Page 22 of A Crane Family New Year

“Since we are calling this a date, what’s the plan for tonight?” Her tone was playful and, if he wasn’t mistaken, hopeful.

“I’m a bit rusty. Isn’t small talk the norm?”

“It is, but we sort of blew past that barrier already.” Her smile was kind.

“Right. Mentioning my late wife probably wasn’t the best conversation starter.”

Her hand on his shoulder squeezed gently. “I like to talk about things that are real. Big talk. Small talk. Any of it, as long as it’s the truth.”

Guilt poked him in the ribs. He was going to have to come clean with her soon.

“I’ll start.” She rolled her eyes to the ceiling as if searching for a topic. “What’s your favorite food?”

“That’s safe.”

“Well, we are on a first date.”

He liked that she’d gone along with that idea.

“Let’s see, my favorite food…” Little did she know that she’d asked him something similar via DM. She’d mentioned how boring she found still-life paintings, and he’d been compelled to show her one that he’d found dynamic and interesting. She’d cheekily admitted that the berry compote looked “scrumptious.” Then she’d asked if he had a favorite breakfast food.

“Nothing beats a fat, buttery croissant,” he said now, giving her a very big hint as to how they knew each other.

Recollection sparked in her eyes but faded when she blinked. So close.

“A chocolate croissant, maybe. But a plain old buttered croissant?” She wrinkled her nose.

“There’s nothing plain about a good croissant.”

“With tea?”

“Coffee. Never was able to stomach tea. What did Ted Lasso call it?”

“Garbage water.”

That was another hint—he’d mentioned the show once or twice on the app too.

“Coffee is the best thing in the whole world,” she said. “Iced or hot?”

“Hot. There’s no other way.”

“Agree. Black or creamed?”

“Black.”

“Sugar?”

“Yes, darling?”

“Fancy yourself clever, don’t you, Zander?”

“I could accuse you of the same, Chloe.”

A beat of not-uncomfortable silence curled in between them. Her hand was warm in his, the sexual tension escalating with each breath. He could feel it humming like a live wire.

“I know how you take your coffee.” One of her eyebrows rose in challenge. “If we ever have coffee together.”

“How about tomorrow morning?”

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