Chapter 99 99

Chapter 99 99
Wilson looked startled by my sudden outburst. "What's wrong?"

"It's almost 7:30PM!" I said, scrolling through my phone notifications. "We've been here for over four hours!"

My screen showed a notification counter that made my stomach drop. I already had 9 missed calls. Four were from Raymond, five from Sophia, and several text messages I hadn't heard come through because I had put my phone on silent when I sat down.

"Oh no, oh no, oh no," I muttered, opening the messages.

I began with the one from Raymond, which he sent at 6:15 PM. It read: "Hey, when are you planning to be back? Just checking in."

The next one was from Sophia, and it was sent at 6:30 PM. It read; "Claire, are you okay? You've been gone for a while."

Then another text from Raymond sent at 6:45 PM read; "Claire, please text back. We're beginning to get worried."

From Sophia came another text sent at 7:00 PM; "I've been trying to call you. Is everything alright? Should I be worried?"

I was so sure Raymond was at the verge of panicking because he sent another text at 7:15 PM. "If I don't hear from you in the next 15 minutes, I'm calling the police."

"Oh God, they think something happened to me," I said, immediately hitting the call button for Raymond.

He answered on the first ring. "Claire! Geez! Where have you been? Do you have any idea how worried we've been? I was beginning to think the worst."

"I'm so sorry," I apologized, quickly. "I'm fine. I'm completely fine. I was just having coffee with Wilson and we lost track of time. I didn't hear my phone ringing."

"You've been having coffee for over four hours?" Raymond's voice was a mixture of relief and irritation. "Claire, we thought something had happened to you. After everything with Clara and Liam being in town, when you didn't answer your phone for hours, we thought..."

He didn't finish the sentence, but I could hear the genuine fear that had been behind his worry.

"I know, I'm sorry," I said, feeling terrible. "I should have checked my phone. I didn't mean to get you worried."

"Are you okay though?" Raymond asked, his voice softening slightly. "Really okay?"

"Yes, I'm really okay," I confirmed. "I promise. I'm heading home right now."

"Okay," Raymond said, a bit at ease. "Drive safely. But Claire? Next time, maybe set an alarm or something when you go out. Or at least check your phone occasionally."

"I will," I promised. "I'm really sorry for scaring you, bro."

He sighed, and replied, “It's fine. Please don't stay back for too long now.” He added, and the call ended.

After hanging up with him, I immediately called Sophia to reassure her as well. She was equally relieved to hear from me and gently scolded me for not checking in.

When I finally put my phone down, I looked at Wilson with an apologetic expression. "I'm so sorry about that. I didn't realize how late it had gotten."

"Don't apologize," Wilson said. "I didn't realize the time either. That's what happens during good conversation, I suppose. Time just... disappears." He gestured with his hands in the air, and I smiled.

He was right. The past four hours had felt like maybe ninety minutes at most. I couldn't remember the last time I'd been so engrossed in a conversation that I completely lost track of time like that.

"I should probably head home," I said reluctantly. "Before Raymond sends out a search party." I rolled my eyes.

Wilson smiled, standing up as I gathered my things. "That's true. I should let you leave before he storms here and beats me up for keeping his dear sister away for too long.” He joked.

I burst out laughing. “You're hilarious.”

“I know, right. Anyway, thank you for coming, even though you were in the middle of important work."

"Thank you for being so understanding about me being late," I countered, quickly but softly. "And for the conversation. I really enjoyed it."

"So did I," Wilson said, and there was something different in his expression that made my heart skip slightly.

We walked out to the parking lot together, the evening air cool and refreshing after being inside for so long.

"Claire," Wilson said as we reached my car, "I know we're just friends and still getting to know each other, and I respect that completely, but I want you to know that I really value these conversations we have. Whether it's as friends or... something else, I enjoy spending time with you."

I felt my cheeks warm at his words. "I enjoy spending time with you too, Wilson. More than I expected to, honestly."

"Good," he said with a small smile. "Then maybe we can do this again sometime? Maybe when you're not drowning in work proposals and expansion plans?"

"I guess that could work," I admitted, shrugging. "Though fair warning, the ‘drowning in work’ thing might be my normal state for a while."

Wilson laughed. "I'll keep that in mind. Drive safe, Claire."

"You too," I said, getting into my car.

As I drove home, I found myself smiling despite the guilt I felt about getting Raymond and Sophia worried. The evening with Wilson had been unexpected in the best way. We'd talked about everything and nothing, and somehow four hours had passed in what felt like minutes.

I thought about what he'd said about valuing our conversations, about enjoying spending time with me. And I realized with a start that I felt the same way.

“Was this what Raymond and Sophia had been warning me about? Getting too close to someone too quickly? Letting my guard down?” I asked myself out loud.

“Maybe.” I shrugged, but sitting in that coffee shop with Wilson, laughing and talking and losing track of time, had felt... nice. More Comfortable than I would like to admit even.

I shook my head, trying to clear these thoughts. I had too much on my plate right now to be analyzing whatever was or wasn't developing with Wilson. Meridian Global, WILCROFT, the expansion, all of that needed my focus.

“Do not lose focus, Claire.” I said out loud as if saying it to myself loudly would make me focus.

But as I pulled into my driveway and saw the lights on in the house, I couldn't help but hold onto the warm feeling from the evening just a little bit longer because I knew I would go back to being focused and professional tomorrow.

But at least tonight, I was going to let myself enjoy the memory of good coffee, good conversation, and the company of someone who made me laugh and forget about all the complicated parts of my life.

My phone chimed loudly, snapping me out of my reverie. It was a text message which read,

“Aren't you going to come in?”