Cassie
By Tuesday morning, I had learned something important about dating someone new.
It was weird.
Not bad weird. Just strange enough that I spent ten minutes standing outside the little breakfast café wondering whether walking inside made this officially a third date or whether breakfast existed in some separate category where nobody knew the rules. Derek had texted me twenty minutes earlier to say he had already grabbed a table, followed by a picture of a plate of French toast with the message I conducted quality control. You’re welcome.
I smiled despite myself.
That was becoming easier too.
When I walked inside, Derek spotted me immediately and lifted his coffee.
“You came.”
“You sound surprised.”
“I was worried you’d discover a better French toast option and abandon me.”
“I
