I wasn't ready to have that conversation and definitely not in a truck in the station parking lot before a long day of damage assessment coverage.
Inside, the station people were running everywhere. Isla was coordinating with field reporters, Zara was reviewing footage, and someone had brought boxes of cup cakes. I grabbed one and tried to focus on work instead of the man currently setting up weather graphics twenty feet away.
The morning passed in a blur of updates and viewer calls and emergency management briefings. Dawson and I worked together, falling back into our professional rhythm even as the personal tension simmered underneath.
But I had to tell him and around noon, I found him in the weather center, studying damage reports.
"Hey." My heart was pounding in my ears. "You got a minute?"
He looked up and there was maybe fear in his eyes. "Yeah. What's up?"
I closed the door, aware of how small the room was. "About what you said this morning."
"You don't have to?—"
"I want to see where this goes." The words came out in a rush. "I'm not saying I have it all figured out because I'm still processing everything. But I'd like to try."
The fear vanished and was replaced by relief and hope. Or perhaps I was imagining it. "Great."
I was overcome with shyness, which was ridiculous. "So, ummm. We should probably go on a date or something."
"Or something." The corner of his mouth twitched and he almost produced a smile." My cheeks flamed at what that something was. But I wanted to keep our first kinda date more neutral.
"I could cook dinner tonight." The offer came out before I could think it through. "At your place, since my building is still inaccessible."
I wanted to do something normal, something that wasn't about hurricanes or near-death experiences so we could figure out what this could be.
"Okay." He was definitely smiling now. "What time?"
"Seven? That gives us time to finish up here and for me to grocery shop."
"I look forward to it"
We stood there for a moment, just looking at each other. This was terrifying but on the flip side, it was also right.
"I should get back," I said finally. "But I'll see you tonight."
The afternoon flew by. Isla caught me smiling at my phone. Carys had sent approximately twenty excited texts after I'd told her about the date and my boss raised a brow.
"Things seem better between you and Dawson."
Heat crept over my chest and cheeks. "We're working on it."
"Good." She leaned against my desk. "You two have been dancing around each other for months. I'm glad you're finally figuring it out." She paused. "Also, you both look exhausted. Take a few days off. The storm coverage is winding down, and you've earned it."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm positive. Get out of here. Rest. Do whatever it is people do when they're not working." She smirked. "Both of you."
I found Dawson and relayed the message.
"I need a few days off, especially with..." He glanced around at the busy newsroom.
"… a date tonight," I finished for him
"Yeah. That."
We left separately, him to his truck and me to the nearest grocery store that still had power. I'd showered at the stationand changed into a button-down that I knew looked good on me. I'd shaved and run product through my hair. When I stood in the produce section, I stared at the vegetables and tried to remember the last time I'd actually cooked a proper meal.
