FIRST DATE (I)

RYAN

"Be out in five."

Her text lit up my phone, and a small, involuntary smile tugged at my lips. I rested my hand on the steering wheel, glancing at the clock on the dashboard. Five minutes. I could wait five minutes, but damn, it felt like five hours.

It had been two days since we’d agreed to our exclusive non-relationship and we'd be going on our first dates today.

Date.

The word felt strange, almost foreign. I wasn’t the type to do dates. Hell, I didn’t even do relationships. My past was littered with brief encounters, shallow connections, and a long list of names I didn’t care to remember. I’d never wanted more than that. Never thought I needed more.

Until her.

What the hell had she done to me?

It had only been two days since we’d confessed our attraction to each other. Since we’d defined… whatever this was. And though we hadn’t put a name to it…

That had to mean something, right?

For someone who thrived on control and keeping my emotions locked tight, Violet had a way of undoing all my rules. She’d cracked me open in a way no one else ever had.

My mind wandered to her question from two nights ago. “What are the distractions you’re trying so hard to avoid?”

I’d wanted to tell her then. Hell, I’d do anything she asked of me—give her every piece of myself—but fear had rooted me in place.

Because what if she saw the real me? What if she saw the broken parts I kept hidden and decided she didn’t want this after all?

I exhaled sharply, running a hand through my hair

The truth wasn’t just something I could drop on her like a weight. It wasn’t a single event, not something easy to explain. It was layers of mess and mistakes, of boxing matches I threw myself into to drown out the chaos. There were nights when I couldn’t breathe,nights of panic attacks..

What if she couldn’t handle that part of me?

The sound of the car door opening snapped me out of my thoughts, pulling me back into the present.

My breath caught in my throat as my gaze landed on her.

“Sorry I kept you waiting,” Violet said,a frown on her face as she stepped into the car.

But her words barely registered. She could have been reciting a grocery list, for all I cared—her appearance drowned out everything else.

Her hair fell in soft, effortless waves around her shoulders, catching the dim light like silk. The dress she wore—white with delicate sunflower patterns—seemed made to highlight the brightness of her skin. Her light makeup was light, almost imperceptible yet it enhanced her features in a way that made my chest tighten.

God. Just when I thought I’d seen the most beautiful version of her, she somehow managed to outdo herself again.

“Ryan?” Her voice pulled me from my daze, and I realized I’d been staring.

“Uh, yeah,” I stammered. “You look…” I trailed off, struggling to find the right words. Gorgeous? Stunning? None of it felt good enough.

Her brows furrowed. “Is something wrong with my appearance? Do I need to change my…”

“What? No!” I said sharply. “You look breathtaking, Violet.”

Her cheeks flushed a faint pink, and the sight made my heart do this strange, unfamiliar flip.

“Thank you.” She said, “You look charming”

I started the car, I couldn’t stop glancing at her out of the corner of my eye, though, like I was afraid she might vanish if I looked away for too long.

“So,” she said after a while, turning to face me. “Where are we going?”

“You’ll see,” I said, keeping my eyes on the road but unable to hide the small smile tugging at my lips.

She groaned. “You know I hate surprises, right?”

“Trust me,” I said, glancing at her briefly. “You’ll like this one.”

And I hoped—no, I needed her to like it. Because today wasn’t just about taking her out. It was about showing her a piece of my world, a piece I’d never shared with anyone before.

The road stretched ahead and I kept glancing at Violet, catching the way her eyes lit up with curiosity. She didn’t ask again where we were going, but I could tell the suspense was eating at her.

Finally, the GPS chimed, announcing we’d reached our destination. I pulled off the main road onto a smaller, hidden path. Violet sat up straighter in her seat, her eyebrows knitting together.

“Ryan,” she said slowly, “are you planning to abandon me in the woods? Because, for the record, I’m terrible at running, and I didn’t tell anyone where I was going.”

“Relax” I said with a smile. If I wanted to get rid of you, I’d have done it before you looked this breathtaking.”

Her lips twitched, and I saw the ghost of a smile. “Flattery won’t save you if this is some elaborate prank.”

“It’s not.” I parked the car and turned to her. “Close your eyes.”

“What?”

“Trust me. You’ll like this.”

She hesitated for a moment before.closing her eyes. “If I trip and break an ankle, you’re carrying me back to the car.”

“Deal.”

I got out quickly and rounded the car, opening her door and helping her out. Her fingers curled loosely around mine, warm and soft, and for a second, I forgot what I was supposed to be doing.

“This better not be a murder mystery plot,” she mumbled, letting me guide her carefully across the ground.

“You’re ruining the surprise”

Finally, we reached the spot. I let go of her hand and stepped back. “Okay, you can open your eyes now.”

She blinked a few times before her gaze swept over the scene.

A small, private clearing stretched out before us, nestled at the edge of a serene waterfall. The water cascaded down in a gentle roar, its surface catching the soft glow of string lights I’d set up earlier. A blanket was spread out near the water’s edge, surrounded by pillows, lanterns, and an assortment of her favorite snacks and treats. A small table nearby held more food, a bottle of sparkling cider, and a vase with fresh flowers.

Her mouth fell open slightly, and she turned to look at me, her eyes wide. “Ryan… did you do all this?”

“Guilty,” I said, scratching the back of my neck. “It’s cheesy, I know, but—”

“Cheesy?” she interrupted, shaking her head. “This is… beautiful. You did this for me?”

“Yes. And I won’t do it for anyone else. Ever.”

No one else could make me feel like this. No one else would ever be worth these lengths.

Her gaze softened, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears as she whispered, “Thank you. I love it.”

It felt like a burden was lifted off my shoulders as those words fell out of her mouth.

And then she did something I never saw coming.

Violet stepped closer, rose on her tiptoes and placed a kiss on my lips. The kiss was gentle, innocent, I could feel all her emotions all around me.

This.

This was what it felt like to drown in something beautiful.

I could die in this moment and never regret it. I could be consumed entirely by the fire she lit within me and never wish for anything else. Her lips against mine, her warmth seeping into me, her unguarded emotion reflected in her eyes—it was everything.

This. Forever. This.

I wrapped my arms around her and deepened the kiss, needing more. But the truth is, I could never get enough of her

And then Violet surprised me again.

Her trembling hands reached for the buttons on my shirt, her fingers brushing against my chest as she fumbled to undo them.

A sharp jolt of heat shot through me, but I grabbed her hands, stilling her movements. “Violet,” I murmured, my voice.

She let out a soft, frustrated sound, her breath warm against my neck as her eyes met mine.

“Are you sure you want this?” I asked. I didn’t want a repeat of last time—I wouldn’t risk hurting her, or pushing her further than she was ready for.

She nodded. Still, I searched her face for any trace of doubt, any sign of hesitation. There was none. Only certainty, only trust.

And then I knew—there was no going back.

I released her hands, brushing my thumb against her knuckles before sliding my fingers to her waist. Slowly, deliberately, I bent down, pressing my forehead to hers as I whispered, “We don’t have to rush, Violet. I’m here. Always.”

Her lips parted slightly, her breath catching as her fingers curled into the fabric of my shirt. “I know,” she whispered back. “But I want this. I want you.”

Those words shattered the last of my restraint, and I captured her lips again, this time with all the emotion I’d been holding back. My hands found their way to her face, cradling her like she was something precious, something fragile that I couldn’t bear to lose.

Because that’s exactly what she was.

Precious.

Mine.

Always.