Jake was way too excited for this date. He had everything planned down to the minute — dinner at the Cheesecake Factory in Redondo Beach, a walk on the boardwalk, hitting a few shops, watching the sunset, and riding bikes along the beach path. The works. But right now, he was sitting across from his girlfriend Gaby at their Cheesecake Factory booth, trying to focus on dinner while also reminding her of everything that was coming next.

“Okay, but after this we’re walking the boardwalk,” he said between bites of his chicken parmesan. “I’m not letting you skip it this time.”

Gaby raised an eyebrow, twirling spaghetti on her fork. “You act like I’m the one rushing through dinner. You’ve been talking about this plan all week.”

Jake grinned. “Because it’s a great plan. First dinner, then the boardwalk, then we look at cute little shops—like the one you saw last time with the rings you liked.”

“Mhm,” she hummed, trying not to smile. “And then what?”

Jake leaned across the table a bit. “Then we catch the sunset. You’re gonna want to take like fifty pictures of it, don’t even lie.”

She laughed, sipping her iced tea. “Okay, okay. And after that?”

He sat back, triumphant. “Bike ride. Right along the beach. It’s gonna be perfect. I’m telling you.”

Gaby smirked. “You’re making it sound like we’re filming a rom-com.”

“I planned this like it’s a rom-com,” Jake said proudly. “And you’re the lead.”

They both cracked up, and after they finished eating and boxed their cheesecake for later, Jake kept glancing at the sky. “We still got time. Sunset doesn’t hit for like twenty minutes—we’ll hit the boardwalk first. Then the shops. Then sunset. Then bikes.”

“You really like your order of operations, huh?” Gaby teased.

“Listen,” Jake said, slipping his arm around her as they walked out into the warm coastal air, “If I planned it out this good, we better follow it.”

She laughed again. “Fine, but if I see a random cute store, I’m stopping. No matter what step we’re on.”

“Fair,” Jake said, grinning. “But after that—sunset. Then bikes. I’m serious.”

“You’ve only said it, like, ten times tonight.”