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Chapter 19 by micdan282 micdan282

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Dinner for Two

The soft glow of streetlights bled into the dusk as Rikki and Finn strolled toward the small Italian bistro nestled on the corner of Main and 7th. The place was quaint, the kind of spot that felt tucked away from the noise of the city. It was exactly what she needed, a night to put the chaos on hold, to just be Rikki Drakeson.

Finn glanced over at her as he held the door open, his smile warm and easy.

“Table for two,” he told the host, his hand brushing the small of her back as they followed him to a quiet corner.

Rikki took in the candlelight flickering between them, the hum of laughter and the clink of glasses around them. For a moment, she allowed herself to sink into the normalcy of it all.

Finn watched her, brow crinkled in that gentle way of his.

“You okay? You’ve been quiet.”

She **** a smile, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

“Yeah, I’m okay. Just… long day.”

He nodded as if he understood. Maybe he did. Finn was observant, even when he didn’t know everything. The waiter came by, and they ordered their meals. Finn launched into a funny story about his day at work causing Rikki to laugh, really laugh, and it felt good. But as she sipped her wine, she couldn’t stop her mind from drifting. Whisper. Devin. She tried to shake them off. Tonight she was with Finn. He deserved that.

Finn reached across the table, his fingers brushing hers.

“Hey,” he said softly, “I’m really glad we’re doing this. I know things have been… heavy lately. But I love being with you, Rikki. I just want you to know that.”

Her heart twisted, warmth flooding her chest. “I love being with you too,” she said, her voice a whisper. She reached for his hand and squeezed it, trying to push all the guilt and darkness away. For now, she was here with Finn. Just Rikki and Finn, sharing dinner, sharing stories, sharing their lives.

The night stretched on, the bistro’s cozy atmosphere wrapping around them like a blanket. For a few hours, she let herself believe that maybe she could balance it all. That maybe she could be both the hero and the woman with a normal life. And as Finn smiled at her across the table, candlelight reflecting in his eyes, she found herself believing it.

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