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“So romantic,” she says with a theatrical sigh.

I laugh. “I try.”

“What’s the best first date that you’ve ever had?” Blake asks as she takes another bite of steak.

“Uh…I’ve never been on one before,” I admit.

“What?” She looks at me in shock. “How is that possible? Look at you.”

“Uh, thanks? I think…”

“You’re hot. How have you never dated before? You’ve never had a girlfriend?”

I shrug. “No. I was never interested. I was busy with school and working part-time before I joined the Army. I went from boot camp to Ranger School to my first duty station before being deployed. The time went by fast.”

“Hmm,” she hums.

“What about you? What was your best first date?”

“This.”

“Really?” I smile proudly.

“Yeah, it’s also my only date,” she says shyly.

“How is that possible? You’re smoking hot.”

She snorts and rolls her eyes. Her cheeks glow with a blush. Has anyone ever told her how beautiful she is?

“No one ever asked you out?” I probe.

“No. I was always the chubby girl people overlooked.”

“You’re not chubby.”

“I am.”

“No. Curvy. Beautiful. Perfect.”

“Well, you’re good for my ego.”

“It’s the truth.”

Blake goes back to her dinner, but I see her smiling as she eats. She likes compliments, and I make a mental note to tell her how amazing she is more often.

We both eat, and the conversation turns to our childhoods. We discuss our favorite subjects in school, our favorite foods, and our favorite holidays. I discover that she’s always wanted to travel, and she makes lists of all the countries and sights she wants to see. I make a mental list of all of them.

Dinner is perfect. We eat by candlelight, laughing and talking, and it feels so natural that it’s almost surreal.

Afterward, we move to the couch. I flip on a movie, and she curls into my side.

I can’t stop looking at her.

“Thank you for tonight,” she says softly. “This was… more than I ever expected.”

“You deserve the best,” I say, my voice low.

Her eyes meet mine, and I can’t stop myself. I can’t hold back any longer.