Sophie sat alone in the crowded café, nursing her coffee as she scrolled through her phone. It was a typical Tuesday afternoon, and she had just finished her shift at the local bookstore. She had always loved books, but lately, she found herself more drawn to the customers than the titles on the shelves.

As she looked up, she noticed a young man at a nearby table. He had striking blue eyes and dark hair that fell just above his eyebrows. She couldn't help but stare, admiring his sharp features and the way he leaned back in his chair, lost in thought.

Sophie was lost in her own thoughts when she suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder. Startled, she turned around to see a friend from college, Sarah, who had just moved back into town.

"Hey, Sophie! I haven't seen you in ages!" Sarah exclaimed, pulling up a chair to sit down. "What brings you here?"

Sophie smiled and filled Sarah in on her job at the bookstore and her love of coffee shops. They chatted for a while, catching up on old times, when Sarah suddenly gasped and pointed to the table beside them.

"Isn't that Nathan?" she asked, nodding towards the young man Sophie had been admiring earlier.

Sophie's heart skipped a beat as she looked back at him. She had seen Nathan around town before, but they had never spoken. He was a few years older than her, and she had always thought he was out of her league.

"Uh, yeah, I think it is," Sophie replied, trying to play it cool. "But I don't really know him."

Sarah grinned mischievously. "Well, let's go say hi! I bet he's single."

Sophie's heart raced as she followed Sarah over to Nathan's table. As they approached, Nathan looked up and smiled.

"Hey, I'm Sarah, and this is Sophie. Mind if we sit with you?" Sarah asked, already pulling out a chair.

Nathan shrugged and grinned. "Not at all. It's nice to meet you both."

Sophie felt her cheeks flush as she took a seat across from Nathan. They started talking, and Sophie found herself drawn to his easy smile and the way his eyes lit up when he talked about his job as an engineer. As the conversation flowed, she realized that they had more in common than she had thought.

As the afternoon turned into evening, Sophie reluctantly stood up to leave. Nathan walked her to the door and smiled as he said goodbye.

"It was great to meet you, Sophie. I hope we can do this again sometime."

Sophie smiled back, feeling a flutter in her stomach. As she walked home, she couldn't help but wonder if Nathan felt the same way she did. She couldn't wait to find out.