The music from the party pulsed around them, but Maddie felt like the world had quieted down to just her and Alex. His hand was warm in hers, and for the first time that week, she wasn't thinking about deadlines or coffee disasters.
"So," Alex said with a grin, "what's your go-to dance move? Because I have two left feet."
Maddie laughed. "Oh please, you're the one who just spilled espresso all over your shirt."
"Touché," he admitted, stepping carefully to avoid stepping on her toes. "So, what do you do when you're not causing coffee floods or stealing my shirts?"
"Marketing exec," she said. "Color-coded planner addict. Obsessive over details."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "Sounds... intense."
"Trust me, it is." Maddie smiled shyly. "And you?"
"Graphic designer. Basically, I turn chaos into art."
"Fitting." Maddie squeezed his hand. "We're a mess and a masterpiece."
He laughed, then suddenly got serious. "Maddie, can I be honest?"
"Of course."
"This might sound crazy, but I feel like I've known you longer than a coffee spill and a party shirt swap. Like... there's something here."
Maddie's heart skipped. "I was thinking the same thing."
[They stood there for a moment, smiles lingering, the kind of silence that speaks louder than words.
Then Alex's phone buzzed, breaking the spell.
"Guess reality's calling," he said, stepping back with a sheepish grin.
"Yeah, but maybe we'll answer it together sometime?" Maddie teased.
He nodded. "Definitely."
As the night went on, Maddie realized that sometimes the best things happen when life is messy, unpredictable... and maybe a little caffeinated.