Aria pov
Then it was just us, standing in the hallway like awkward teenagers. "So," I said.
"So," he echoed. "Ready?"
"As I'll ever be." I grabbed my purse, suddenly nervous all over again. "Where are we going?"
"You'll see." He offered his arm, and I took it, hyperaware of every point where we touched. "But first—" He pulled out a single red rose from behind his back. "For you."
"You brought me a flower." My voice came out embarrassingly breathy.
"First date tradition." He tucked it behind my ear gently. "Though I have to say, I've never been this nervous for a first date before."
"Never?" I raised an eyebrow. "The great Damien Blackwood, nervous?"
"Terrified," he admitted. "Because Aria, this matters. You matter. And I really, really don't want to screw this up."
"You won't." I squeezed his arm. "Just be yourself. That's all I want."
