Page 17 of Sassy & Sixty

As they left the restaurant, Rosie felt a flutter of anticipation in her stomach. The night had gone better than she could have hoped, but now came the moment of truth - the end-of-date goodbye.

They walked slowly to Rosie's front door, neither seeming in a hurry for the evening to end.

"I had a wonderful time tonight, Rosie," Mike said as they reached her doorstep.

"So did I," Rosie replied, suddenly feeling shy. "Thank you for a lovely evening."

There was a moment of charged silence, both of them clearly unsure of how to proceed. Then, almost simultaneously, they both leaned in.

The kiss was sweet, a little awkward, but filled with promise. As they pulled apart, Rosie felt a girlish giggle bubble up inside her.

"What's so funny?" Mike asked, looking amused.

Rosie shook her head, still smiling. "Nothing. It's just... I feel like a teenager again. In a good way."

Mike's smile widened. "Me too. Listen, Rosie... I'd really like to see you again. If you're interested, that is."

"I'd like that very much," Rosie said, surprised at how easily the words came.

As Mike walked back to his car, Rosie let herself into the house, her heart light and her cheeks hurting from smiling. Shekicked off her shoes and was about to head upstairs when she noticed a light on in the living room.

Curious, she peeked in - and found all four of her friends sprawled across her furniture, fast asleep. Empty wine glasses and snack bowls littered the coffee table, and Emma was snoring softly, a fashion magazine draped across her face.

Rosie felt a rush of affection for these women who had quite literally waited up for her. She tiptoed over to the hall closet and pulled out a stack of blankets, gently draping one over each of her sleeping friends.

As she turned out the light and headed up to bed.

How lovely was this? A date with handsome doctor A few months ago, she'd been feeling lost and alone. Now, she had a group of amazing friends, a potential new romance, and a sense of excitement about the future that she hadn't felt in years.

"Sixty and just getting started," she murmured to herself as she climbed into bed. "Who would have thought?"

With a contented sigh, Rosie drifted off to sleep, already looking forward to sharing every detail of her date with her friends in the morning. The Sensational Sixties Squad had another adventure to dissect, and Rosie couldn't wait.

"MORNING AFTER MUSINGS"

The early morning sunlight filtered through Rosie's bedroom curtains, gently rousing her from a night of pleasant dreams. As consciousness slowly returned, so did the memories of the previous evening. Mike's charming smile, the warmth of his hand on hers, that sweet, slightly awkward goodnight kiss...

Rosie felt a girlish giggle bubble up inside her, and she pressed her face into her pillow to muffle it. At sixty, she shouldn't be feeling like a teenager with a crush. And yet...

The smell of coffee and the faint sizzle of bacon suddenly registered, reminding Rosie that she wasn't alone in the house. Her friends had stayed over, waiting up for her like excited parents on prom night. The thought both touched and amused her.

Throwing on her dressing gown, Rosie made her way downstairs, following the enticing aroma to the kitchen. There she found a scene of cheerful chaos.

Emma, still glamorous despite her slightly smudged makeup and rumpled clothes, was at the stove, wielding a spatula like a conductor's baton. "The key to perfect bacon," she was saying,"is to let it dance in the pan. A little sizzle here, a little pop there..."

Lisa and Julie were setting the table, playfully arguing over the proper placement of napkins, while Catherine was juicing oranges with the focused determination of a chemist working on a crucial experiment.

"Good morning, ladies," Rosie said, unable to keep the smile from her voice.

Four heads whipped around, and suddenly Rosie found herself engulfed in a group hug that threatened to squeeze the breath out of her.

"There she is!" Emma crowed. "Our Cinderella, returned from the ball!"

"More like returned from a very nice dinner," Rosie corrected, extricating herself from the tangle of arms. "And shouldn't I be the one making you breakfast? You're my guests, after all."

"Nonsense," Catherine said firmly, pressing a glass of fresh orange juice into Rosie's hand. "Consider this our thank you for the impromptu slumber party."

"Although next time," Lisa added, rubbing her neck, "perhaps we could upgrade from 'passed out on the sofa' to 'actual beds'?"

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