Cassidy dressed carefully for her dinner with Nova, feeling very uncertain. She knew this dinner was necessary for her relationship with him, but part of her felt hollow. As she left her apartment, her mind wandered to Ryan, wishing she could be spending the evening with him instead. But tonight, she had a role to play.
When she arrived at the restaurant, Nova was already seated, waiting for her with a confident smile. He stood as she approached, pulling out her chair for her. "You look beautiful, as always," he said smoothly.
Cassidy forced a smile. "Thank you, Nova."
After a few minutes of pleasantries, the waiter brought over their meals. Cassidy glanced at the menu and ordered a simple glass of wine and a pie, while Nova raised an eyebrow at her choice.
"Just wine and a pie? Come o
