We fall into an easy rhythm, sharing fries, stealing kisses. It’s intimate but casual—and so carefree.
“When’s your birthday?” I ask between bites of my burger.
“November 7th,” she answers, taking a sip of her drink. “Why?”
“Oh.” I glance at her, amused but still a little nervous about our age difference. “You’re really mature for twenty-two, you know that?”
“I guess.”
“Compared to me … I was living in bars when I was twenty-two.”
“I’ve heard you and your friends used to get up to a bunch of stupid shit.”
“We did. Way too much.”
She shifts in her seat, facing me. I check her out—she’s so beautiful. “Are you a ‘waiting until marriage’ kind of girl?” I’m more than a little curious.
“No!” She swats my arm.
“I didn’t want to assume anything.”
“I’m not a virgin if that’s what you’re asking.”
I chuckle, loving how offended she is. “I wouldn’t care either way.”
“Well … I’m not.”
I smirk and take a bite of my burger, now even more curious about her.
“Have you ever had a serious relationship?”
“Yeah. I think six months counts as serious,” she says softly. “We said we loved each other, but I think what I want doesn’t align with most twenty-something guys.”
“And what do you want?”
“In a perfect world? I’d like to be married and have a baby by twenty-five.”
I reach over and squeeze her hand. “I like the idea of having three years of you all to myself,” I flirt.
She smiles, then presses a fry to my lips. “You think you’re so smooth, huh?”
I could be ready for all of that in three years.
“Anna Clark, I’m falling for your sassy little ass.”
“You think it’s little?”
“I think it’s fucking perfect.”
She bites her lip and looks down. “What about you? What’s your timeline?”
I shake my head. “I don’t have one.”
“Right, Peter Pan.”
“I mean, I do want kids eventually, but I’m not in a rush.” Feeding her another fry, I love this moment. “You know … most people would probably find this conversation inappropriate for a first date.”
“Is this our first date?” she asks skeptically. “I thought the bar was our first date.”