Rayna’s fingers tightened slightly around the steering wheel as she pulled into the small, warmly lit parking lot of "Amarillis" one of Florittle’s cozier restaurants.
It wasn’t fancy in a try-too-hard way, but there was sothing charming about the hanging lanterns over the patio, the gentle music floating from the open windows, and the white-flowered trellis at the entrance. It reminded her of sothing out of one of those quiet Hallmark movies she sotis made fun of but secretly liked.
She switched off the engine and sat for a mont, her heart beating a little faster than usual. It wasn’t nerves exactly... or maybe it was. Just the kind that ca from not knowing what was about to happen.
She hadn’t been on a real date in... well, a while. And definitely not one that started with a one-night stand and a promise made half a year ago in a town she barely rembered clearly because she’d been hiding away.
"Okay, Ray," she whispered to herself, glancing at her reflection one last ti. "It’s just dinner. With a guy you barely know. A guy who slls really good and has that annoying half-smile that makes you forget your na..."
She groaned and grabbed her purse. "You are not going to lose your cool tonight."
As she stepped out, the evening breeze wrapped around her like a whisper, playing gently with the hem of her dress. The erald green shimred under the restaurant lights, and for a second, she rembered Ruby’s face when she’d walked out in it. That soft awe. That sad smile.
Rayna walked through the door, her eyes scanning the room until she saw him.
Ethan was already seated at a corner table by the window, dressed in a crisp white shirt with the sleeves rolled up just enough to show strong forearms. His dark hair was slightly tousled, like he’d run a hand through it a few too many tis. When he looked up and saw her, he stood imdiately and flashed her his most charming smile. The one she’d seen at the bar that night.
Oh no.
That smile. She mused, trying to keep her head straight.
It was warm. Unforced. Like he was genuinely happy to see her. And just like that, her resolve to "not lose her cool" started leaking through the seams of her confidence.
"You made it," he said as she reached the table, pulling out her chair like a gentleman.
"I told you I would," she replied, a teasing lilt in her voice as she sat down. "I’m many things, Ethan, but a promise-breaker isn’t one of them."
His eyes twinkled. "Noted."
"You look even more beautiful in that dress," he said with awe in his eyes. He knew the dress. When he’d helped Stefan place the order, he never would’ve thought his lady would be the one wearing it to their date. She looked perfect.
"Thank you, and you’re not looking bad yourself," she said with a smile and Ethan returned the smile.
They ordered quickly—grilled salmon for her, roasted chicken with rosemary for him—and then the server left them alone with two glasses of chilled lemonade and a silence that wasn’t awkward, but expectant.
Rayna sipped slowly, her fingers brushing against the cool glass. "This place is nice," she said and he nodded.
"I bet you haven’t seen the best part yet. But we’re not here to talk about a restaurant," he said, and Rayna laughed softly.
"So, what are we here to talk about then?"
"You, beautiful. I want to get to know you," he said, and Rayna raised a brow, her curiosity piqued.
"What do you want to know about?"
"Why don’t we start with you telling what you do?" he asked even though he already knew.
She shrugged. "I’m a blogger. What about you, Ethan? What do you do? I never would’ve thought you live in Florittle."
"I’m.... into logistics. I have one logistics company running in Zeden that’s why I fly there apart from checking on my best friend."
"Logstics. That sounds like an ’I wear suits and fix chaos’ kind of job," she teased.
Ethan chuckled. "Pretty close. I coordinate trucks and deliveries, deal with last-minute changes, unhappy clients, and customs paperwork that could kill a man’s spirit."
"Sounds thrilling," she said dryly.
"You’d be surprised. There’s sothing weirdly satisfying about getting a shipnt across three borders on ti."
She raised an eyebrow. "You ever think of doing sothing more exciting? Like, I don’t know, becoming a pirate? Or a fire dancer?"
"Tempting," he said, smiling again, "but I’d probably trip on my own sword."
Rayna laughed, her body relaxing a little. This was good. Easy.
"What about you?" he asked, leaning in a little. "You said you’re a blogger. What kind of stuff do you write about?"
"Everything," she said with a small shrug. "People. Monts. Life. I’m a professional overthinker, so writing is how I keep myself from exploding."
"That sounds poetic," he said, genuinely intrigued.
"Poetic, sure. But sotis it’s just ranting about how laundry should count as cardio or why cereal at night is the peak of adulthood."
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Ethan laughed—a deep, rich sound that made sothing flutter in her chest. She liked the way he laughed. Like he wasn’t just being polite. Like he got her.
They talked through dinner, trading stories—so light, so surprisingly personal. Ethan told her about growing up in Zeden, the long hours building his company, and how he almost lost it once to a terrible investnt.
She told him about her childhood in Zeden and how her parents had moved to Florittle when she was fifteen, her love for words, and how she once accidentally sent a love poem ant for her crush to her high school math teacher.
"You did not," he said, eyes wide with amusent.
"Oh, I did," she groaned. "Mr. Daniels thought it was a prank. I almost died."
He chuckled. "You’re full of surprises," he said, still smiling.
"I try."
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