Chapter 7

Nancy stretched and spun around in her living room, her apartment already buzzing with sunlight and the energy she felt coursing through her veins. The music pulsed through her speakers, bright and perfect, and she couldn’t help but move with it. One foot tapped, then the other, and before she knew it, she was spinning between her bed and her closet like she’d suddenly become a professional dancer.

She yanked clothes off hangers and flung them onto the bed with theatrical flair, sorting, folding, tossing—her own personal spring-cleaning dance. Every time she found a long-lost scarf or a fun top, she struck a little victory pose, laughing at herself.

Halfway through, she grabbed her phone and texted Ethan:

Nancy: “Warning: I’m in an extremely happy, dancing-around-my-condo mood. Just so you know.”

The reply came almost instantly, a little heart emoji that made her grin even wider. She twirled past the windows, the city sprawling below, imagining Ethan smiling at her message. She didn’t stop for a second, dancing with abandon, kicking off her shoes, and flipping a shirt in the air just for fun.

By the time she bounced onto her couch, slightly out of breath and glowing with energy, her condo looked like a joyful tornado had passed through. But she didn’t care. She was happy—truly, completely, radiantly happy—and she intended to ride this feeling as high as it would go.

Nancy’s phone buzzed and she snatched it up, already expecting another sweet little note from Ethan.

Ethan: “You? Happy? Whatever could have caused this?”

Nancy snorted, tossing her head back on the couch. She grinned at the screen and typed quickly, fingers flying over the keys:

Nancy: “Well gosh! I simply don’t know! Maybe you can come over and help me try to recall!”

She hit send before she could second-guess herself and leaned back, imagining Ethan’s reaction. Almost immediately, another message popped up:

Ethan: “Hmm… sounds like my kind of emergency. I could come investigate… but fair warning, I’m very distracting.”

Nancy laughed, nearly dropping her phone. She typed back with exaggerated care:

Nancy: “Oh, I’m sure you are! But I might be even more distracting. Come at your own risk!”

The back-and-forth continued, each message sillier and flirtier than the last, and Nancy found herself giggling so hard she had to cringe at herself acting thirteen again. Her heart fluttered in that delicious, weightless way that made her forget everything else except that she and Ethan had somehow sparked this perfect, teasing little connection.

Nancy’s grin faded just slightly as she typed a new message to Ethan, her fingers tapping with a more deliberate rhythm.

Nancy: “Hah, but seriously though, do you want to come over for dinner? No funny stuff, but I wouldn’t mind cooking for you. Would you be up for 8pm?”

Almost immediately, the reply came:

Ethan: “Perfect! Actually works out great—I have a few things to take care of beforehand anyway. See you then.”

Nancy set her phone down, a little thrill of anticipation curling in her stomach, and turned back to her apartment. She decided it was time for some actual productive cleaning. She went through clothes that didn’t fit anymore, neatly folding some into donation bags and tossing others aside, and swept through the condo tidying every surface, fluffing pillows, and straightening shelves. By the time she stepped back to admire her work, her place actually looked… serene.

Satisfied, she drew herself a long, fragrant bubble bath. The water was steaming, scented with lavender and vanilla, and she sank into it with a happy sigh, letting the bubbles lap over her arms and shoulders. Her phone buzzed against the bathmat, and she leaned over to pick it up. It was Mark.

Mark: “Morning Nancy! Hope you’re having a good day. Yesterday was wild out at the river with the kids and the wife. They managed to convince me to do some of the tubing stuff, but I survived. Did you find the outfit you liked for mini-golf? How’d it go?”

Nancy laughed since it was 2 p.m., curling up slightly in the bath. She typed back carefully, still feeling that giddy warmth from Ethan.

Nancy: “Oh, Mark! Loved the pictures from yesterday—I’m glad you had fun with the family! It was incredible! We had our first kiss and it was adorable… and then the volcano actually burst during our second kiss! He’s coming over tonight for dinner! I’m actually making food for him. I’m ridiculously excited.”

She hit send and leaned back, letting the warm water surround her. Her cheeks were still tinged with the memory of Ethan’s smile, the playful spark of their messages, and the gentle thrill of knowing he’d be at her place tonight. Her condo, her music, and her heart all felt in perfect harmony.

Mark: “You’re telling me you had a perfectly timed geological reaction mid-kiss? That is… very cute. Damn, I was trying to think of something to be sarcastic and funny about, but I can’t. Give me a minute. It’ll come to me. But first kiss, huh? Was it everything you’d hoped for and more?”

Nancy typed quickly, still giggling:

Nancy: “Oh yeah! It was amazing. I’ve been all giddy this morning. I even got my closet cleaned finally.”

Mark shot back with a teasing smirk in text form:

Mark: “I’ll bet you ‘got your closet cleaned’ hehe.”

Nancy: “Don’t be gross! Lmao! You know I don’t do /that/ that quickly ....”

Mark: “Riiiight, that’s tonight I guess?”

Nancy: “No! It’s just dinner! We both agreed to go slow, you know this. Shut up!......Maybe….NO!.........probably not…..”

Nancy grinned, floating in the bath.

Mark: “Well, if it does, then it does. Just try not to giggle as much as you probably are right now.”

Nancy exhaled sharply and made the bubbles swirl. Nuh-uh, she thought to herself, lying.

Mark: “Don’t forget, you messaged other guys too, remember? We read through them together cuz you promised yourself you’d be open to more than just the first guy. I know it’s going well. And yes, I’m super jazzed for you. I just gotta be that person….since Nellie sucks.”

Nancy: “Yes, I know. I haven’t forgotten. And yes she does….for now.”

She sank into the bathwater a bit more. Still smiling, letting the water sit just below her nostrils, feeling the water’s warmth on her lips. The bubbles were mostly gone now. She loved her tub. It was deep enough that she could completely submerge comfortably without her knees sticking out. Honestly, it was one of her life goals to have a tub this deep.

Silly.

Nancy: “I’ll check in with a couple guys that seemed ok, but I’m wearing my skanky classy dress tonight anyway.”

Mark: “That’s my girl!”

Nancy set the phone aside, letting the bathwater envelop her. Between Ethan’s adorable date antics and Mark’s perfectly ridiculous commentary, she felt light, happy, and impossibly giddy—and she had no intention of coming down anytime soon.

***

Nancy padded across her condo in her soft robe, hair still damp from the bath. She flicked on the kettle, set her favorite mug on the counter, and spooned in coffee grounds. As the rich aroma filled the kitchen, she opened her laptop and logged back onto her dating profile. Most of the messages were the usual spam, some creepy comments, and a few unsolicited dick pics—groaning, she skimmed past them. She’d saved a few that seemed worth replying to, though.

She started with Kevin, 38. Sweet, kind, but… dull. Not bad, just boring. She typed out a few probing questions, keeping her tone casual but curious.

“Hey Kevin! You mentioned liking hiking—what’s your favorite trail? And do you usually go alone or with friends?”

A minute later, she saw his reply.

“Hey Nancy! I usually hike alone. I like the quiet. My favorite trail is Blueberry Hill.”

Nancy tapped back:

“Blueberry Hill sounds lovely. How often do you get to go? Do you have any funny hiking stories, or is it mostly quiet and peaceful?”

She smiled, thinking Kevin wasn’t exciting, but she appreciated his steadiness.

Nancy moved on to Mike, 25. Hot, funny, and inexplicably fascinated by her age and success. She had agreed to message him back because his energy was oddly endearing, like a puppy trying to herd cats.

“Hey Mike! You said you’ve got all these ideas. Which one do you think you’d actually start working on first?”

He replied almost instantly:

“Oh wow. Okay, um… so I’ve got this food delivery idea. But also a podcast about… random stuff I like. And maybe an app that helps people plan trips for free? I don’t know. I think I just like thinking about being successful more than doing it sometimes haha.”

Nancy laughed softly. This was exactly what she expected.

“So… a lot of concepts, not so much execution yet. Got it. Which one would you actually try to make happen first if you had to pick?”

“Hmm… probably the podcast? It’s easy. I can just talk and record stuff. The app would take coding… which I don’t know. And the food thing… I’d need a kitchen. But maybe I could do all three at once? Or… not. Yeah, podcast for now!”

Nancy shook her head with a smile.

“Okay, podcast it is. Promise me you’ll actually make a plan at some point. Ideas are cute, but action is better.”

“Yeah! Totally. Plan. Action. Got it. I’ll start… eventually. Maybe. But thanks! You make me feel like I can do stuff!”

Nancy set the laptop down for a second, shaking her head and grinning. Clueless, but sweet. She couldn’t help but find it endearing.

She sipped her coffee and stared out her window for a moment enjoying the view. She always loved it. The building would sometimes bounce just a little and sway in the California breeze. Earthquake building codes that allowed for bouncy buildings made her smile. Architecture was cool. Which reminded her of Victor.

Victor, 32, who was actually a realistic option if Ethan weren’t in the picture. She’d exchanged a few messages with him already. Victor had a decent job as an architect, wasn’t into the party scene much, and had a dry sense of humor she appreciated.

“Hey Victor! How’s your week going?”

“Hey Nancy! Not bad. A bit busy at work, but I got to catch up with friends a little. How about you?”

“Pretty good! Got my apartment cleaned up finally. Feels like a tiny personal victory.”

“Nice! Always satisfying to get that done, I need to myself. But hey, so, we’ve been talking for a few days. I hope I’m not outta line asking this, but are you seeing anyone? Seriously, I mean.”

Nancy paused, fingers hovering over the keys. She hadn’t told Ethan she was messaging others, but she also hadn’t discussed exclusivity with him either. She typed carefully:

“Nothing exclusive yet. Just talking to a couple people. Keeping it casual for now.”

Victor’s reply was quick:

“Makes sense. I get that. Hope it’s going well—sounds like you’re having fun. I hope you count me as a hopeful serious candidate? Maybe we can meet up soon?”

Nancy’s face flushed with a myriad of different emotions unexpectedly. For starters, she’d just gotten used to one guy giving her genuine attention. Now she’s been formally asked to meet another. She wouldn’t technically be doing anything wrong by agreeing to just meet for coffee, would she?

“Uh, well I don’t see the harm in coffee. As friends. Acquaintances?”

She was floundering now. That extra beat in her chest that shouldn’t be there. Anxiety, old friend. Welcome back. She thought to herself unhappily. Why was this so hard?

“Perfect! Sounds awesome. You do seem hesitant though, so I’m gonna give you some space to think about when you’d actually like to meet up for coffee. Just let me know sometime this week. Doesn’t need to be super fast.”

“Thanks!”

Okay, points for Victor there. He was being patient. He was pretty cute too, in the same way that Ethan was. Victor had black hair, wore glasses. He wasn’t built, but he wasn’t overweight. Just a normal guy with a nice attitude and a nice stable job. He wasn’t particularly nerdy though. Mostly he seemed to just like watching sports. Not play, just watch. For the statistics analysis he once said in a prior conversation. It made her laugh at the time.

Her brows were furrowed and she was tensing up, but her phone buzzed.

Ethan: “I’m so excited to see you!”
Ethan texted with an accompanied photo of him and Crowley on a walk in the hills. Ethan was sweaty, and Crowley’s tongue was lolling out the side of his mouth. They both looked very happy.

Nancy smiled at the screen, feeling a little flutter in her chest. None of those other guys even compared to Ethan—the volcano gurgle, the laughter, the sweet awkwardness—but they were interesting in their own ways. She could enjoy this tiny orbit of attention while still keeping her focus firmly on the guy who had made her heart leap.

***

She glanced at the clock—time to get ready. She got a spray bottle to re-dampen her hair and began working her damp hair into beachy waves, letting the ends curl gently and naturally. A side braid formed along her right temple, loose and playful, letting a few soft strands fall just so to frame her face. She scrunched and dried with the air dryer. Then ran her fingers through the waves, tousling them lightly, so the style looked effortless, like she hadn’t spent nearly as much time as she had.

Next came the dress. Dark, silky green that caught the light just right, hugging her in the perfect places without clinging uncomfortably. It skimmed her curves with elegance, the kind of dress that whispered sophistication while still being cozy enough for a night in. She did a slow twirl in front of the mirror, letting the fabric settle naturally and giving herself a private, approving smile.

Makeup time. She accentuated her favorite features: a soft, smoky bronze for her eyes to bring out the light pink flecks she loved in her own irises, a subtle winged liner to elongate her lashes, and just a hint of rose-gold highlighter to catch the light on her cheekbones. Her lips glistened with a warm nude gloss that looked polished without screaming for attention. She checked her reflection and grinned—sharp brows, bright eyes, glowing skin, all perfectly aligned with the confidence she felt.

Her jewelry was minimal but intentional: a delicate gold chain that rested just above her collarbone, tiny studs in her ears, and a slender bracelet on her wrist. Nothing flashy. Nothing overthought. Just… right.

Stepping back, she did a final mental check.

Hair: effortlessly gorgeous.
Dress: stunning, sophisticated, comfortable.
Makeup: radiant, confident, accentuating her best features.

Everything about her felt amazing—and she knew it. This wasn’t trying too hard. This was Nancy Thompson rolling a natural 20 on the getting-ready skill check.

She took a deep breath, feeling the flutter in her chest, and smiled letting out a soft giggle. The idea of a panic attack hadn’t even crossed her mind. Her thought was interrupted by a small buzzer.

She pressed her intercom by the elevator door.

“Yes, this is Nancy?” she answered hopefully.
“Hey, it’s me! This is fancy! What do I do?” Ethan’s voice was crackly through the intercom.
“Press the bottom button when you hear the buzzer.” Nancy giggled her instructions to him. She didn’t have many visitors and forgot to mention that to him. She buzzed him up, and with baited breath, waited for the familiar ding.

The elevator door wooshed open slowly as they do, clanking and rattling with dull thuds. Ethen stepped out of the confining box, and into her open condo.

“Wow, this place is beautiful! Look at that view!” he said enthusiastically.
“Oh?” Nancy turned sharply to face the window, the city a darkened outline with a gorgeous sunset behind it. Lights speckled throughout. “It really is pretty, isn’t it? I forget to look at night sometimes.”
“I was talking about you!” he said as he grabbed her hand and twirled her around. “Normally you look like you’ve come ready to help me move. Not that, you look bad when you dress like that. You always look really comfy and I love it, but this? Wow! You look absolutely incredible!”

She felt her cheeks flush and burn. He pulled her into a tight hug and kissed her deeply and unexpectedly. She didn’t pull away. She felt dizzy and elated, her skin tingling and buzzing all over.

“I’ve been thinking about doing that all day long.” he smiled down at her, swaying gently to no audible music.
“Well, it was awesome.” she managed to sputter out.

For real? It was awesome? Great job Nance…..superb. She berated herself feeling her cheeks burning again.

“I hope you’re hungry. Now that you’re here I can get dinner started.” she said quickly walking to the kitchen and putting on an apron with the words “Nothing like a good stake!” on it in the Buffy The Vampire Slayer font, and an image of a stake.
“Oo- do I get to watch, like on Iron Chef?” Ethan asked as he pulled up a barstool across from her burners.
“Yes, actually, just make sure you don’t touch anything on this side of the bar! Can’t have you accidentally getting burned.” she smiled at him.
“I promise!” he said, holding his hands up. “That apron is amazing by the way.”

Nancy smiled at him and got to work. She pulled out two Salmon fillets from the refrigerator and patted them dry with a paper towel. She seasoned them lightly with salt and pepper and set them aside. She pulled her cast iron skillet out of a cabinet and began to preheat it on medium-high heat with just the right amount of oil. While the pan heated, she grabbed another pot and began preheating it as well; adding wine, citrus juice, and brown sugar.

She was working diligently, not rushed or slowed. She was careful and calculated and mesmerized by her own workings, thinking each step through methodically. Ethan had rested his head in his hands watching her soft-eyed. You could practically see the cartoon hearts floating around his head.

She added the fillets to the cast iron skillet, the loud sound of sizzling salmon filling the room. The aroma was poignant and mouthwatering. She whisked the glaze in the second pot, but not before she quickly turned around and flipped the switch on a steamer she’d set up earlier to start. The steamer had green beans ready to be steamed.

She whisked, the beans steamed, and when she heard the steamer click, she flipped the salmon. All timed perfectly, her kitchen was a well oiled machine. She didn’t love to cook, but she was very good at it.

She turned off the heat to the glaze and retrieved a couple of her nice plates from the top cabinet. She plated the green beans first, carefully perched the salmon on top of them, and drizzled the glaze over top of the fillets.

“Bon appétit!” she said, carrying the plates to her dining room table. “Would you like anything to drink? Some Chardonnay perhaps?”

Ethan looked perplexed and blown away. “Heck yeah! That was amazing!”

Nancy smiled and poured them both a bit of white wine, and sat down.

Ethan picked up his fork, eyes widening as he took his first bite of the salmon. “Oh wow,” he murmured, almost reverently. “This… this is incredible. Seriously, Nancy. You didn’t just make dinner—you crafted a masterpiece.”

Nancy laughed, a little self-conscious but secretly pleased. “Thanks! I wasn’t trying to win a Michelin star tonight. Just… make sure you don’t starve while enjoying my charming company.”

He leaned back in his chair, savoring another bite. “Well, consider me spoiled. I mean, you’re over here in your silky green dress, looking amazing, and then you make food that tastes like this. I feel like it’s all too good to be real.” He shook his head with mock despair.

Nancy grinned, poking her fork through the green beans. “Well I’m real. I like gaming, old tv shows, and I know how to cook. Just don’t expect it all the time, because I really truly love take out.”

He laughed, leaning forward, resting his elbows lightly on the table. “Fair enough. I do too, but this is so good it feels like it’s from a restaurant. I’m going to eat every last bite.”

She shook her head, amused, letting a warm smile linger. “Oh, you’re earning bonus points just by saying that. I live for dramatic appreciation.”

They fell into an easy rhythm—small bites, soft laughter, little asides about work, games they were looking forward to, and his exaggerated compliments. It was cozy and intimate, yet playful—the kind of conversation that made Nancy feel like she could stay in this moment forever.

By the time they finished the last bite of salmon and sipped the remaining wine, the conversation had grown softer, more intimate. Ethan leaned back, stretching comfortably in the chair, glancing around Nancy’s condo with a warm smile. “You know,” he said, “this was perfect. The food, the company… you really didn’t have to try so hard, but I’m glad you did.”

Nancy laughed softly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Well, I did. A little. But mostly I just wanted to see if I could impress you.” She winked, feeling a flutter of pride at how easily he smiled at her.

Ethan leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “Consider me impressed.” He caught her gaze, and for a heartbeat, the air seemed charged. Quiet and warm, just the two of them. She noticed the faint curl of his lips, the way his eyes softened as he watched her, and her chest tightened with a heady mix of anticipation and nerves.

Without thinking, she reached across the table, their fingers brushing lightly. He smiled, leaning closer, and she felt the pull of something electric. Their faces inched toward each other. Nancy’s heart thumped. Her lips hovered near his, just as the tension built…

…and she started giggling. Small, awkward, breathless little laughs that made Ethan pause, eyebrows raised.

“Uh… sorry,” she said, trying to take a breath, but the giggles wouldn’t stop. She pressed her hand over her mouth. “I—I don’t know why I’m laughing!”

Ethan chuckled softly, clearly charmed, but Nancy’s cheeks burned. She tried again, leaning forward slightly, hoping to focus—just a soft laugh, just one moment of calm—but no. The giggles returned, louder this time, bubbling out uncontrollably.

Mortified, she jumped up. “I—I think… I should—um…” Her words trailed off as she bolted to her bedroom, closing the door firmly behind her. Her heart raced, a mixture of embarrassment, excitement, and giddy exhilaration. Leaning against the door, she exhaled, cheeks burning, and laughed softly to herself.

“Oh my god,” she whispered, hiding her face in her hands. “Why am I like this?”