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“Meyer took me for a picnic last week. It was just the two of us, beautiful weather, and great food.”

“Hmm.”

I look out the window at the clouds rolling in. “I don’t think we have the right weather for a picnic.”

“I know. We’re expecting storms all weekend,” Jade agrees.

“So, something indoors, then.”

“I think it matters more who you’re with than where you go. I mean, Meyer and I could eat mac and cheese in the kitchen, and I would still love it. It’s how he makes me feel. It’s our conversations and the connection.”

“Ugh, you two are so perfect together,” I joke.

She laughs, twigs snapping in the background as she walks through the forest. “You could have that with Luca. Don’t you think?”

“Yeah, I do. I just… Things seem to be happening so fast. I met the guy a week ago, and now?—”

“And now you’re going on a first date.”

“It feels like more than that,” I admit.

“There’s no correct timeline for falling in love, Blake. Maybe you and I are lucky it happened so quickly.”

“Maybe,” I sigh.

“He’s a good guy, right?”

I smile. “Yeah, the best. When we met, we just clicked. He gets me. Being with him is easy. You know?”

“Yeah, I know,” she says dreamily, obviously thinking about Meyer.

Thunder rumbles outside, and I scan the skyline, noting the dark clouds.

“Enjoy the journey. Trust Luca and yourself, and see where this goes,” she says wisely.

“All right,” I murmur.

I know she’s right. I’m having fun with Luca. He makes me feel safe, cherished, and seen. He’s the first person I’ve ever wanted to be with and the only guy I’ve ever been attracted to. The only one I’ve ever wanted more with.

A new email comes in, and I groan as I read it.

“Work?” Jade asks.

“Yep.”

“It’s starting to drizzle, so I’m headed back to my car. I’ll let you get back to work. Call me if you need anything, okay?”

“I will,” I promise. “Stay dry!”

“I’ll try.”

“Talk to you later.”

“See you,” she says before we hang up.

I dive back into work, creating a few new sheets of educational material for my company's latest middle school workbook. When I first started this job, I thought it would be fun. I thought I’d get to be creative and make my own schedule, but in reality, it’s none of that. There are so many rules and bureaucratic hoops to jump through.

All of my coworkers seem miserable. Half of my managers are egomaniacs high on the little bit of power they have. Because my company is located in Virginia, I have to wake up early to log on and work the same hours as everyone else. The only good part is that I’m done early.