“Yeah.” I didn’t eat anything this morning, I was too anxious about flying. My stomach makes an angry growl, demanding I feed it.

Twenty-something minutes later, we pull up to a diner. When I step out, I strap my purse and camera bag over my yellow sundress decorated in white flowers. Instead of choosing my rainbow socks today, I chose my white and yellow striped knee-high socks along with bubblegum oxford heels. Inside the restaurant, the air conditioner cools off my heated skin as we follow the hostess, who’s wearing a white T-shirt and dark jeans, to a booth. As I slide in on the opposite side of him, she hands us our menu and tells us to enjoy.

Scanning the menu, I look for the non-breakfast section.

“Don’t worry, they serve lunch and dinner.” He turns his menu over and points to the bottom of the page. “Watching you with earbuds in your ears, dancing around in the kitchen, making a grilled cheese sandwich in the morning is one of my favorite things to do.” He says it casually like it isn’t at all creepy.

My cheeks flush as I bite my bottom lip to keep from smiling. When I don’t think he’s paying attention, he does.

He’s still studying the menu as I set mine on the red and white checkered tablecloth. I’ve never been a fan of breakfast food. I don’t like how eggs taste on my tongue or the texture of bacon. In general, breakfast food tastes like eating dry wood.

“Not only are you a pervert, but you’re also a creep,” I joke.

Before he can respond, a waitress with neon-blue eyes and gold, wavy hair, wearing the same exact outfit as the hostess, appears at our table. I order myself a double cheeseburger with no tomatoes, and Gunner orders himself sausage, grits, and bacon. He tells the waitress to make sure that the items on his plate don’t touch. She collects our menus and leaves.

“We’re going to the aquarium and to a ca—”

“Hold up, Gunner,” I cut him off as the waitress comes back with our food, and I smile at her before she leaves. “I thought this was a business trip.”

“It is. But we can have some fun while we’re here.” He pushes each item of food away from each other to be sure they won’t touch.

This feels like more of a getaway with the person you’re dating than a business trip, but if I have a chance to explore a new city, I guess I’m okay with it.