The day of the date, I felt that familiar mix of excitement and nerves. I changed outfits twice, checked my reflection more times than I’d admit, and reminded myself it was just coffee—nothing dramatic.
When I saw him standing outside the café, I relaxed instantly. He looked exactly like his photos: warm smile, neat jacket, the kind of posture that said he was trying to be respectful but not stiff. He greeted me politely, and for a moment, I thought, Okay, this is promising.
Then I noticed it.
His scent hit me before we even finished saying hello. It wasn’t bad—just… intense. Overwhelming. I couldn’t quite place it. Maybe cologne layered over body spray, maybe heavily scented shampoo. Whatever it was, it filled the air between us so strongly that I had to blink and refocus.
I tried to ignore it.
