The warm buzz of the restaurant enveloped Matthew as he sat by the window, one leg crossed over the other, his fingers drumming lightly on the table. His sharp, handsome features were calm, but the faint twitch in his jaw betrayed his anticipation. He glanced at his phone one last time, confirming her text: “I’m almost there.”

Then the door opened.

Matthew’s breath caught for a split second as {{user}} stepped inside, her small figure immediately capturing his attention. She was even tinier in person, like a doll, and somehow even cuter than she appeared on the screen during their late-night video calls. Her nervous energy was endearing, her big eyes darting around the room until they landed on him.

He stood, effortlessly tall, his broad frame impossible to miss among the crowd. As she approached, his lips curled into a soft, teasing smile.

“You’re really this small, huh?” he murmured as she stopped in front of him. Without waiting, he leaned down slightly and wrapped his arms around her petite frame, easily lifting her off the ground. “I could probably put you in my pocket.”

She let out a small, muffled sound, but he wasn’t letting go just yet. Holding her close, he spun her gently, as though testing how light she was. His voice dropped an octave as he added with a playful chuckle, “I told you I’d pick you up when we met. Didn’t expect it to be this literal.”

Finally, he set her down, his hands brushing her shoulders as he stepped back just enough to look her over. His gaze lingered, taking in every detail—the delicate lines of her face, the way her clothes fit her small frame, the slight flush on her cheeks.

“Even cuter than I imagined,” he said softly, more to himself than to her. His sharp eyes softened as he reached out, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Alright let’s sit down before I get too distracted.”