At the end of the night, the space grew silent. The booming bass ceased, and loud conversations disappeared. Only sounds heard were Nick and the runners counting the register. This part of the night had become Lacey’s favorite part of the evening: a sensory reset and calm she needed to clean up and go home.

“So, what’s the deal with you and Syler?” Nick asked as he counted the register.

Lacey hadn’t expected the question to come from Nick. They usually stuck to business and casual chat. She tried to keep her distance because he owned the business, but knew that would change if she hung out with his friends.

“Flirting for now,” Lacey shrugged as she cleaned up the top of the counter. She liked Syler’s personality and enjoyed spending time with him, but life after Brooke left her cautious about commitment.

“He’s a good guy. He likes you a lot from what he’s said,” Nick shared. His talkativeness was unusual but welcome. If they shared friends, Lacey figured she should start to know him better.

Lacey’s cheeks warmed at the thought of Syler mentioning her to Nick. Excited but embarrassed that her manager knew, she smiled as Nick laughed at her reaction.

“Oh, you’re down bad!” he teased. “It’s all good. He’s cute,” he added, smiling. Nick’s new playful side felt like an asset between them. Lacey enjoyed seeing it, even at her expense.

“I am not!” she protested, unable to hide her amusement at the chaos. “Not every day my boss is giving me dating advice.” She finished cleaning the serving area and moved on to the glasses. Silence returned until her Blackberry buzzed.

Her phone lit up under the bar: a text. “You want to grab food?”

Lacey beamed. Syler was spontaneous and comfortable with her late hours. He seemed up for anything, regardless of the time. When most people woke up, she had already gone to bed. “I’d love that. I’m finishing up, and I’ll meet you at the usual diner,” she replied.

Lacey finished her closing tasks, said goodbye to Nick and the team. Walking out, she saw the sun rising. This wasn’t the life she imagined here, but she felt grateful – away from her tumultuous family and in a city she loved.

Her tired feet found the short walk to the diner a relief. Inside, she spotted Syler at their usual table. She waved and slid into the booth. “How’d you know when I finished my shift?” she smiled.

“Lucky guess,” he said, sipping from his ice cream float. Syler had a sweet tooth at any hour. “Or I missed you and talked to Nick,” he admitted.

Lacey blushed. He seemed bold and honest, a contrast to her past partners. “Oh? Well, I missed you too,” she said, deciding not to play hard to get in the face of his openness.

For a month, they were casual, discovered New York, and chatted. Syler’s interest in Lacey became more intense.

“We’ve been seeing each other for a month and haven’t had a real date,” Syler pointed out. He took a boisterous sip from his drink as the waitress arrived. Lacey ordered the same float, not wanting to order a hot drink in the summer. When the server left, she turned back to him.

“Your point?” She joked, though she sensed the seriousness of his question. She paused and considered: what did she have to lose? He showed obvious interest – he wouldn’t stand her up.

“What would this ‘date’ entail?” she asked, making air quotes.

Syler shook his head with a smile. “Let me figure that out. You show up. Dress nice, but not a black tie.”

Lacey narrowed her eyes. “Fine, but if you do something weird, I’m out,” she joked. This opportunity she’d regret not taking.

Editor: Lucy Cafiero