"Hello, Kyle. Sorry I'm late. It was hard finding a babysitter at the last minute," Cassandra apologized as she took a seat across from him.
"It's fine. I'm just glad you came," Kyle replied, offering a reassuring smile.
He gestured for the waitress to come over. They had already approached him multiple times, but Kyle had told them he was waiting for someone.
"For a minute, I thought you were going to stand me up," Kyle added, looking directly into Cassandra's eyes. She didn't break eye contact, her gaze steady and unreadable.
"I just ran a little late, that's all," she responded flatly, her tone tinged with boredom. Kyle quickly realized this coffee date was going to feel like a slog.
After placing their orders, the conversation that followed felt more like an interview than a casual outing. Cassandra's guarded demeanor left little room for Kyle to charm her, which only fueled his determination to try harder.
