. Do you have time for a coffee tomorrow? I could use a break, and I thought I'd take you up on your offer to hang out outside of work."

Chloe's heart gave a little flutter as she read the message. It had been a long time since she'd spent time with someone who wasn't her family or Sophie. Her circle had been tight-knit, and most of her social interactions centered around work. She felt Beca wasn't someone who reached out easily, so this felt… significant.

"Of course! I'd love to. How about tomorrow afternoon?"

Chloe sent the reply and waited, heart racing a little more than it should've been. Within minutes, Beca had sent back an enthusiastic confirmation.

The next day, Chloe found herself waiting outside a local café, trying to calm the excitement that had been building inside her all morning. She wasn't sure what it was—whether it was just the novelty of hanging out with Beca outside of work or something else entirely. Either way, she was looking forward to it.

When Beca arrived, she looked a little more relaxed than usual. Gone was the awkward hesitance that Chloe had become so accustomed to. She wore a simple, navy-blue hoodie and dark jeans, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. Chloe stood up as Beca approached, offering a warm greeting.

"Hey, Beca. Glad you could make it," Chloe said, smiling as she gestured to the table.

Beca sat down across from her, and there was a moment of silence as both of them adjusted to the new dynamic of being outside of their usual spaces. It felt different, but not uncomfortable. Chloe was curious to know more about the woman beyond their casual interactions.

"Thanks for inviting me," Beca said, her voice slightly shy, though it had a hint of relief to it. "I wasn't sure if I was imposing or anything. But I've been thinking about what you said the other day—about how it's good to take breaks."

Chloe smiled. "I meant it. You work hard, and you deserve a little time for yourself. It's easy to get caught up in everything. I know I do."

Beca nodded thoughtfully, her fingers fiddling with the straw of her drink. "Yeah, I guess that's true. I don't really know how to stop sometimes." She paused, then added, "It's hard to find time for… fun."

Chloe could sense that there was more to Beca's words, something deeper than the surface-level conversation they were having. She took a breath and leaned forward, her voice softer now.

"You don't have to explain anything, Beca. But if you ever want to talk, you can. I'm happy to listen." She gave her a reassuring smile, hoping to ease the discomfort she could see flickering in the ither woman's eyes.

For a long moment, Beca didn't say anything. Instead, she stared down at her coffee cup, clearly lost in her thoughts. Chloe didn't push, allowing Beca the space she needed. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, she exhaled slowly and looked up, her eyes meeting Chloe's with an honesty that took Chloe by surprise.

"My mom died when I was younger," Beca said, her voice quiet but steady. "She was the one who taught me to love music. After she passed, I guess I stopped caring about a lot of things. Music was the one thing that made sense to me. But then… well, I got lost for a while. I don't really know how to explain it."

Chloe listened intently, feeling the weight of Beca's words settle in the space between them. She hadn't expected Beca to open up like this, but there was something raw and vulnerable about her that made Chloe want to protect her, to help her find her way out of the darkness she'd been living in.

"I get it," Chloe said softly, her voice full of empathy. "It's hard to find your way when you lose something—or someone—that meant everything to you. But I'm glad you're here. You don't have to do this alone."

Beca's eyes softened, and she looked away for a moment, her cheeks coloring slightly. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to unload on you like that."

Chloe reached across the table and placed a hand gently on Bea's. "You don't have to apologize. I'm glad you trusted me enough to share that. You're not a burden, Becs."

Beca's gaze flickered to Chloe's hand on hers, and for a brief moment, there was a pause in the air. The new friendship between them, which had been tentative before, now felt like something real, something a but more solid.

They both sat in silence for a while, letting the conversation drift into more casual territory. But for Chloe, the air had shifted. She'd seen a new side of Beca, one that was raw and vulnerable, and it made Chloe's heart ache with a mix of empathy and protectiveness.

As the afternoon wore on, the conversation gradually turned back to lighter topics, with Bec becoming more comfortable. They talked about music, their favorite artists, and even joked about some of the most ridiculous things that had happened at the record company.

But underneath the laughter, Chloe felt a growing connection to Beca, something deeper. She could feel it, creeping up on her slowly, and though it made her nervous, she couldn't deny it.

By the time they parted ways that evening, Chloe found herself looking forward to whatever came next.