"Why would I lie about what I do?"
"I don't know. Maybe you're secretly wealthy and don't want women dating you for money?"
He nearly chokes on his wine. "That's... very specific."
"Am I right?"
"I'm comfortable. I've been lucky with investments. But my primary work is still wildlife management."
It's not technically a lie, but something suggests there's more to the story. Still, I don't want to interrogate him on our first meeting.
"Well, whatever you do, it's working for you," I say. "You seem happy."
"I was settled. Happy is... newer."
"Newer how?"
"Newer as in the past week. Since a beautiful woman accidentally sent me a photo and turned my quiet life upside down."
"Just the past week?"
"Just the past week. Before that, I thought I had everything figured out."
"And now?"
"Now I'm sitting in a restaurant with someone who makes me want things I didn't know I was missing."
"What kind of things?"
His eyes meet mine. "Partnership. Conversation that challenges me. Someone to share the view from my mountain with."
"Someone to share everything with."
The waiter arrives, breaking the spell. But as we discuss appetizers, I'm acutely aware of Max's every movement. The way his hands gesture when he talks. The way he listens with complete attention.
"Can I ask you something?" I say after the waiter leaves.
"Anything."
"Why me? You could have just deleted the photo and moved on. Why did you keep talking to me?"
He considers this seriously. "Because you were real. From your first message, you were completely yourself. No games, no pretense. Do you have any idea how rare that is?"
"Rare how?"
"Most people want something from me. Or they're performing some version of themselves. But you just were yourself."
"Even when myself was mortified and rambling?"
"Especially then." His smile is soft. "Chantay, I've never met anyone who made me feel as comfortable being myself as you do."
"Even though we've only known each other a week?"
"Even though. Time doesn't matter when the connection is real."
I reach across the table and cover his hand with mine. "I feel the same way. Like I've been waiting for you without knowing it."
He turns his hand palm up, threading our fingers together. "What are we doing here, Chantay?"
