Amanda stood in front of her mirror, smoothing down the front of her simple navy dress for the third time. It wasn't anything extravagant, just a knee-length dress with thin straps and a soft flare. But it felt special tonight. Her heart was beating faster than usual, a mix of nerves and excitement she hadn't felt in a long time.
This was a real date.
Ethan had asked her out yesterday, dinner at a cozy Italian café downtown, the kind with fairy lights strung across the patio and checkered tablecloths. He'd even offered to pick her up, but Amanda had insisted on meeting him there. She needed the short walk to calm her racing thoughts.
When she arrived, Ethan was already waiting outside the café, looking handsome in a dark button-down and jeans. The second he saw her, his face lit up with that warm, genuine smile that always made her stomach flip.
"Wow," he said softly as she approached. "You look beautiful."
