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Kieran: Sure thing. I’ll give you a call soon. I promise.

Shortly after that text conversation wrapped up, my phone chimed with another incoming text. I sighed and rolled my eyes, thinking it was Micah again, or maybe Max, but when I saw Ellis’s name on my screen, butterflies fluttered in my stomach.

I opened the message. It wasn’t just one text. It was a series of photos. The first one was of Ellis’s signature on the lease. The following images were of the space. The message only said one thing.

Ellis: What do you think?

I responded quickly, beaming.

Kieran: I’m so proud of you. Congratulations. Have you told Lena?

Ellis: Not yet. I wanted to tell you first.

My chest warmed with pleasure.

Kieran: Do you want to have dinner together as a celebration?

Ellis: Hell yeah. See you around seven? We can go to the new shop and look around. Christen it.

Kieran: Sounds perfect.

I spent the rest of the day working on various projects—continuing education, making sure the house was clean, a trip to the grocery store for food staples we needed. Then I hunkered down on the couch with my laptop to research tattoo studios. I wasn’t going to force my way into helping Ellis with his new shop, but I wanted to be prepared if he asked for opinions. I’d already told him what I thought about enhancing the space, but I also didn’t know much of anything about what tattoo shops were supposed to look like, or what practicalities needed to be considered.

Hours passed quickly and around five Lena came home and kicked her shoes off at the door.

“What’ve you been up to all day?” she asked as she flopped onto the couch alongside me.

I shrugged and closed my laptop, hoping it looked casual and inconspicuous. “Talked to Micah for a while. Went grocery shopping. Did some work.”

She hummed and picked up the TV remote. “Sounds productive.” A moment passed. “What should we do for dinner? I think Ellis is working late tonight.”

“I… was going to go out for dinner.”

“Ooh, where? I want to come.”

My stomach lurched. There was absolutely no way I could let her know what my plans were or let her come along. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, trying to think of a good answer. “I hadn’t decided where yet, but… I wasn’t going alone.”

Lena’s eyebrows rose. “Ohh. I get it. You have a date.”

Forcing myself to act naturally, I nodded once. “Something like that.”

“Oh, my God, Kier. You have a date. With someone from Pine Bluff?”

“Yeah, you could say that.”

She giggled and squealed in excitement. “That’s the best news I’ve heard all day. Tell me everything.”

“Oh, I don’t—” I waved away her request. “It’s new. I don’t want to give too much away.”

Lena nudged me with her elbow. “Well, tell me something, at least. Is your date with a man or a woman?”

“A man. He’s… tall. Dark hair. Dark eyes.”

“He sounds hot.”

I nodded. “That’s an understatement.”

“Ugh, I’m so jealous. I want to go on a date with someone. It’s been way too long since I’ve gotten laid.” She paused for a moment. “Is this your first date?”