chapter 77: Our first real date
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Chapter 77 – Amara's POV
"Our First Real Date"
I stood in front of the mirror, twisting side to side for the tenth time.
"This is stupid," I muttered under my breath. "It's just Ethan."
Except it wasn't just Ethan anymore.
Not after the nights he spent waiting.
Not after the chocolate croissant truce.
Not after I said yes.
And now, I was standing here, trying to decide if my green sundress was too casual, or if the strappy heels screamed "I care too much."
My heart fluttered at the thought.
Because yeah, I did care.
And I was finally brave enough to admit it.
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When he picked me up, Ethan was wearing a navy button-down — sleeves rolled up, top button undone — and that damn watch that made him look ten times more dangerous than he already was.
"You look…" he paused, taking me in, "...like you're about to ruin me."
I rolled my eyes, fighting the blush creeping up my neck. "You're ridiculous."
"And you're stunning."
We got in his car — and to my surprise, he didn't take me to some over-the-top, luxury rooftop restaurant with reservations and paparazzi.
Instead, we pulled into the quiet corner of a small street — twinkling fairy lights hung over a cozy little garden café. Nothing flashy. Just… calm.
"It's my favorite place," he said, seeing the surprise on my face. "No press. No crowds. Just good food, better coffee, and decent privacy."
"I didn't peg you for a fairy-light kind of guy."
He smirked. "That's because I hide my soft side behind expensive suits and sarcasm."
We sat in the corner booth of the outdoor patio. The air smelled like fresh bread and jasmine. A soft jazz tune played in the background. And for a second, I forgot how complicated things had been between us.
It was just me.
And Ethan.
Like it always should've been.
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"So…" I said after the waitress left with our order, "why now?"
He looked up. "Why what?"
"Why this date. Why not back then?"
He hesitated. "Because I wasn't ready. Not just for you. For anything. I thought if I let myself fall, I'd lose control. And I was used to being in control."
I leaned back, arms crossed. "And now?"
He smiled — soft and honest. "Now, losing control doesn't scare me as much… as losing you again."
My throat went dry.
No witty response came to mind. Just warmth. Rising. Spreading.
He reached across the table and gently brushed his fingers over mine. "I know I hurt you. And I can't take that back. But I can show you — every day — that you matter to me. That you're not just something that happened… you're someone I want to keep happening."
Okay. Wow.
I looked down, a shy smile tugging at my lips. "You're getting good at this romantic stuff."
"I googled a few lines," he joked.
I laughed. "Of course you did."
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Dinner was simple but delicious — roasted lemon chicken, garlic butter rice, and a dessert that made me want to cry tears of chocolate joy. We talked about everything and nothing: my ridiculous coworkers, Arya's pregnancy cravings, and how Damon still gave Ethan the side-eye every time he came around.
"He's protective," I said. "You knew he'd freak out."
"I did. And he did," Ethan replied, sipping his drink. "But honestly? I respect it. I would've done the same."
I grinned. "You really are changing."
He leaned closer. "That's because you're worth the change."
And I believed him.
For the first time, I didn't see the billionaire playboy or the emotionally unavailable flirt.
I saw Ethan. The man behind all of it. The one who stayed. The one who tried. The one who showed up.
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After dinner, we took a walk under the café lights, hands grazing until he finally reached for mine. We didn't talk much. We didn't need to.
Halfway down the path, he stopped, turned me to face him, and brushed a strand of hair behind my ear.
"Amara?"
"Hmm?"
"I know we've both been scared. But I don't want to be scared anymore."
"Neither do I."
He bent slightly, pressing his forehead to mine. "So where do we go from here?"
I looked up into those ocean-deep eyes and smiled.
"Anywhere we want."
Then he kissed me.
Soft. Slow. Certain.
And it didn't feel rushed or confusing or like a goodbye.
It felt like a beginning.
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