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The sun is barely startingto rise when my alarm goes off, the soft buzz pulling me out of a restless sleep. I lie there for a moment, staring up at the ceiling, my mind already racing.
Today’s the day I’m going to ask Auden out.
I’ve been turning it over in my head for days, trying to find the right moment, the right words, but the truth is, I’m nervous. More nervous than I’ve been in a long time. It’s not just about asking her out, it’s about what comes after, about whether a girl like Auden would ever really be interested in someone like me.
With a sigh, I push those thoughts aside and roll out of bed. I’ve got a plan, and I’m not going to back out now. I’m picking her up this morning, driving her to work, and on the way, I’m going to finally get the nerve to ask her to dinner.
I move through my morning routine on autopilot, showering, shaving, pulling on a clean shirt and jeans. It’s early, but I want to be ready when Auden is. I know she likes to get a head start on the day, and I don’t want to keep her waiting.
By the time I’m out the door, the sun is just starting to peek over the horizon, casting a soft glow over the quiet streets of Lilac Harbor. The air is cool, with a hint of salt from the nearby ocean, and I take a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves as I walk across our yards to her place.
I head up the front porch steps and I can’t help but glance up at her front door. My heart is pounding in my chest, but I try to keep calm.
This is just a ride to work. Nothing more.
Deep down, I know it’s more than that. It’s a chance. A chance to see where this thing between us might go. To see if she feels it too.
A few moments later, the front door opens, and Auden steps out, looking as put-together as ever in a simple blouse and jeans. Her hair is pulled back in a loose ponytail, and she’s got a surprised, genuine smile on her face as she waves to me.
“Morning,” she says. “What are you doing over here, neighbor?”
“Morning,” I reply, trying to keep my voice steady. “I thought that I’d offer you a ride to work.”
“Oh, sure. That would be great.”
She shuffles some papers, stuffing them back in her binder and smiles as I lead her over to my truck.
I open the passenger door for her and help her inside. She looks so tiny in my big truck. So tiny and adorable.
“Ready for work?” I ask as I back out of the driveway.
“Always,” she says with a grin, and I can’t help but smile back.
There’s something about the way she carries herself, so confident and assured, that makes it easy to forget how nervous I am.
We settle into a comfortable silence as I drive, the radio playing softly in the background. I steal glances at her out of thecorner of my eye, trying to find the right moment to ask her. But every time I open my mouth, the words get stuck in my throat.
Finally, as we reach a stretch of road that’s quiet and peaceful, I take a deep breath and go for it. “So, Auden, I was thinking… maybe we could grab dinner sometime. You know, just the two of us.”
For a split second, there’s silence, and I feel my heart drop. But then she turns to me, her eyes wide with surprise, and something else, something that makes my chest tighten.
“I’d like that, Wade,” she says, her voice soft but sure.
I’m so surprised by her response that I almost miss the turn. I correct the wheel just in time, my mind reeling.
She said yes. I was expecting her to say no, or maybe some polite excuse, but she said yes.
“Great,” I manage to say, trying to keep the relief out of my voice. “How about tonight?”
“Tonight works for me,” she says, and there’s a lightness in her tone that makes me feel like maybe I haven’t been completely crazy to hope for this.
We drive the rest of the way in a companionable silence, and I can’t stop thinking about the fact that she actually said yes. I’m already running through the possibilities in my mind, thinking about where to take her. I want it to be special, something that shows her I’m serious about this, about us.
As soon as we reach the Montgomery property, we both climb out and get to work. Auden heads inside to start on the design plans, and I make my way to the basement to continue working on the electrical wiring. But even as I focus on the task at hand, I can’t stop thinking about tonight, about what it means to finally take this step.
At lunchtime, I slip away for a few minutes and make a call to a restaurant in Destiny Falls, a place called Prim + Proper that I’ve heard good things about. It’s a little fancier than I’m usedto, but I figure this is a special occasion. I make the reservation and then head back to the house, feeling a sense of anticipation building in my chest.
The rest of the day passes in a blur, and before I know it, it’s time to head home. As I walk Auden to my truck, I can’t help but feel a little nervous again. This is really happening. We’re really going on a date.
