Stephanie had chosen a trendy bistro downtown, known for its small plates and romantic ambiance. As they walked in, Jake held the door open for her, grinning. “I feel like I should be wearing a tux for this place,” he joked, glancing at the chic decor.

Stephanie laughed. “I think we’ve earned a little fancy. Besides, we’re not chasing after spilled juice cups tonight.”

They were seated at a cozy table for two, a flickering candle between them. The waiter handed them menus, and Jake immediately felt overwhelmed by the fancy names. “What’s a burrata tartine?” he whispered, leaning closer to Stephanie.

“It’s just cheese on fancy bread,” Stephanie replied, smirking. “Don’t worry, I’ll translate the menu for you.”

They ended up ordering a mix of dishes to share: truffle fries, a wood-fired pizza, sliders, and a decadent chocolate lava cake for dessert. As they waited for their food, Jake leaned back and sighed. “It feels weird not hearing constant yelling or the sound of max chewing on something he’s not supposed to.”

Stephanie nodded. “And no little hands tugging at me or food getting thrown from a high chair. I don’t know what to do with myself.”

“Talk to me,” Jake said, smiling. “You know, like we used to. Before our lives turned into ‘Dad, she stole my doll!’ or ‘Mom, she won’t share the crayons!’”

Stephanie laughed. “Alright. How’s work?”

Jake rolled his eyes dramatically. “Let’s not ruin this date with corporate talk. How’s your work?”

“Middle schoolers,” she said, smirking. “They’re basically teenagers in training, so… chaos. But I still love it. Except for grading essays. I’d trade that for wiping baby hands any day.”

Their food arrived, and they dove in, sharing bites and laughing at Jake’s over-the-top reaction to the truffle fries. “These are so good, I might never go back to regular fries,” she says