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"I sure hope so."
My gaze shifts from Dennis's eyes to his lips, and I notice his eyes lingering on my mouth. It's a small moment, but it electrifies the air between us even more.
The waitress brings out our dessert—a decadent strawberry cake that seems to echo the sweetness of the evening. We share it, and the world seems to shrink, encapsulating just this table, this moment, and the two of us.
When the check arrives, I reach for my purse, ready to split the bill.
"I can pay for my part," I say, looking up at him.
Dennis shakes his head, his hand already on the bill.
"It's on me. Consider it a celebration."
His fierce gaze meets mine again, and the unspoken connection flares brighter.
"All right," I concede.
Lunch ends, and the thought of parting ways fills me with an unexpected sense of loss. Impulsively, words tumble out of my mouth before I can second-guess them.
"Would you like to come back to my place?"
He looks taken aback for a second but then nods, a nervous excitement coloring his features.
"I'd like that," he says softly.
We walk to his car, parked a short distance from the café. True to form, he opens the door for me, and soon, we're gliding through the streets of Willow Creek.
My house is only a few minutes away, and yet the drive feels simultaneously too short and stretched thin with anticipation.
As we pull into the driveway, I realize this is it—the moment of truth. My hands fumble with the seatbelt before I manage to unclick it.
"We're here," I announce redundantly.
Dennis turns off the engine and looks at me, his eyes searching mine as if grappling with the moment's gravity.
"Shall we?" I ask, my voice tinged with nervousness.
"We shall," he agrees, smiling, his voice equally affected.
I lead him to the front door, my keys trembling slightly in my hand as I unlock it. The door swings open, and we step inside. As I flick on the lights, I look at him standing still at the door.
The atmosphere is charged, so full of unspoken words and feelings that it's almost a physical presence. We're both on the edge of something, teetering, waiting for the slightest nudge to tip us over.
Dennis takes a step closer, his eyes searching mine as if asking for permission. The silent question hangs in the air, electrifying it.
I nod.
In that instant, he closes the distance between us, his lips meeting mine in a kiss that's both soft and overwhelmingly passionate. For that moment, the world fades away, leaving only the sensation of his lips on mine, the touch of his hands on my body, the warmth radiating between us.
It's a connection unlike anything I've ever felt, as if all the missing pieces are finally falling into place.
We pull away, both of us slightly out of breath but smiling, fully aware that this is just the beginning.
"I'm sorry," he murmurs, "I couldn't help myself."
"You don't have to apologize," I say, grinning like a fool. "I've wanted you to do that ever since I met you."
Dennis laughs nervously, a sound I find incredibly endearing.
