“Does that sound okay with you?” Ken released . The breath he didn’t even realize he was holding. “That would be wonderful,” he said, relief laced in his words. Ken felt relieved as Rodney clarified his intentions. He appreciated Rodney’s honesty and understanding. The nerves began to dissipate, replaced by a sense of hope and excitement. Ken looked into Rodney’s eyes and nodded, a smile playing at the corners of his lips. “Yeah, that sounds more than okay with me,” Ken repeated, his voice steadier now. “I want to get to know you too, Rodney, and see where this goes. Let’s take our time and build something meaningful together. No rush, no pressure. Just exploring a potential connection. Deal?” He asked, raising there joined hands.
Rodney
Enzo grinned at Jayda’s playful push, finding her infectious joy contagious. He looked around the quaint bakery, taking in the beautiful array of pastries displayed in the glass cases. “Oh, don’t worry, cara mia(my darling),” he replied with a chuckle, placing a hand on her back. “This place has it all. The most divine pastries, and of course, coffee. I’d love to order for us,” He smiled big. As they made their way to the counter, Enzo felt a wave of nostalgia wash over him. He remembered the first time he stepped foot into this bakery three years ago, shortly after he moved to campus in the U.S. The homesickness had been overwhelming, and he longed for a taste of his beloved Rome. He had learned the baker’s sister married a Italian woman, so they had added two new items to the menu. Cannoli and pasticciotto. He hadn’t been here since last year, and noticed a couple new other things, but he already knew his order.
The memories of that moment flooded back to Enzo, and he took a moment to savor them before turning his attention to Jayda. “You know, when I first moved here, I was terribly homesick,” he began, a twinkle in his eyes. “But then, I stumbled upon this little gem. They make a pasticciotto here, cara(dear), that takes me right back to Rome. And trust me, I know pasticciotto inside out.” As they reached the counter, a warm smile spread across Enzo’s face as he exchanged greetings with the baker. He ordered two pasticciottos and two cups of freshly brewed coffee, ensuring Jayda’s request for no nuts was taken into account.
Once they found a cozy spot by the window, Enzo handed Jayda one of the delicate pasticciottos, so perfectly crafted it looked like a miniature artwork. Its golden crust glistened, and the aroma of the sweet, creamy filling wafted around them. He watched her response to it, eager to see if she liked it or not.
@ChayChay05 • Jayda