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He just smirks. "What? Thought you liked surprises."

"That one had a delayed effect."

"I’ll keep that in mind."

Our server is cheerful and discreet, bringing us a pair of entrées that smell incredible. Mine is a creamy pasta dish, and his a perfectly grilled steak. We take our time, laughing over shared bites, the food rich and comforting.

As the meal goes on, the playful air softens into something quieter.

"How are you really doing, Mandy?" he asks, voice low.

I twirl my wineglass, then sigh. "Honestly? Overwhelmed. Grateful. Tired. All of it. Sometimes I feel like I’m sprinting and still falling behind."

"You don’t have to be perfect. Not with me. I don’t want perfect, I want you. Real, messy, brilliant you."

Tears sting behind my eyes, and I look down at my plate, then back at him. "That might be the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me."

He leans closer, his thumb brushing mine across the table. The comment sends a warmth through me so intense I nearly forget where I am, and a sweet ache blooms low in my belly. My heart thuds wildly and I'm caught in a heady daydream of us, of this thing between us turning into everything…until the server reappears with a dessert tray.

"For the sweetest part of the evening," he says with a wink.

We both lean forward, and Nate points at the richest-looking option, a molten chocolate lava cake with vanilla bean gelato and berries. "That one," he says. "No way we're not ending the night with something sinful."

We share it from one plate, passing the spoon back and forth, fingers brushing, laughter bubbling up between bites.

"I might have to marry this cake," I murmur.

"Better make it quick before I propose first," he deadpans.

Hold on…what? Did he just say that?

***

We leave the restaurant walking close together, arms brushing. The night is cool, but I feel lit up from the inside, like I’ve just lived inside a dream.

The drive home is low key, singing to the radio and talking about nothing. When we arrive back at the cabin, we sit outside by the fire pit, wine glasses refilled, wrapped in a shared blanket. The stars are scattered above us, the lake a still mirror of light.

"Can I ask you something?" I say.

He nods. "Anything."

"Why me? Out of all the girls you’ve known…"

He doesn’t let me finish. "Because you see me. You challenge me. You make me want more. I’ve been with women before, yeah. Some were nice. Some were fun. None of them made me feel like I was actually becoming a better man. You do."

My heart stutters. "I never thought I’d fall for a hockey player. Especially one who used to date my sister."

"Yeah. About that, I didn’t expect it either. But here we are. And I don’t want this to be temporary. I don’t want just sex, Mandy. I want everything with you. And for the record, I never slept with your sister. We were young, went out senior year of high school, but it never went that far. If that weirds you out, I get it. But I need to know, how do you feel about it? About us?"

I take a breath, searching his eyes. "I never thought I’d like you this much," I admit. "Not with everything going on, not with my sister in the picture. But I do. And yeah, maybe Allison would freak out, but that’s her problem. You’re the one I want, Nate. This means something to me. You do."

His jaw clenches slightly, as if holding something back.

"I’ve never had something I was scared to lose until now."

My throat tightens. "I’m ready. For all of it."

He doesn’t move right away. He just watches me, like I’m the only thing that matters in the world.