Tuesday Evening - 6:30 PM
Sebastian stood outside Chai's apartment building, checking his appearance in his phone's camera for the third time. Dark jeans, button-down shirt, leather jacket. Casual but put-together.
He was nervous. Actually nervous. Sebastian Blackwood, who'd faced armed mercenaries without breaking a sweat, was nervous about a date.
His phone buzzed. A text from Emily.
Emily: Stop fidgeting. You look fine. She already likes you. Just be yourself.
Sebastian: How do you know I'm fidgeting?
Emily: Because I know you. Now go pick up Chai and have a nice evening. You deserve this.
Sebastian smiled despite his nerves and pocketed his phone. Emily was right. He deserved this. A normal evening, a normal date, with a woman who made him feel like more than just security personnel.
He knocked on Chai's door at exactly 6:45 PM.
Chai opened it moments later, and Sebastian's breath caught.
