Chapter Fifteen

Holly

A fter three hours of getting ready and an extra twenty minutes standing in front of the mirror—ensuring every detail of my outfit was perfect—I finally arrive at the restaurant Ryan reserved for our first date.

I take a moment to glance at my reflection in the restaurant’s tinted window, smoothing my hands down the length of my long, black dress. My hair, freshly styled into soft waves by Olivia, is still holding its shape, and I quickly tuck a stray lock behind my ear. I know I’ve overthought every aspect of this night, but I want everything to be perfect.

With a deep breath, I reach out to grasp the door handle, my stomach fluttering as I push the door open. Tonight’s the night I’ve been anxiously anticipating since I ran into Ryan. For the first time in a long time, I have a good feeling about this date.

I pause, taking in the warm, cozy glow of the restaurant, the soft hum of conversations, the gentle notes of a piano playing in the corner, and the clinking of glasses. My eyes scan the room, flitting between tables as I search for Ryan .

“Good evening, ma’am.” A voice pulls me out of my thoughts, and I turn to see the host raising an eyebrow at me. “Do you have a reservation?”

Meeting her gaze, I offer a friendly smile. “Hi. Um, yes, I think so,” I say with a nervous laugh.

She doesn’t seem amused as she glances down at the reservation book. “Name?” she asks, her eyes still on the pages.

“Ryan,” I reply, fidgeting with the strap of my purse.

Without lifting her head, she flicks her eyes up at me over the rim of her square, dark red glasses. “Ma’am, I’m going to need a last name.”

My brows knit together. “Oh. Um, I actually don’t know his last name.”

She sighs, closing the book with a resigned expression. “Ma’am, I can’t let you in without knowing the full name of the reservation.”

Anxiety spikes within me, and suddenly, my dress feels too tight, too hot, and my bag threatens to slip from my sweaty fingers. “Right,” I murmur, shaking my head slightly. “It’s just… this is our first date and—”

“She’s with me.” My breath catches as I feel a hand on my waist, and I turn to see Ryan smiling down at me. “Hi, Holly.”

“Hi, Ryan,” I reply, trying to swallow down my nerves.

“Ready to head to our table?” he asks, an amused smirk playing on his lips. I nod, offering a quick smile to the host, who quickly returns her attention to the reservation book .

Ryan guides me to our table, his hand warm and reassuring on the small of my back. He pulls out a chair for me and waits until I’m seated before taking his own seat across from me.

“Thank you,” I say, feeling a bit more at ease.

“I was starting to think you wouldn’t show up,” Ryan laughs softly as he slips off his coat, hanging it on the back of his chair.

A nervous laugh escapes me as I brush a stray lock of hair behind my ear. “I’m sorry. My friend was cooking dinner, and then her husband forgot to do the laundry, and I had to—you probably don’t want to hear all of this.”

Ryan leans in slightly. “Sure, I do.”

“Really?”

He nods, flashing me a smile. “I wouldn’t have asked you out if I didn’t want to hear you talk.”

“Wow,” I say with a small scoff. “That’s a first.”

“I doubt that’s true,” he counters, tilting his head.

I shrug. “You have no idea how many people tell me to shut up.”

“Idiots,” he says with a warm smile. “All of them.”

A genuine smile spreads across my face, and I begin to relax, comforted by his words. It’s nice that he likes to hear me talk, just like Mark. Mark never once told me to shut up. He might roll his eyes and act like a big, broody bear, but he always listens, asks questions, and genuinely cares.

“Long story short, my roommates are hectic, and traffic was horrible. That’s why I’m late,” I sigh, offering Ryan an apologetic smile .

“I’m just glad you’re here now,” Ryan says, opening his menu and glancing over the options.

“Yeah, me too,” I agree, flashing him a warm smile. I like Ryan. He seems kind, and that’s all I’ve ever wanted. Though a nagging thought creeps into my mind. Is Mark right? Should I want more than just someone who’s kind to me? I do want more. I want someone who makes me laugh, who makes me happy, who makes me feel comfortable.

Just like I do with—

I blink in the dimly lit room, glancing at the entrance when the door swings open, a brisk wind flooding inside. At first, I think my mind is playing tricks on me, but as I stare, it becomes clear. There, by the door of the restaurant, is—

“Mark?” I murmur to myself, my brows knitting in confusion.

What is he doing here? Why is he at this restaurant, of all places? And why does he look so good, his hair styled perfectly, dressed in a suit and tie that I’ve never seen him wear before?

Our eyes meet, and his gaze lingers on me, moving slowly down my body as if he’s seeing me for the first time. He lifts a hand to rub his mouth, and I can’t quite read his expression. There’s something in his eyes that makes my heart skip a beat.

He tears his eyes away from me and heads toward the host, giving her a curt nod before he heads toward a table in the corner.

“It’s Ryan, actually,” Ryan’s voice pulls me back to the present, snapping me out of my thoughts .

I blink, refocusing on my date. “Oh, sorry. I just—I thought I saw someone.”

“Mark?” Ryan asks, a hint of curiosity in his voice.

I nod. “Yeah, he’s… a friend,” I reply, sneaking a glance past Ryan’s shoulder to catch another glimpse of Mark, but the room is too dimly lit to see clearly.

“A close friend?” Ryan asks, his eyes searching mine for answers.

“Sort of?” I say with a shrug, trying to keep my voice casual. “I met him a few weeks ago,” I explain, my fingers absently tracing the edge of the menu in front of me.

“Someone you’re seeing?” Ryan asks, raising an eyebrow.

“No, no,” I laugh, shaking my head firmly. “Mark would never date me.”

“Why not?” Ryan asks, tilting his head.

I shake my head slightly, the idea seeming absurd. “I just don’t think I’m his type. Mark is… moody and broody, and I’m…” I gesture to myself with a smile. “The complete opposite.”

Ryan chuckles, nodding in agreement. “Well, that’s good. I’d hate to have to compete with another guy.”

“No competition,” I assure him, smiling softly. “He’s just a friend.”

Ryan’s lips curl into a satisfied grin. “So, Holly, besides shopping until you literally drop, what do you do?”

A laugh bubbles out of me at the reminder of our first meeting. “I work with foster kids,” I reply .

His brows shoot up. “Oh yeah? That’s so interesting,” Ryan says, leaning in slightly. “My parents actually fostered a few kids when I was growing up.”

“Really?” I ask, my eyes lighting up with intrigue. “That’s amazing.”

“Yeah, it was very rewarding being a safe place for them,” Ryan says, his lips lifting into a smile.

A hint of sadness hits my stomach. I always wished I had a family that wanted me, but most of the time, it felt like I was just passing through, never meant to stay.

I nod, not wanting to delve into my past on a first date. Though, with Mark, I shared my story within days of meeting him, and he has been so supportive, so caring, and—

Why am I thinking about Mark? I’m on a date with Ryan, who’s kind, handsome, and clearly successful.

So why can’t I stop comparing them?

“And then a couple years later, I took over for my brother and now, I own the company,” Ryan finishes, snapping me out of my thoughts.

I blink, trying to remember what he was saying, but I fall short. “You own the company?” I say, my eyes widening.

“Yeah,” he chuckles, fixing his tie and signaling the waitress. “I’m the proud CEO of Towner’s Marketing Firm.”

My eyes threaten to pop out of my head, my mind spinning as I take in what he’s telling me. “You’re a CEO of a company?” I repeat slowly.

He laughs, shaking his head slightly. “You’ve never been on a date with a millionaire before, have you? ”

“Millionaire?” I say, louder than necessary, as my lips part in surprise.

He clears his throat, glancing around the other tables. “Maybe keep your voice down so we don’t get robbed,” he jokes, laughing. “But yes.”

“Good evening,” the waitress greets us, but I’m still staring at my date, my mouth agape in shock. “What would you like to order?”

“I’ll have the smoked salmon trout with the pinot grigio,” Ryan says, handing over his menu before glancing at me.

“And you, ma’am?” the waitress asks, turning to me.

I blink, trying to focus. “Huh?”

“What would you like to order?” she repeats.

I shake my head, glancing down at my closed menu. “I don’t… I haven’t…”

“She’ll have the same,” Ryan says, handing the menus to the waitress. I watch as she walks away, my mind still trying to catch up with everything that’s happened in the last few minutes.

Ryan sighs, adjusting his tie as he leans back in his chair. “Maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned my job so soon,” he says.

“No, no,” I reply quickly, shaking my head. “It’s not that. I just got a little…”

“Shocked?” he finishes for me, one eyebrow arching up in question.

I nod, feeling a bit sheepish. “Yeah, I guess I was.” His smile is reassuring, and I feel my shoulders relax just a bit .

“I get it,” he says, leaning forward slightly. “I don’t usually lead with that, but there’s something about you, Holly.” He pauses, his blue eyes locking onto mine as he reaches across the table and takes my hand. “Something I like.”

As Ryan’s soft hand rests on mine, I can’t help but think of Mark’s rugged hands that always seem slightly calloused from working at the bar, his casual unbuttoned shirts that somehow suit him perfectly.

Everything about him is worlds apart from Ryan, but there’s something about Mark that’s comforting and easy. It has been since the very first day we met. With Ryan, on the other hand, I feel like I’m stepping into a world that’s not quite mine. And I don’t know what to make of it.

There’s nothing more to make of it, really. I’m on a date with Ryan, who’s clearly interested and wants to pursue something with me. Mark is just my friend—a reluctant dating coach, if I’m being honest. He’s been trying to help me navigate the dating world, but once he’s done, he won’t have any reason to keep me in his life. The thought of him no longer being a part of my life makes my stomach drop, but I have to remind myself that his role is temporary. Right now, I’m here with Ryan, and that’s where my focus needs to be.

But my attention is drawn past Ryan as I see Mark standing up from his table. He slips his coat on, and for a moment, he looks over at me. Our eyes lock, and it feels like time slows down. His gaze holds mine for what seems like an eternity before he finally turns and walks out of the restaurant .

“I’m having a great time with you, Holly,” Ryan says, his voice breaking into my thoughts and pulling me back to the present.

I force myself to focus, giving him a warm smile. “Me too,” I reply, but even as I say the words, I can’t help but feel a twinge of guilt. My thoughts keep drifting back to Mark. What was he doing here? Why did he look at me like that?

And why can’t I stop thinking about him?