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“Do you have plants everywhere?” he asked. “I can picture you with plants everywhere.”
I snorted. “I have a few. Mostly monstera and kentia. I like greenery. It’s peaceful.”
He seemed to like that. “I wish I had plants at my place. Maybe you could help me pick some out.”
“Maybe I could,” I said, my voice soft.
God, he was so good looking. So handsome in his suit pants and button-down shirt. His hair was kinda floppy today, as if he’d run his hand through it a few dozen times.
“Did you need to get back to your shop?” he asked.
I instinctively checked my watch. “No, Lina was closing up today so Robbie and I could make your delivery.”
“Great,” he said, collecting his messenger bag. “Did you have anywhere you needed to be tonight?”
Oh.
This sounded like it was leading into a question I wasn’t prepared for.
“Uh, no. My usual Friday nights include takeout while I go over weekly spreadsheets.”
He inhaled sharply. “So youarein your middle-aged-gay era too!”
I laughed. “Apparently.”
“Well, I know we have our official date tomorrow, so I won’t mind if you say no, but I missed lunch today because I’ve been so busy, so I’m going to grab something to eat at Barangaroo if you wanted to join me?”
“Yes,” I answered far too quickly. But then I gestured to my work clothes. “But look at what I’m wearing...”
His smile softened. “I don’t care what you wear.” Then he chuckled. “Though maybe lose the apron.”
I pulled at the knot tied at my back and pulled the apron off. “Deal.”
I was wearing jeans and a polo shirt and my usual work boots. Absolutely not a date outfit but he genuinely didn’t seem to care.
He looked me up and down. “Perfect.”
Well, I doubted that, but okay.
“I can drive the van back to my shop and we can walk down,” I offered. “It’ll be less of a walk from there.”
“Sounds good.”
He gave the apartment a quick once over, making sure it was all locked and pristine, he took some quick photos, and we left.I felt giddy as we got into my work van, nervous but it also felt good.
It felt right.
There was no awkward silence, no need to fill the gaps in conversation. And after we parked the van and headed toward the wharf area, the evening was perfect. Fading sunlight, warm breeze, people walking past, happy to be finished with work on a Friday.
We found a restaurant that was more of a sports bar, casual and loud. And for an impromptu first date, it was better than a silent fancy restaurant.
We found a table and the waitress came over and handed us menus. “Drinks to start with?”
Linden looked at me and smiled. “Yeah. I’ll have a lemon spritzer.”
Hm. Refreshing.
I held up two fingers. “Make that two, please.” Then I said, “Can we order food now, if that’s okay? He missed lunch.”
