Chapter 7: A Night to Remember

The dim lights of the restaurant faded into the bright city lights as Koa stepped out onto the sidewalk, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. She had survived the team bonding event, and to her surprise, she had actually enjoyed herself. The sounds of laughter and music still echoed in her ears as she made her way back to her apartment. As she walked, she couldn't help but think about the way Jordan had looked at her throughout the night. She had caught him staring at her several times, and she couldn't deny the flutter in her chest whenever their eyes met. She tried to brush it off as mere curiosity, but a part of her wondered if there was something more to it. The next morning, Koa woke up feeling refreshed and energized. She spent the morning running errands and doing some light stretching to loosen up her muscles. As she was sipping on a cup of coffee, her phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number. "Hey Koa, it's Jordan. Hope you had a good time last night. I was wondering if you'd like to grab lunch with me today?" Koa's heart skipped a beat as she read the message. She hadn't expected to hear from Jordan so soon, and she wasn't sure if she was ready for a one-on-one encounter with him. But a part of her was curious, and she found herself agreeing to meet him. They decided on a quiet café near the stadium, and Koa spent the next hour getting ready. She opted for a more casual outfit, a white tank top and a pair of distressed denim shorts, and did a quick workout to get her blood pumping. As she arrived at the café, she spotted Jordan sitting at a table outside, sipping on a coffee. He looked up and caught her eye, flashing a warm smile. Koa felt a flutter in her chest as she walked towards him, but she tried to play it cool. "Hey, thanks for meeting me," Jordan said, standing up to greet her. "I hope you're not too busy today." Koa shook her head, taking a seat across from him. "No, I'm good. Just enjoying a quiet morning." The conversation flowed easily, and Koa found herself opening up to Jordan in ways she hadn't expected. They talked about everything from their favorite foods to their childhood memories, and Koa was surprised by how much they had in common. As they chatted, Koa couldn't help but notice the way Jordan's eyes sparkled when he laughed, or the way his hair curled slightly at the nape of his neck. She felt a sense of ease around him that she hadn't experienced with anyone in a long time. As they finished their lunch, Jordan glanced at his watch and stood up. "I'm so sorry, but I have a meeting with the coach in 20 minutes. Can I walk you back to your car?" Koa nodded, feeling a bit disappointed that their time together was coming to an end. But as they walked, Jordan turned to her and said, "Hey, I was thinking, maybe we could grab dinner sometime this week? Just the two of us?" Koa's heart skipped a beat as she met his gaze. She wasn't sure if she was ready for a date with Jordan, but a part of her was excited at the prospect. "I'd like that," she said, smiling up at him. Jordan grinned, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Great. I'll send you a text and we can finalize plans." As they parted ways, Koa couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. She had a feeling that this was just the beginning of something special.