Chapter 21: The Catastrophic Dinner Date
Ayla wasn't exactly sure how she ended up agreeing to dinner with Caden. It had been a whirlwind of puzzle-making, rain-soaked nights, and heartfelt texts. And somehow, somehow, Caden convinced her to go to the fanciest restaurant in town.
"Trust me," he had said, "it'll be great."
She should've known those words were always a prelude to disaster.
6:30 PM - A Series of Unfortunate Events
Ayla stood in front of the restaurant's large glass doors, nervously adjusting the hem of her dress. Caden wasn't just late—he was 25 minutes late.
"Maybe this was a mistake," she muttered under her breath, frowning at the pristine white tablecloths and immaculately dressed waiters inside. Everyone looked like they belonged to some elite circle that she was only allowed to enter by accident.
Just as she was about to bail, Caden sprinted into view, panting like he'd just run a marathon. His shirt was half-untucked, and his tie dangled around his neck in a sad attempt at looking presentable.
"I'm here!" he gasped, hands on his knees. "Sorry—traffic, lost wallet, accidentally stepped on a cat—long story!"
Ayla crossed her arms. "You stepped on a cat?"
"I said accidentally!" Caden straightened up, trying to smooth his wild hair. "But the cat is fine. I, however, am still emotionally scarred."
Ayla couldn't help but laugh, despite her annoyance. "You're impossible."
"But charming," Caden added with a hopeful grin. "Charming and punctual… if you squint a little."
She rolled her eyes. "You're lucky I haven't left."
Caden gave a dramatic sigh of relief. "Thank the stars! Come on, let's get inside before you change your mind."
7:00 PM - The Wine Fiasco
They were finally seated at a quiet corner table, surrounded by candlelight and the soft hum of conversation. Everything felt… romantic. Too romantic.
A waiter appeared, impossibly polite. "Would you like to see the wine list, sir?"
Caden, ever the confident fool, waved his hand grandly. "We'll take the best bottle you have."
Ayla raised an eyebrow. "Caden, do you even like wine?"
"Not really, but it's the fancy thing to do, right?" He leaned in and whispered, "I'm trying to impress you."
The waiter returned moments later with an expensive-looking bottle and began the ritual of pouring a small sample into Caden's glass.
Caden swirled it awkwardly, sniffed it like a professional (or so he thought), and took a sip. His face instantly contorted into what could only be described as pure horror.
"Delightful," he croaked, choking on the bitterness. "Absolutely delightful."
Ayla bit her lip, trying not to burst out laughing. "You look like you just drank nail polish."
"I feel like I did," Caden muttered, pushing the glass away. "How do rich people enjoy this stuff?"
The waiter stood stiffly, unsure whether to be offended or amused. Caden cleared his throat and added, "We'll take water, please. Lots of water."
7:30 PM - The Great Bread Basket War
While waiting for their meals, Caden's attention zeroed in on the bread basket sitting innocently between them.
"Do you think it's rude if I eat all the bread?" he asked, already reaching for a piece.
Ayla smirked. "It's only rude if you don't offer me some first."
Caden promptly held out a slice, wiggling it in front of her face like a peace offering. "Your bread, milady."
Ayla took it, rolling her eyes at his antics. "You're such a dork."
"Hey, dorks need love too."
Just as they both reached for the last piece of bread, their hands collided. Caden, in a moment of juvenile mischief, yanked the bread away with a triumphant grin.
"Ha! I win!"
Ayla gasped, pretending to be scandalized. "You're stealing food from me now?"
"Survival of the fittest, babe," he said, laughing as he popped the bread into his mouth.
Before Ayla could respond, a chunk of bread flew out of Caden's mouth and landed squarely in her glass of water.
They stared at the floating bread for a beat.
"You've got to be kidding me," Ayla said, deadpan.
Caden slapped a hand over his mouth to stifle his laughter. "I'm—oh my god—I'm so sorry—"
Ayla burst out laughing, clutching her sides as tears welled in her eyes. "This is officially the worst date ever."
"But also the funniest," Caden wheezed, wiping tears from his own eyes.
8:00 PM - The Grand Exit
When their meals finally arrived, things only got worse. Caden accidentally knocked over a candle, almost setting the menu on fire, and Ayla managed to spill pasta sauce on her dress.
By the time dessert rolled around, they were both in fits of uncontrollable laughter.
"I think the waiter hates us," Ayla whispered, glancing at the poor man who kept shooting them exasperated looks.
"Well, in my defense, I didn't mean to almost burn the place down," Caden whispered back, grinning.
"How are you even real?" Ayla asked, shaking her head.
"Magic," Caden said, wiggling his fingers dramatically. "Pure, chaotic magic."
As they stumbled out of the restaurant, still giggling like teenagers, the rain began to fall—soft and steady, painting the streets in silver.
Caden looked up, letting the rain hit his face. "See? Even the universe approves of our disaster."
Ayla laughed, pulling her jacket tighter around herself. "You're ridiculous."
"And you love it," Caden shot back, grinning.
Ayla paused, smiling softly. "Yeah. I think I do."
9:00 PM - The Perfectly Imperfect Ending
They walked in the rain, their steps in sync, the chaos of the evening behind them. For all its mishaps, the night had been perfect in its own messy way.
"Best worst date ever?" Caden asked, bumping her shoulder playfully.
"Definitely," Ayla agreed, a smile tugging at her lips.
And as the rain fell around them, Caden reached for her hand—tentatively, nervously.
Ayla glanced down at their entwined fingers, her heart fluttering in a way she hadn't felt in a long time.
"Hey, Ayla?"
"Yeah?"
Caden gave her a lopsided grin. "Next time, I'll let you have the last piece of bread."
Ayla laughed, squeezing his hand. "Deal."
And with that, the night ended—not perfectly, but perfectly them.