"Sometimes love isn't fireworks, sometimes love is just a slow burn that keeps you warm

I can't help but feel a sense of wonder and excitement. The neon lights of Times Square blur past us, casting colorful shadows across the interior of the car. Zeph's dimples deepen as he cracks jokes and tells funny stories about his past experiences in the city. Despite the chilly spring weather, the sidewalks are packed with people, and we have to weave our way through throngs of tourists and locals alike.

At one point, we come to a standstill in traffic, and Zeph points out a street performer dressed as a giant chicken. "I swear, that guy's been out here every day for the past month," he chuckles. "I think he's trying to start a chicken dance craze or something." I can't help but laugh at his playful humor and easygoing nature.

When we arrive at "Chez Lenny," I notice the restaurant's name is written in neon lights and the entrance is decorated with colorful flowers. It's packed with people, and we have to wait a few minutes before being seated.

Once we're seated, Zeph immediately orders us each a glass of wine and starts perusing the menu. "You have to try their steak," he says excitedly. "It's cooked to perfection."

I can't help but laugh at Zeph's enthusiasm for food. "Are you a food critic on the side?" I ask teasingly.

Zeph chuckles. "No, but I know good food when I taste it. And trust me, you won't be disappointed."

I raise an eyebrow skeptically. "I don't know, I'm pretty picky when it comes to food. What if it's not up to my standards?"

Zeph grins and leans in closer, his dimples deepening. "I'll eat it for you, don't worry. I'm a sacrificial lamb like that."

As I gaze at Zeph, I feel a sudden surge of both excitement and nervousness coursing through me. The attraction between us has been steadily building since we met, and now that we're alone in this charming restaurant, I find it harder to resist his charm. However, a small voice in my head urges caution. Is this just a fling to him? What if things get complicated? And should I tell him that he's my soulmate? But then again, we've only known each other for less than 24 hours; I can't just spring that on him. He'll think I'm crazy. I take a deep breath, trying to push these thoughts aside, and focus on the present moment.

The food arrives, and I take a tentative bite of the steak, savoring the rich flavors and juicy tenderness. "You were right," I admit, grinning at Zeph. "This is amazing."

Zeph grins back, looking genuinely pleased. "Told you so.

I'm always right," he says with a wink, making me roll my eyes playfully. "Hey, I'm serious," he protests, his expression mock-indignant. "I have impeccable taste."

I can't help but laugh at his confident demeanor. "Is that so?" I ask, arching an eyebrow.

Zeph nods, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Yep, I even have a certificate from the Institute of Impeccable Taste," he jokes.

I play along, pretending to be impressed. "Wow, you must be really special then," I say with a grin.

Zeph nods sagely. "I am indeed. It's a rare gift, but someone's got to have it."

I watch as he takes another bite of his steak, savoring it with closed eyes and a contented sigh. "You know, watching you eat is almost as enjoyable as eating it myself," I joke, causing him to open his eyes and grin at me.

Zeph chuckles, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

I clear my throat, trying to regain my composure. "I mean, you just look so...enjoyable. It's like you're really savoring every bite."

Zeph grins, leaning in closer to me. "Well, maybe I'm just trying to impress you," he says, his voice low and seductive.

I feel a rush of warmth spread through my body as Zeph leans in closer, his gaze locked onto mine. His smooth voice washes over me, sending shivers down my spine. I can't help but be drawn in by his charm, feeling a flutter of excitement in my chest.

But at the same time, I can't help but roll my eyes at his obvious flirting. "Oh please," I say with a smirk, trying to play it cool. "I'm not that easily impressed."

Zeph chuckles, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Is that so?" he says, a playful tone in his voice. "Well, I guess I'll just have to try harder then."

I shake my head, laughing at his persistence. "You're something else," I say, unable to resist his infectious energy.

Zeph's grin widens, and I can see the twinkle in his eyes as he leans in closer to me. The scent of his cologne and the warmth of his breath make my heart skip a beat. He's clearly enjoying himself and basking in the afterglow of a great meal.

"You know what would make this meal even better?" he asks, his voice low and suggestive.

My curiosity is piqued, and I tilt my head slightly, giving him my full attention. "What's that?" I ask, my lips curving into a playful smile.

His expression turns mischievous as he speaks. "Dessert," he says simply. "And I know just the thing to satisfy my sweet tooth." He looks at me with a suggestive glint in his eyes. "You."

Zeph nods eagerly, clearly enjoying the moment. "Yes, you," he repeats, his tone teasing. "You look positively delectable."

“Well we better move on to dessert then,” I whisper seductively

His eyes widen and he calls out for the waiter

Zeph's eyes widen at my unexpected response, and a grin spreads across his face. "I like the way you think," he says with a chuckle. "Let's skip the small talk and go straight to the sweet stuff."

I feel a rush of excitement as Zeph calls out for the waiter to bring us the bill, eager to see what he has in mind for our dessert. His playful flirtation has me feeling bold and daring, and I can't help but feel a tingle of anticipation at the thought of what's to come.

-

-

-

Her blue eyes widen when I stop talking, and she leans in closer to me, an eager expression on her face. "Wait, what?" she exclaims. "What happened next?” she screams

I lean back, trying to contain my laughter, and notice the people at the table next to us giving us a judgmental look. They seem to be a group of older women, dressed in their Sunday best, sipping on mimosas and chatting in hushed tones. I can't help but feel a pang of annoyance at their disapproving stares.

The restaurant is busy, with several groups of people enjoying their Sunday brunch. The tables are covered with crisp white tablecloths, and the sunlight streaming in from the large windows bathes the room in a warm glow. The aroma of fresh coffee and sizzling bacon fills the air, and the sound of clinking glasses and lively chatter creates a festive ambiance.

Despite the pleasant atmosphere, I can't shake off the feeling of being watched by the prying eyes of the judgmental ladies next to us. I glance over at Mila, who seems oblivious to the scrutiny, completely engrossed in my story.

Mila runs a hand through her blonde hair and tugs on the hem of her dress in frustration. "Come on, Cham," she pleads. "You can't just leave me hanging like this. What happened next?"

I can't help but smile at her enthusiasm, despite feeling self-conscious under the judgmental stares from the neighboring table. "Well, I suggested we move on to dessert," I say, trying to ignore the tension in the air.

Mila leans in closer, her blue eyes filled with anticipation. "And then what?" she asks eagerly.

As I continue with the story, Mila's reaction becomes more animated. She nods along, her blue eyes widening and she runs a hand through her blonde hair in excitement. "No way!" she exclaims, throwing her hands up in the air. "Zeph did that? That's wild!"

I chuckle at her reaction. "Yeah, I couldn't believe it either," I say, taking another sip of my mimosa.

Mila leans in closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "You know what they say about guys with big...steaks, right?" she says, winking at me.

I can't help but burst out laughing at her joke. "Mila, you're terrible," I say, still giggling.

She grins back at me, tugging on her dress in excitement. "But seriously, what did you do after that?" she asks, leaning in even closer.

I continue the story. Mila's eyes grow wider, and she starts fanning herself with her menu. "Oh my god, Cham," she interjects. "This is too much. I can't handle it. What did you do next?"

Describing more details, she gasps "Girl, you are giving me LIFE right now!" she exclaims, letting out a giggle. "I can't believe it, five times! Well done Zeph,” she shouts. And I laugh at her antics

I continue with the story, trying to keep it together as Mila interjects with funny comments and exaggerated reactions. At one point, she even grabs a nearby bread roll and uses it as a mock microphone to pretend to interview me.

We both dissolve into giggles as the judgmental ladies next to us give us disapproving looks. But we don't care – we're having too much fun reliving the drama of the previous night.

As we continue to enjoy our Sunday brunch, the ringing of my phone interrupts the lighthearted chatter between Mila and me. I pick it up and see Zeph's name flashing on the screen. Mila raises an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Ooh, someone's getting a call from their lover," she teases, winking at me.

I roll my eyes, trying to hide my smile. "Shut up,” I chuckle

I press the answer button and put the phone on loud speaker so that Mila can hear "Hey, Zeph," I say, trying to keep my tone casual.

"Hey beautiful, just wanted to hear your voice," Zeph's smooth voice comes through the line.

Mila raises her eyebrows even higher and mouths "smooth" to me.

I try to stifle a laugh and say, "Well, you could have just sent a text if you wanted to hear my voice."

Zeph chuckles on the other end. "I prefer to hear it in real time. So, how's your brunch going?"

“Its going great, just chatting with Mila,”

"Ah, Mila," Zeph says, drawing out her name. "How's she doing? Tell her I said hi."

I roll my eyes, but can't help but smile at his charm. "I'll tell her," I say, then pause for a moment. "Is there anything else you needed, or did you just miss me?" I tease

“I miss you,” he whispers and I giggle feeling like a teenager. Mila pretends to puke and I smile at her.

“Its been three hours,” I reason

He gasps “That long? No wonder I Can’t breathe properly,” he jokes

"So, I was thinking," he continues, "how about we spend the rest of the day together? Maybe go for a walk in Central Park?"

 

Mila is practically bouncing in her seat with excitement, and I can't help but feel a little giddy myself. "Sure, that sounds great," I say, unable to keep the smile out of my voice.

"Perfect," Zeph replies. "I'll meet you in front of the restaurant in an hour." He hangs up.

Mila leans in with a playful smile. "So, when's the wedding?" she quips, making me laugh. I roll my eyes at Mila's joke, but I can't help but feel a flutter in my chest at the thought of spending more time with Zeph. "Shut up, Mila," I playfully retort.

But Mila continues to tease me. "Don't worry, I'll make sure to plan a bachelorette party that you'll never forget," she says with a grin.

I can't help but laugh at her ridiculousness. "You're impossible," I say, shaking my head.

"Cham, can I ask you something?" she says, her voice softening.

"Of course, what's up?" I ask, suddenly feeling a twinge of worry.

"Do you feel like he's the one? I mean, I know you're intuitive and all, but I just don't want you to get hurt," she says, her concern evident.

I take a deep breath, thinking carefully before I answer. "Yes, Mila he is. But I don’t know about him it’s not like I can read his mind or anything” I say honestly.

Mila nods, seeming to accept my answer. "Okay, just promise me you'll be careful," she says, squeezing my hand.

I smile at her, feeling grateful for such a caring friend. "I promise," I say, raising my glass. "And speaking of promises, let's make a toast to my happiness, shall we?"

Mila raises her glass eagerly. "Yes, let's do it!"

I clear my throat dramatically, trying to come up with something witty to say. "May my happiness be as endless as the bottomless mimosas we're drinking!" I declare, grinning widely.

Mila grins, eagerly raising her glass as well. "Yes! To your happiness, and to the fact that you finally found someone without the help of a blind date!" she jokes, making us both laugh.

We clink our glasses together, and I can't help but feel grateful for Mila's support and humor, even in the midst of my own uncertainties.

As the clock strikes 3:30, I glance nervously at the entrance of the restaurant. Suddenly, a tall figure catches my eye, and I feel a wave of relief wash over me as I recognize Zeph's broad shoulders and easy gait. He's dressed in a simple white shirt and jeans, his dark hair tousled from the wind outside. He spots me and gives me a bright smile, making my heart skip a beat.

Mila nudges me playfully, making me jump a little. "Well, there he is. Don't keep the man waiting," she teases, giving me a wink.

I roll my eyes, but can't help but feel grateful for her lightheartedness. I grab my purse and stand up, smoothing down my dress nervously. As I walk towards Zeph, he takes my hand and pulls me into a tight embrace, whispering sweet nothings in my ear. I can feel Mila's eyes on us as we break apart, blushing a little.

He catches sight of Mila and waves at her. She waves back and lifts her eyebrows suggestively

“Have fun lovebirds,” she shouts not caring about the people surrounding her.