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Vin stared at the coffee shop that was one crossed-street away.
It looked just like the picture Elend had sent; tucked into a corner with a bookstore to the left of it. Two chairs and a small table sat outside the coffee shop’s olive green outer walls and a large window let light into the small interior showing a floating bar that had three extra seats, the counter where one employee made the drinks and one more round table that from Vin’s view had a man with curly, brown hair.
She had gotten very knowledgeable of said curly, brown hair—having spent an embarrassing number of hours staring at the photos Elend sent her and then proceeding to save those of him taken in public—so she knew it belonged to the man she was here to meet for a date.
A date.
She couldn’t believe it. She hadn’t believed it when he’d asked her on Monday night and she’d spent the rest of the evening in a slight daze before going to sleep. It was the next morning, well-rested, that she reread their conversation and a smile had grown, plastered there throughout the day and well into the next when she met Spook for lunch and he’d forced her to share what had her smiling that hard. He wasn’t used to seeing her that happy and it was making him uncomfortable.
And now here she was, watching Elend through the glass window, hunched over, a book in front of him and Vin couldn’t help a fond smile. Of course he was reading a book while waiting for her but even from a short distance away, she could tell that he wasn’t focused on it; his hands kept coming up to run through his hair and adjust his clothing.
Crossing the street, she sent out a text.
Vin was very happy that the shop’s windows showed the entire store because she was able to bear witness to Elend reaching for his phone and reading the text before his head shot up to the entrance that she was just stepping into. Clearly too fast because he slammed his knee against the bottom of the table, Elend stood up. He winced, reaching to rub against the knee but his hand quickly swiped at it before settling at the back of his neck.
“Vin,” Elend said. “Um…hi.”
Vin stopped in front of him, craning her neck to look up at him. He was taller than her—online information put him at six foot—and she had to take a small step back so that her measly five foot frame wouldn’t have her snapping her neck.
She smiled. “Hi Elend.”
The man’s cheeks tinted red and he opened his mouth, closing it without actually saying anything. Vin found herself speechless as well and it was strange that despite talking to each other nearly every single day since the beginning of the year, they both had no idea what to say. Thank Adonalsium they were the only ones there and the poor barista—who was pointedly not looking at them— was the only witness to this absolute mess of a social interaction.
A breath and suddenly Elend was laughing, his chest rising and falling in sudden bursts. “This is so embarrassing,” he said. “I’ve been looking forward to this day for so long and now I can’t find anything to say.”
Vin let out a breath of her own. “Tell me about it. I’m never this shy.”
Just like that, the awkward air around them dissipated. This was Elend, the friend she’d been talking to since January. So when he slowly opened his arms, a crooked smile on his lips, it took all her restraint not to jump into them. Instead, she stepped into the space and melted against his chest. Her cheek rubbed against the soft cashmere sweater he wore and his scent—old books, coffee and something woody—made her breath hitch. She wrapped her arms around him, felt his settling on her back, and squeezed. Elend pulled her impossibly closer and Vin followed.
“It’s so nice to finally meet you Vin,” Elend whispered.
She nodded into his chest. “It’s nice to meet you too.”
They pulled away and when Vin looked up at him, his eyes soft and smiling, she experienced the sinking feeling in her gut she felt all those weeks ago when she jumped off a cliff. This is what they meant by feeling butterflies in your stomach, she thought.
He held out a hand to the table he was seated at and Vin sat, hanging her sling bag on the chair.
“Shouldn’t we order?” she asked when Elend folded himself across her.
He shook his head. “I already did.”
She raised her eyebrow.
He smiled. “I remember your coffee order. I asked her to start preparing once my date arrived.” His smile slipped slightly. “Unless I overstepped?”
“No, it’s okay,” Vin assured. “I was going to order the same either way.”
Vin saw Elend’s shoulders loosen.
“Great. You can choose what snack you’d like.” He handed her the menu.
Vin perused through the options, the coffee maker the only sound in the shop, and when she looked up—about to ask if he was okay with sandwiches—she saw Elend staring at her with a smile tugging at his lips, holding his head up by his right elbow on the wooden table.
“What?” she questioned.
“You’re very beautiful. Your pictures don’t do you justice.”
He said that so easily, the words practically dripping from his mouth and Vin felt heat creep down her neck. She brushed a stray strand of hair behind her hot ear and replied, “Thank you. You’re very handsome as well.” Her smile shifted to a smirk. “Horrible taste in clothing notwithstanding.”
Elend gasped and pressed a hand against his chest. “I told you that in confidence and you use it against me! Besides, I dress so much better now.”
“Because of Aunt Tindwyl,” Vin pointed out.
“All that matters is the destination. Forget the journey.”
“I’m pretty sure the phrase is ‘Journey before destination’.”
Elend beamed. “You read Trials of Monument?”
Vin sighed. “I did. I can’t say I understood everything but the chapter that quote is from, about the way of kings, was interesting enough.” Adonalsium knew how much she hadn’t wanted to read a book on political theory but in those weeks when Elend had disappeared, she’d found herself going back to the bookstore and buying the book, wanting to know what about it had Elend so enamoured.
Elend was beaming; nearly shaking in happiness and Vin couldn’t believe something as simple as reading his favourite book caused this much joy. Maybe she wouldn’t be so bad at this dating thing.
The coffee was almost done, Vin could see the barista putting the final touches to their drinks.
“Are you okay with getting sandwiches?” Vin asked.
Elend, still elated, nodded.
Her espresso was placed in front of her and Elend’s latte before him. They said their thanks before sharing what sandwiches they’d like to eat and just as Vin finished pouring sugar into her drink, a hand entered into her field of vision.
Elend held his right hand out, palm up. She looked at him and he wiggled his eyebrows.
Vin giggled—how Spook would laugh at her if he ever found out—and slid her fingers in between his.
Elend pulled their joined hands towards him and placed a kiss to the back of her hand.
Heart racing, she squeezed his hand in return.
They slowly sipped their coffee, Elend sharing a story involving Telden, Jastes and being drunk on a balcony at a ball. All the while, they held hands across the table.