My summer romance

Chapter 6: Echoes of the past

The next day, I arrived at work with Maya in tow, and to my surprise, Ryan was already there, immersed in his tasks. As I approached him, pushing Maya's stroller, he looked up with a warm smile.

As I made my way to work, pushing Maya's stroller along the familiar path, I spotted Ryan approaching from the distance. His smile was like a beacon, instantly brightening my morning.

"Hey there, beautiful ladies." Ryan greeted us with a warm grin as he drew closer.

"Good morning, Ryan." I replied, feeling a rush of warmth at his presence. "Maya and I were just on our way in."

"Well, I'm glad I caught you before you disappeared into the bakery." Ryan said, his eyes twinkling mischievously. "I couldn't start my day without saying hi to my two favorite girls."

Maya giggled in response, clearly charmed by Ryan's friendly demeanor.

"I think you just made her day." I said, smiling down at Maya. "She's been talking about you non-stop."

"Really?" Ryan's expression lit up with delight. "Well, I hope it's all good things."

"Of course." I reassured him with a playful wink. "She's a big fan of your jokes, apparently."

Ryan chuckled, his laughter filling the air with warmth. "Well, I'll have to come up with some new material then."

"Looking forward to it." I said, nudging Maya's stroller forward. "We better get inside before the day gets away from us."

"Right." Ryan agreed, falling into step beside us. "But hey, dinner tonight? Just the two of us?"

"Sounds perfect." I replied, unable to contain my excitement. "We'll see you then."

With a final wave, Ryan watched us disappear into the bakery, his smile lingering in my thoughts as we began our day's work.

Throughout the day, I found myself eagerly anticipating the evening ahead with Ryan. His invitation to dinner had sparked a flutter of excitement within me, and I couldn't help but imagine the warmth of his smile and the sound of his laughter filling the air as we shared a meal together.

After work, I grabbed Maya's stroller and headed out of the bakery. Lost in my thoughts, I was jolted back to reality by the sound of Ryan's cheerful greeting as I passed by his workplace.

"Hey there." he called out, his eyes lighting up with anticipation. "I've been looking forward to tonight. Can't wait to catch up with you."

His words sent a shiver of excitement down my spine, and I couldn't help but return his smile with one of my own. "Me too." I replied, feeling a rush of warmth spread through me at the prospect of spending time with him.

With a promise to see each other later, I continued on my way, the anticipation of our dinner date adding an extra spring to my step. Tonight held the promise of laughter, connection, and perhaps even a touch of romance, and I couldn't wait to see where the evening would take us.

As the evening approached, I found myself getting ready with extra care, selecting a flattering outfit and dabbing on a touch of perfume. With Maya settled in for the night at my parents' house, I felt a sense of freedom and excitement about the evening ahead.

When Ryan arrived to pick me up, I couldn't help but feel a flutter of nerves as I greeted him at the door. He looked handsome as ever, dressed in a crisp shirt and a charming smile that made my heart skip a beat.

"Hey, you look amazing." he said, his eyes lighting up as he took in my appearance.

"Thank you." I replied, feeling a blush creep into my cheeks. "You're not looking too bad yourself."