Vivian:
Yes.
Simple. One word. No qualifiers. I like it.
Great. There’s a place by the water. Dumplings are solid.
The dots again.
Vivian:
…
I’m never going to say no to dumplings. What time?
I look at mywatch.
Six?
Vivian:
Perfect. Send me the address and I’ll see you there.
I’m early,and not by accident.
The place was already busy when I arrived. It’s got low lighting, a warm atmosphere, and there’s a kind of steady noise that doesn’t get under my skin. Plates clink, voices blend, music threads through it all in a way that actually makes sense for me. I’ve picked out a table near the window, best one in my humble opinion, two waters sit untouched, and I’ve already memorized the menu twice over.
I’m not nervous. No way. At least, this is what I’m in the middle of telling myself when the door opens, and I look up without thinking.
And then I don’t look away. I can’t.
Vivian steps inside looking like the perfect blend of classy and sexy, but also put together in a way that makes her whole ensemble feel intentional. Her long brown hair falls loose over her shoulders, green eyes catching the light as she scans the room, moving quickly until they land on me.
And then…then,she smiles.
I push up from my chair before I can think too hard about it.
“Hey,” she says, sliding into the seat across from me, a glimmer of mischief in her expression. “This was a nice surprise.”
“Yeah,” I say, dropping back into my chair, reaching for my glass mostly to give my hands something to do. “Figured I’d switch things up a little.”
Her brows lift, curious now.
“Since we like honesty…”
“We do,” she agrees, a chuckle under her words.
“I was going to ask you out on Saturday, but I found outtoday I’ve got to leave practice a little early, so…” I tip my head, like that explains it. “Moved up the timeline.”
She laughs and leans back in her chair, looking at me like she’s trying to figure something out.
“Wow,” she says. “You are very strategic with the way you think about things.”
I huff out a quiet breath, something close to a smile pulling at my mouth. “That a problem?”
“No, it most certainly isn’t,” she says as she picks up a menu. “So, what’s good here?”
“Dumplings,” I say without hesitation. “Pork if you’re playing it safe. Chili oil if you’re not.”
