DIM LIGHTS HUNG from the ceiling as we entered the restaurant, insinuating an intimate environment. The loose, champagne-colored romper I had on swayed gently as Milo and I followed the hostess to our table, our hands intertwined.

Walking through the restaurant and to a lanai with lights stringed around the support beams and overhang made of planks, the hostess placed two menus on a table in the corner. "Your waiter will be with you shortly," she smiled and walked away, her hair pulled back into a ponytail.

Sprinkles of stars up above contrasted with the dark navy night sky as a faint wind blew throughout the lanai. The ambiance of it all was an aesthetic scene for the perfect date.

After meeting our waiter and giving our orders, I took a sip of water, feeling the cool liquid slide down my throat.

"Have you ever been here before?" Milo asked, observing me take in our setting.

I shook my head. "No, but I've seen this place a few times before and always wanted to try their food. Their menu looked good." 

He smiled, "Their linguine is one of the best pasta I've ever eaten."

Our conversations moved smoothly, easily jumping from one topic to another. The more we talked, the more it felt like we were the only ones on that lanai.

That is, until I accidentally knocked over my drink while we were eating. My face grew extremely red with embarrassment as I profusely apologized while the waiter mopped the floor. Luckily it was just water and the cup was plastic, which wasn't a big mess to clean up. Milo tried his best to keep in his laughter but failed in the latter, prompting laughter from me also as my embarrassment dwindled.

"You know, you're one of the few people I know that doesn't like driving," he stared with amusement.

I shrugged, "I just haven't really needed to drive myself somewhere far. The places I need to go to are always usually in walking distance, but if not, I know someone who's already going to the same place, so I just catch a ride from them. To be honest, it stresses me out a bit, especially trying to switch lanes on the freeway."

"Yeah, I guess switching lanes can be stressful sometimes when you're going fifty to sixty miles per hour," Milo agreed, nodding.

The mellow breeze picked up and I faintly shuttered, light goosebumps forming on my arms.

"Are you cold?" Milo asked gently with concern. He began slipping his arm out of one of his jacket sleeves.

"No, really it's okay, I'm fine," I insisted but Milo wasn't having it. He shrugged off his jacket completely and draped it gently around my shoulders, fogging my brain as his scent penetrated my senses.

"Thank you," I smiled shyly as he sat back down in his seat. His black short-sleeved shirt revealed his toned arms as he crossed his arms on the table and slipped back into conversation.

After getting our parking validated and slightly fighting over the bill with Milo and him winning in the end saying, "Whoever asked the other person out should be the one to pay," we strolled to the crosswalk at the end of the road because Milo parked his car in the parking structure across the street.

The evening air was crisp as I inhaled deeply with Milo's jacket still draped around my shoulders. Our hands were intertwined once again as we silently strolled slowly to the street corner, and I couldn't help but smile as I watched the pavement beneath my feet.

It amazed me how effortlessly our conversations flowed. There was never a dull moment whenever I spent time with Milo.

Even as we sauntered silently, his presence comforted me and made me feel in a different way that I've never felt with anyone else, not even James. In a way that words just couldn't explain.

"What are you thinking about?" Milo asked as he brought our hands to his lips and pressed a sweet kiss on my knuckles, prompting my heart rate to accelerate, before swinging our hands back and forth gently.

Feeling a bit confident, I answered, "You."

He wiggled his eyebrows and smirked. "What specifically about me?"

I scrunched my nose playfully, "Not like that."

"Not like what?" He asked innocently. "I thought you were talking about my biggest body part, my big—"

"Please don't finish that," I laughed as I scrunched my nose even more.

"Brain. I was going to say my big brain," Milo defended like that was his original thought. "What did you think I was talking about?"

"First, I think you mean big head," I playfully teased. He feigned sorrow as he placed a hand on his chest. "And second, what you're suggesting was not at all what I was thinking about. I was thinking about how this was so...different."

"Different in a good way?"

I nodded and he waited for me to elaborate. "When I'm with you, it's just...different. I feel different, in a good way though. I just...I don't know how to explain it, but the easiest way I can say it is that...you make me really happy. I've never felt this way even with...James." The last part came out a bit bitter and from the looks of it, Milo noticed too.

He stopped us and angled his body towards me, lifting my chin with his finger. "Hey, you deserve way better than him. I'm not saying that I'm way better than him, but no girl deserves to be treated that way."

And then he smiled, "And I know exactly what you mean when you can't explain how you feel when I'm around because I feel the same way. I can't put it into words on how ecstatic I get when you're around but the thing that makes it even crazier is that I knew how you felt even before you told me just now. I can see it in your eyes when you look at me...and I know you can see that I look at you the same way too."

He hooked his hands in the front pockets of his jacket and pulled me closer. His hand reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear before his fingers trailed down my temple and his thumb pad brushed lightly against the apple of my cheek, cupping my face.

"Can I kiss you?" Milo asked, never ceasing eye contact as he awaited of my approval. I simply nodded and he leaned in. As he kissed me gently, I felt a smile form across his lips, promoting my lips to do the same.

When we finally pulled away, a silly smile stuck to my face and I quietly let out a short laugh.

"What?" Milo asked, still smiling as I did the same.

"You've never asked to kiss me before," I admitted shyly.

"Well tonight I felt like being a gentleman," smiled Milo, causing my heart to pound against my chest.

When are you not? I thought as I became mesmerized by his dark chocolate eyes as we stood at the corner of the sidewalk under a lamppost, waiting for the white walking man symbol even though he already flashed three different times. 

_______________

A/N: hey friends! So...we saw another side of Milo. This chapter was a little short but everything that I wanted to happen, happened. Again, if you're enjoying the book, please vote! See you in the next chapter! ♥️

-Karlee 💛