"Thank you," I say, stepping back so he can come inside.
His eyes sweep over my space, taking in the clean counters, the scent of sugar still lingering in the air, the stack of labeled bakery boxes on the table, but he doesn’t comment.Instead, he watches me as I find a mason jar, fill it with water, and tuck the flowers inside.
When I turn back around, he’s still watching me.
"You look beautiful."
My breath stutters, and my cheeks heat with a blush.
I wore my favorite dress, the navy blue with tiny white polka dots, fitted at the waist and flaring out at my hips.I paired it with a soft gray cardigan and flats, and I even curled my hair.I look...nice.But beautiful?I’ve never been called that before.Not seriously.Not like this.
"Thank you," I whisper.
He steps closer, offering his arm."Ready to go?"
I nod, looping my arm through his.We walk outside together, and the air is crisp but not cold.The last of the sun glows behind the trees as he opens the passenger door of his truck for me.It smells like leather and pine inside, faintly like him.
He starts the engine and pulls out of the lot.
"So," I say after a few minutes."Where are we going?"
"You like Italian?"
I nod."Love it."
"Good.There’s a place on the edge of town.Candlelight, fresh pasta.Thought it might be nice."
My heart skips.Candlelight?That sounds...romantic.And terrifying.
I glance at him out of the corner of my eye."Is this a date?"
He turns to me, brow raised."Yes."
I chew my lip, heart pounding."Okay."
He returns his gaze to the road."You don’t date much.”
He says it as a statement, but I still answer.
"Is it that obvious?"
"A little."
"It’s not that I didn’t want to.I just...I didn’t get asked,” I say as I fiddle with the edge of my sleeve.
Rhodes’s hands tighten slightly on the wheel, and I wonder why he seems so on edge.
He must be nervous about our date, too.That thought helps to put me at ease a bit.
I continue, because I figure if I don’t say this now, I never will."Growing up, I was always the chubby, quiet girl.The one with flour in her hair and books in her backpack.In high school, I used to fantasize about proposals and secret admirers, but it never happened.And by college, I was working two jobs and trying not to drown in grief.Dating just...never seemed like something meant for me."
He doesn’t reply right away, and I worry I’ve overshared.
"They were all fools.Every single one of them," he finally says, his tone edged with frustration.
I glance over and find him watching the road, jaw tight."You don’t know that," I whisper.
"I do."He turns to me at a red light."You’re stunning, Adeline.Smart.Strong.Sweet.They didn’t see you, and that’s their loss."