Fear

38 • Wined, dined, and...

I stood nervously in the dining room, waiting patiently for her to walk in. I kept looking at the door and practicing how I'd greet her, whilst simultaneously trying to steady my breathing.

Everything was set perfectly for the evening. The soft glow of candlelight illuminated the room, casting a warm and romantic ambiance. I placed a single rose on her placemat, a symbol of my love.

I adjusted my collar and straightened my suit, but as the moment approached, my nerves and heart rate grew.

The door creaked open, and I held my breath, then my thoughts scattered as Emily walked timidly into the room.

"Fuck..." I didn't realise I'd said it out loud, but I was mesmerised.

The beautiful, figure-hugging black dress and the elegant diamond necklace looked stunning on her, and a pair of heels just completed the look altogether.

I gulped hard, trying not to stare, but I couldn't help it. I gazed at her, wide-eyed and lost. She looked fucking amazing.

"Ty?" Emily's voice broke my trance, and I shook myself mentally.

"Emily," I said, stepping forward and offering my hand. "You look... breathtaking."

She blushed, a little smile forming on her lips. "Thank you. You don't look bad yourself," she teased.

"Please, have a seat." I pulled out her chair like a gentleman, and she thanked me for the effort I'd clearly put into the birthday surprise.

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"Everything looks amazing, Ty. I can't believe you did all this for me," I said, genuinely feeling like the luckiest girl alive.

The room was transformed. It looked like something from a romance novel. The soft candlelight, the rose, the table set for an intimate dinner-it was more than I could have ever expected.

Tyler looked slightly awkward, his hands fidgeting. "You deserve it, Emily. More than anything." He sat across from me, his nervousness almost endearing.

Soon, the waitresses came in with the food, bringing in a spread of Italian dishes. The aroma of freshly made pasta, garlic, and herbs filled the room. It was like a dream.

"Wow. This smells incredible," I sighed, my eyes widening in delight.

"One of my favorites," Tyler admitted. "I hope you like it."

As we began to eat, the conversation flowed naturally. We chatted, laughed, and enjoyed the delicious food. I couldn't stop smiling. The nervousness I had seen in Tyler melted away, replaced by a warm, comfortable feeling.

A waiter came in with a bottle of wine, pouring it into our glasses. "This is actually my favourite wine," Tyler said, raising his glass. "To you, Emily. Happy Birthday."

"To us," I replied, lifting my glass up. The romantic piano music in the background set the perfect tone for the evening.

As the evening progressed, the wine flowed more freely. We talked about everything and nothing, losing ourselves in each other's company. The waitresses brought in Tiramisu for dessert, and we savoured every bite, accompanied by more wine.

"Oh, Ty, this is amazing," I swooned, feeling the warmth of the wine in my chest. "I can't thank you enough."

We ended up getting drunk and waltzing around the room together, the soft piano music guiding our movements. It was Mozart... I think.

Tyler twirled me around, and I stumbled slightly, laughing as he caught me.
"You're a surprisingly good dancer," I teased, holding onto him for balance.

"You're joking, I'm trying to keep up with you," he laughed, pulling me closer.

We moved together, our bodies swaying in time with the music. The rest of the institution seemed to disappear from existence. It was just us, lost in the moment, in each other. The warmth of his touch, the sound of his laughter, the way his eyes sparkled when he looked at me-it was all perfect.

And yeah, I know it's all soppy, but it's true. I really felt... whole with him.

When little 8-year-old me wanted the world to swallow me up as my Dad raged at my Mum in the other room, I read fairy tales to try to escape from it all. I wanted so badly for the knight in shining armour to come and rescue me.

Now I felt like those dreams I had were coming true. Tyler was like my knight in shining armour.

He saved me, and I saved him.

"Thank you for tonight," I said softly, my head resting on his shoulder as we swayed slowly to the music.

"I love you, Emily," he whispered back, his breath warm against my ear.

We stopped dancing, standing there for a moment. I looked up at him, feeling a surge of emotion. I leaned in, and our lips met in a soft, tender kiss. It was a kiss filled with promise, with love, with everything I had ever wanted.
As we pulled away, Tyler smiled at me.

"I love you too, Ty," I replied with a sigh.

The rest of the night blurred into a haze of laughter, music, and warmth.

I don't really remember the rest of the night, but I know I woke up naked...

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