The restaurant seemed to me like the kind of place that felt hospitable and welcoming the moment we stepped inside. Soft music played in the background, the lights were faint but not too dark, just the right amount of glow to make everything feel comfortable. The air smelled of something delicious—maybe grilled chicken or pasta or something I couldn’t really name, but it made my stomach grumble a little, even though I had already eaten breakfast with Brenda.
Brenda and I walked in together, and almost immediately, we spotted a man sitting at a table near the window and my instinct told me he was Jason. He was already there, waiting for us, and as soon as his eyes landed on Brenda, his entire face lit up like a kid seeing ice cream on a hot day.
I hung back slightly, not wanting to get in
