Aria’s POV.
Naomi didn’t waste a single moment before setting up my second blind date. It all happened so quickly that I didn’t even have enough time to argue or say no.
She was always so determined when she set her mind to something, and this time was no different.
“You’re going,” she said in a tone that left no room for debate.
She was lying across my bed with her laptop balanced on her knees, her face glowing with excitement. “This guy is absolutely perfect. I’m serious, Aria. He’s funny, he’s smart, and he’s super cute. Trust me on this. You’re going to love him.”
I gave her a skeptical look, folding my arms across my chest. “Didn’t you say the exact same thing about the first guy?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
Naomi just shrugged, her grin widening. “Ryan was just a warm-up act. He wasn’t the main event. But this guy? He’s the real deal. I promise you.”
I let out a small sigh and rolled my eyes at her enthusiasm, but I didn’t argue with her anymore. Deep down, I knew she had a point.
The first date hadn’t been anything spectacular. It wasn’t like fireworks had gone off or anything, but it wasn’t bad either. It was just enough to remind me that I could open myself up to new people and experiences, and maybe-just maybe-start moving out from under Zander’s shadow.
Maybe this time would be different. Maybe this time, I’d feel something more.
Naomi picked a trendy sushi restaurant downtown for this next date. The place looked like something straight out of a chic magazine. It had glowing lanterns hanging from the ceiling, soft jazz music playing in the background, and sleek, modern decor that made it feel like a really special spot. It was the kind of place that made you think something magical could happen there.
As we drove to the restaurant, Naomi couldn’t stop talking about the guy she had chosen for me. “You’re seriously going to love him,” she said for what felt like the hundredth time. “His name is Ethan, and he’s a junior majoring in architecture. He’s super creative, just like you are. Oh, and get this-he volunteers at the animal shelter on weekends! Isn’t that the cutest thing ever?”
I gave her a skeptical look and raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure you’re not the one who wants to date him? He sounds more like your type than mine.”
Naomi burst out laughing, shaking her head. “Please, Aria. I’m not interested in dating anyone right now. I’m living vicariously through you. So, go in there, meet him, and have a great time. You deserve it.”
When we got to the restaurant, she dropped me off with a wink and a big smile. As her car pulled away, I stood there on the curb, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness bubbling up inside me. This was it. Maybe this time, something amazing would happen.
Ethan was already waiting when I got to the restaurant. He was sitting at a table near the window, casually scrolling through his phone. The way he seemed so relaxed made me feel less nervous right away. Naomi hadn’t been exaggerating-he really *was* cute. He had slightly messy brown hair that gave him a kind of effortless charm, warm hazel eyes that seemed to sparkle in the dim light, and an easy, boyish smile that lit up his whole face when he finally looked up and saw me.
“Aria?” he asked, his voice warm and friendly as he stood up from his chair.
“That’s me,” I said with a small smile, reaching out to shake his hand. His handshake was firm but gentle, and it put me at ease right away.
“I’m Ethan,” he said, smiling even wider. “It’s really nice to meet you.”
As I was about to sit down, he pulled out my chair for me, which caught me off guard-in a good way. It was such a small, thoughtful thing to do, but it made a big impression on me. I couldn’t help but smile as I sat down, realizing I hadn’t experienced that kind of simple courtesy in a long time.
“Naomi said you’re really into fashion design,” Ethan said once we were both seated. His tone was curious but friendly, and I could tell he was genuinely interested. “That sounds super cool. Do you actually design your own clothes?”
“I do,” I replied, feeling myself start to relax as the conversation began. “Right now, I’m working on a collection for one of my classes. It’s a lot of work, and sometimes it gets pretty stressful, but I really love it. Designing is my favorite thing to do.”
“I totally get that,” Ethan said, nodding in understanding. “It’s the same with architecture. You can spend hours and hours working on a design, pouring your heart into it, and then someone critiques it and tears it apart in five minutes. But even with all that, it feels amazing when you finally create something you’re really proud of.”
I smiled at him, feeling a spark of connection. “Exactly,” I said. It felt nice to talk to someone who understood the highs and lows of being creative.
From that point on, the conversation just seemed to flow naturally. Ethan had this funny, laid-back way of talking that made me feel completely comfortable, like we’d known each other for much longer than just a few minutes. He told me about his passion for designing sustainable buildings and how his dream was to make cities greener and more environmentally friendly. I found myself opening up about my own dreams-how I hoped to start my own fashion line someday and create pieces that would make people feel confident and unique.
We even discovered that we both loved animals, which led to one of my favorite parts of the evening.
“I started volunteering at the animal shelter last year,” Ethan said, his expression softening as he spoke. “There’s this dog there, Max, who’s been at the shelter forever. He’s this big, goofy mutt with floppy ears, and he’s the sweetest thing. I swear he thinks he’s a lapdog. Every time I visit, he jumps on me like I’m his long-lost best friend. It’s impossible not to love him.”
“That’s so adorable,” I said, laughing at the image of a giant, floppy-eared dog acting like a lapdog. “I grew up surrounded by animals too. My family always had dogs, though none of them were exactly lapdogs. They were… well, let’s just say they were big enough to knock you over if they got too excited.”
Ethan grinned, his hazel eyes lighting up with amusement. “Sounds like my kind of dogs,” he said, leaning back in his chair with an easy smile.