's

next day, simple and direct

ht. Meet me at The Crystal Veil Restaurant, to

beautiful. I want to see yo

ng that ridiculous flutter again. No club. No dim l

ttling on a soft emerald-green one that skimmed my knees and made my eyes look brig

ted on. When I stepped out of the cab in front of the Elysium Hotel

taurant was perched at the very top, known for its floating

d been expecting me. "Riley

e wires, casting warm golden pools on white tablecloths. Tiny white flowers floated in gl

wearing a crisp black button-down with the sleeves rolled once, look

des, never reaching out-but his smile was so ge

the same velvet that had kept me awake

eping us safely apart, just like the invisible rule we

rn light and held mine. "I thought we could use a different kind of ro

ared scallops for him, herb-crusted salmon for me-and then the

ersa

onvers

but his hands stayed on his own side of the table. "Tell me something true abou

ng the napkin in my lap. "T

're brave enough to walk into a place like Club Obsidian. Now I want to know wha

tol

shoebox. About how I secretly wanted to illustrate children's books somed

ssing details, but how it had left me feeling small

is eyes crinkled at the corners when I described my dre

never looked away, nev

his turn, he

b when life feels... loud. My days are spent fixing broken things for other people-restoring old buildings, actually. Ol

the best way. "That's bea

to you... I remembered what it feels like to want somethi

if we only ever have th

blanket. My eyes stung, but I smiled throug

glad I'm t

ked fo

loved fantasy with happy endings. About the rid

an abandoned park just because a little girl had

life under his hands. He grinned-wide and boyish-when I told him about the ti

elow. And through every story, every shared laugh, the space betwee

zation that he saw me-not just the nervous girl in t

te with two forks, though neither

g how perfect each bite tasted

we stood at the same time. The restaurant had emptied arou

close enough that I could feel his warmt

glass walls with the city sparklin

I came here thinking I'd keep the distance. But talking

against my ribs.

night air just outside the hotel entrance, under a canopy of str

ds still at his sides, bu

e hadn't let himself say all night. "Can I kiss you

ely able to b

hange my mind-until only inches remained. Then h

hungry kiss

Sweet. Heart-st

. One perfect second. Two. Three. Long enough for me to feel the quiet thunder of his heartbeat, long eno

he briefest moment-no hands, just breath and closeness-and

e talks. More lanterns. More of you telling me yo

shaky with happiness,

orrow.At the same time. I'll choose

ds in his pockets, shoulders straight,

ed. My heart felt t

y life, I wasn't nervou

s ex

staurant, another conversation, or finally the moment we st

lready

wait to see w