The babysitter

The date

The coffee shop buzzed with the low hum of conversations and the clinking of mugs. Tim walked in, his eyes scanning the room. He felt out of place in his casual button-up shirt and dark jeans—almost too aware of the fact that he hadn't been on a date in years. His hands were shoved deep into his pockets as he looked around, spotting Ashley at a small table near the window.

She waved when she saw him, her smile bright and inviting. Ashley looked effortlessly put-together, wearing a flowy sundress that complemented her sun-kissed skin. Tim forced a smile in return and made his way over.

"Hey, Tim," she greeted, standing up briefly to hug him.

"Hey," Tim replied, a little stiffly. The hug caught him off guard, but he quickly recovered, pulling out the chair across from her.

"Glad you made it," Ashley said as she sat down. "I wasn't sure if you'd show."

Tim chuckled awkwardly. "Yeah, sorry if I was a little hesitant. I don't do this often."

Ashley smiled knowingly. "I get it. It can be nerve-wracking." She gestured to the menu in front of her. "Have you been here before?"

"No, first time," Tim said, glancing at the menu.

"Well, their vanilla latte is amazing. But if you're more of a black coffee guy, they've got a house blend that's pretty strong," Ashley suggested.

Tim nodded. "I'll stick with black coffee. Thanks."

A server came by to take their orders, and soon they were left with the awkward lull of small talk.

"So," Ashley began, stirring her drink once it arrived. "What made you decide to text me?"

Tim took a sip of his coffee, thinking for a moment. "I guess I figured it wouldn't hurt to get to know someone new."

Ashley tilted her head, her smile turning playful. "Is that your way of saying you've been single for a while?"

Tim smirked. "Something like that."

Ashley laughed, the sound light and genuine. "Well, I appreciate the honesty. For what it's worth, I think you're doing great so far."

As the conversation flowed, Tim found himself relaxing a little. Ashley was easy to talk to—charming, funny, and confident. She told him about her job as a lifeguard, sharing funny and heartwarming stories about saving kids from rogue beach balls and teaching people how to swim.

"What about you?" Ashley asked, leaning forward slightly. "What's it like being a cop?"

Tim hesitated, always careful about how much he shared with strangers. "It's...challenging, but rewarding. No two days are the same, and I like that."

Ashley nodded thoughtfully. "I can imagine it's a lot of pressure, though."

"Yeah, it can be," Tim admitted. "But I've got a good team, and that helps."

"Teamwork makes the dream work," Ashley quipped, grinning.

Tim chuckled. "Something like that."

The date continued smoothly, but Tim couldn't shake the subtle nagging feeling in the back of his mind. While Ashley was undoubtedly attractive and kind, something felt...off. Not with her, necessarily, but within himself.

As they wrapped up their drinks, Ashley leaned back in her chair, looking at Tim with a thoughtful expression. "You know, I don't normally do this."

"Do what?" Tim asked, genuinely curious.

"Give out my number to someone I just met," she admitted. "But there was something about you. I don't know, you just seemed...different."

Tim raised an eyebrow. "Different how?"

Ashley shrugged, smiling softly. "Grounded. Like someone who knows what they want."

Tim laughed lightly. "You might be giving me too much credit."

"Maybe," Ashley said, her tone teasing. "But I guess I'll find out if I'm right."

As they stepped out of the coffee shop, the sun was beginning to set, casting a warm orange glow over the street. Tim walked Ashley to her car, his hands shoved in his pockets once again.

"Well, this was nice," Ashley said, turning to face him.

"Yeah, it was," Tim agreed, though his tone lacked the enthusiasm he knew she might have been expecting.

Ashley hesitated for a moment before leaning in to give him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Text me sometime, okay?"

Tim nodded, offering her a faint smile. "Will do."

As Ashley drove off, Tim stood there for a moment, watching her taillights disappear down the street. He let out a long breath and rubbed the back of his neck.

When Tim got home, the house was quiet. Lucy was sitting on the couch, her laptop open, while Emma was sprawled out on the floor with Kojo, giggling as the dog tried to lick her face.

"Hey," Lucy said, glancing up. "How was the date?"

Tim shrugged, setting his keys on the counter. "It was fine."

Lucy frowned, closing her laptop. "Just fine?"

Tim sighed, sitting down across from her. "She's great. Really nice, easy to talk to... But something about it just didn't feel right."

Lucy tilted her head. "What do you mean?"

"I don't know," Tim admitted. "It felt forced, I guess. Like I was trying to convince myself it was something I wanted."

Lucy studied him for a moment before nodding. "Maybe it's just not the right time. Or the right person."

"Maybe," Tim said, leaning back against the couch.

Emma climbed onto the couch, Kojo trailing behind her. "Daddy, did you bring me anything?"

Tim chuckled, ruffling her hair. "Not this time, kiddo."

Emma pouted for a moment before snuggling up to his side. "You'll do better next time," she said, patting his arm.

Lucy laughed, shaking her head. "Well, there you have it. Sage advice from a five-year-old."

Tim smiled, holding Emma close. For now, this was enough.