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Alex doesn’t exactly remember when he noticed him . All he knows is that this chiseled chin, sharp features sandy blond haired man has been in his peripheral vision for weeks. If it wasn’t in the bookstore up the block, it’s the cafe that’s two streets over. New York, Brooklyn to be exact, isn’t that small. The idea of running into the same person a few times a week is honestly rare.
“You’re going to burn a hole.” He blinks and turns his head over to his older sister, June, and his best friend, Nora.
“What?” Alex gulps.
Nora gives him a smirk, the kind where he knows he won’t hear the end of this possibly. “You’re going to burn a hole through the handsome boy if you stare any longer.”
“He’s not that handsome.” That’s a lie and they know it. “It’s just - he’s everywhere .” Alex leans against his seat and takes a long sip of this fourth coffee of the day. “Just the other day, I was picking up dry cleaning and there he was. It’s getting scary.”
June lets out a snort. “Scary? Or visually appealing?” She gives Alex a look when he kicks her under the table. “Alexander,” she closes the book she was reading and leans forward. “Have you given the thought that just maybe and I am saying maybe - our little close knit neighborhood is just that? A really small neighborhood? I mean, if he lives around our block it literally makes sense why do you see him so much?”
Alex scoffs. “I don’t even see you that often and you live in the apartment above me.” It’s ridiculous the more he gives it further thought. “I - and it’s not just that.”
“Oh.” Nora’s tone is full of amusement and playfulness. “Do share what else could be, Alejandro ?”
“He just looks so - “ what is the exact word he is looking for? “Elegant and posh.” The days whenever Alex notices him, the blond stranger never fails to look as if he stepped out of a magazine or something. Not a single hair out of place. His clothes are always ironed and my god - there are moments where Alex notices the way he puts his sweater sleeves up revealing a little bit of that toned foreman and it literally - Alex pauses. He clears his throat and shrugs. “I just don’t believe people wake up and look like that to get their damn dry cleaning.”
June rolls her eyes. “People do wake up early and put themselves together to start the day, Alex.”
“Hey!”
“Not his fault that half the time you two meet up, you’re always a mess.” Nora points out.
“Sorry if I am a full time law student who is trying to cram his studies whilst working at the coffee shop to make a living as well.” Alex sticks out his tongue.
Nora nods. “A coffee shop where you basically run their money to the ground by the amount of caffeine you drink.” She peers over to the side, an eyebrow squirming up. “Oh.”
“What?” Alex looks up just in time to see that the stranger is walking towards their table. “What the - “
“Hello.” He says, his accent even all posh and full of grace. Damn, he’s British too . “Sorry to bother you but I wanted to ask a quick question.” There’s a nervousness in his tone as he slightly smiles yet couldn’t help but look away. “I - I don’t usually do this.” Alex looks down at the stranger’s hands, noticing at the way he’s twisting that ring around his finger - a nervous tactic. “I have been noticing you around lately and - “
“Oh, trust us.” Nora sneaks a smile. “Our friend here - ow!” She bends down to massage the area that Alex managed to kick her under the table.
The stranger clears his throat. “It’s just that - “
Alex tilts his head, “Are you coming here to tell me to stop stalking you? Because I am fairly certain it could be the other way around. I mean, I’ve lived here for five years and you’ve only just shown up so I beg to differ that - “
“Oh, no!” There’s a brief moment where Alex sees his eyes glancing between his feet and the door. As if making a run for it would solve whatever awkwardness this is. “I just wanted to ask you out!”
Nora and June proceed to choke on their coffee. Alex swears he almost fell off the chair. “I’m sorry?” Never in a million years would he imagine that he would be asked out. It’s usually the other way around.
The hesitation in Alex must’ve scared off the stranger by the way his facial expression is slowly changing. “Oh my God, I do apologize for making an assumption! I - I just noticed we’ve been exchanging eye contact frequently and you’re really one of the most sexist men I have seen in years.” A noticed scoffed escapes out of Nora’s mouth. “I am quite interested in you but if I just embarrassed myself then I am just going to walk away now.”
Alex stands up. “Wait!” He shrugs as he tries to ignore the way his heart is pounding out of his chest. “Yes.” He smiles and holds out his hand. “I’ll go out with you for a date.” Certainly up close this guy is too handsome for his eyes. The way his hair is perfection styled and his skin looks so flawless under the dim fluorescent light, he’s very much eye-catching. And who is Alex kidding, the only reason why he has been noticing this guy so often is due to how his presence pulls you in. “My name is Alex.”
Shaking his head shyly, the stranger smiles. “Pleased to finally speak to you, Alex.” The eye contact between the both of them lingers, a sparkle that he swears could set this place on fire if they hold onto each other much longer. “I am Henry, Henry Fox.”
Alex chuckles. “Fox, huh. Quite fitting, I must add.” The color that spreads across Henry’s cheeks only allows Alex to feel as if he can flirt furthermore. “Well, Henry - “ he leans over to the table to grab a napkin and pen from his backpack. “This is my number.” Alex smiles. “Text me when you’re ready to take me out on this date.”
Henry looks at the napkin and nods. “I will.” He folds the napkin and tucks it safely inside his jacket. “See you then.” He looks over to Nora and June. “It was pleased to meet you as well.”
June, being the older sister that she is, gives Henry a once over, practically approving him with her eyes. “Let me just add that my younger brother here is a crazy one. So,” she winks. “Good luck.”
“Catalina!” Alex groans. “Please.”
“As her girlfriend and his best friend, I vouch for his craziness. You’re in for a ride.” Nora adds.
“Oh.” Henry clears his throat. “I certainly hope so.”
Alex blinks, a bit surprised by Henry’s honesty yet quirkiness response. Shit, he’s going to love this guy, isn’t he? Alex bids goodbye as Henry walks out. As soon as the three of them were alone at the table again, he sits back down and gasped. “He is too cute!”
“He’s cute? Merely seconds ago, he was an annoyance to your existence.”
Alex rolls his eyes. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” He opens his textbook again. “If you don’t mind, I have studying to do.” He smirks when June and Nora throws rolled up paper at him before returning to their own books. Alex turns his head to look out the window, catching a small glimpse of Henry walking away - a brief eye contact through the glass. Damn . He really can’t wait for this date now.