After Anthony paid the cute delivery girl the money he owed for the pizza, he was bemused to find her still standing there, an expectant look in her eyes.

“You d-did say it was $12.35, right?” he stuttered, mentally kicking himself when his voice cracked on the last word. Unbeknownst to him and the cute girl standing in his doorway, the paint on the wall behind him was beginning, ever-so-slightly, to peel again, the edges curling in upon themselves.

Anthony cleared his voice, trying to regain some measure of his composure. The sound of it seemed to wake the girl up.

“Ohh… yeah, I’m sorry. I must have been wool-gathering, whatever that means. My mom always says I do that! Ha ha… Anyways, so yeah, I should be getting back before my boss reams me out. Fridays are always so busy.”

Anthony stood there gaping. Normally he was the one who was nervous, either saying too much or too little. Seeing the blood pool in her cheeks, he somehow regained his confidence.

“Would you like to go on a date with me?”