The evening air brushed against my skin as Tristan walked me to my front door. His consideration in ensuring I got home safely made me feel valued. It was such a stark contrast to Julian, who toward the end of our relationship had expected me to follow him everywhere like a pet. And Adrian... well, Adrian rarely walked me anywhere unless it served his purpose.
"I had a wonderful time tonight," Tristan said, his French accent thickening slightly with the gentle night breeze. "Thank you for giving me a chance."
"I should be thanking you," I replied, finding myself genuinely smiling. "Dinner was lovely."
We paused at my doorstep, that familiar first-date tension hanging between us. I fiddled with my keys, uncertain what came next. My thoughts drifted to Adrian—the way his eyes darkened when he wanted me, how his hands felt against my skin...
