followed by a rich main dish, dessert, and a sparkling drink to steady her nerves. Daniel smiled and made conversation, though his eyes briefly flicked toward the growing spread on the table.
The evening itself was pleasant. They talked easily about work, hobbies, places they hoped to visit someday, and movies they loved. Maya found herself laughing more than expected, and Daniel listened attentively, responding with thoughtful comments. By the time dessert arrived, Maya felt confident the date was going well.
