As you sat in the booth, your leg bounced nervously, the sound of your heart pounding in your ears. you glanced at your phone for what felt like the millionth time, debating whether to leave. Just as you stood up, the door swung open, and he walked in.

He wore a black T-shirt under a heavy zip-up jacket, ripped black jeans, and his brown hair tied in a messy bun. His eyes caught you off guard—one black with a green iris, the other a normal blue. The gauze on his neck drew your gaze, but you quickly met his unique eyes. “Hey,” he said, his voice a low rumble, laced with sarcasm. “Didn’t think you’d actually wait this long.”