Lesley walked straight into the coffee shop without looking back.
The motorbike remained parked out front, black and gleaming in the sunlight, but she didn't spare it a glance. There was no time for second thoughts, no space for hesitation. She already knew she was late. The awareness pressed at the back of her mind, sharp and uncomfortable, urging her forward.
Please still be here, she thought as the door swung shut behind her. Please tell me she hasn't left yet.
The café wrapped around her immediately. Warm air. The low murmur of voices. The familiar scent of roasted coffee beans mingling with something sweet and buttery. For a brief second, it steadied her nerves.
She slowed her pace and began scanning the room.
Table by table, her eyes moved carefully, deliberately. She looked for signs. A woman sitting alone. Someone checking her phone too often. Someone glancing up every time the door opened.
Nothing.
Couples leaned toward one another, laughing softly. Friends talked animatedly over half-empty cups. A few women sat alone, but they were much older—comfortable, unhurried, clearly not waiting for anyone.
Her chest tightened.
When her gaze landed on one woman sitting alone near the window, Lesley's steps faltered. The woman's hair was silvered at the temples, her posture easy, a book resting open beside her cup. Yet her eyes kept drifting away from it, drawn instead to the phone in her hand, which she checked, set down, and checked again.
Lesley slowed to a stop.
Wait, she thought, panic blooming suddenly. Was this... really her?
Her stomach dropped.
"Oh my God," she murmured under her breath. "What did I get myself into?"
She hesitated, already rehearsing polite apologies, when a man approached the table and sat down beside the woman, leaning in to kiss her cheek. The woman smiled, closed her phone, and reached for his hand.
Relief flooded Lesley so fast it almost made her dizzy.
"Okay, crisis averted," she said to herself. "I was two seconds away from apologizing to a total stranger."
She exhaled and let her shoulders relax.
But there was no one left who fit. No obvious sign. No woman waiting the way she imagined Denisse might be waiting. The realization settled heavy in her chest, disappointment creeping in before she could stop it.
She chose an empty table near the window and sat, the chair scraping softly against the floor. The leather of her jacket creaked as she leaned back. For a moment, she just sat there, listening to the café breathe around her.
Then she pulled out her phone.
The app loaded slowly, as if teasing her. She scrolled through the sparse details again. First name only. Meeting place. One shared note.
Chocolate soufflé.
Her thumb paused over the words.
And just like that, memory pulled her under.
The kitchen of Le Goût Parfait was alive.
The scent of roasted herbs and garlic filled the air, rich and intoxicating. Fresh ingredients crowded every surface. Crisp vegetables. Bowls of spices in deep, warm colors. Stainless steel counters gleamed under bright lights. Everyone moved with purpose, clean uniforms pressed and spotless, every detail in its place.
This was exactly how Lesley wanted it.
Her restaurant wasn't just successful. It was hers. Built from nothing. Carefully curated. Every plate, every flavor, every standard upheld because she refused to settle for less.
It was her baby.
She arrived early, as always, well before opening hours. It was habit. Maybe obsession. She told herself it was diligence, but really, it was how she kept control. How she knew everything was exactly as it should be.
She headed straight for the kitchen.
The moment she stepped inside, she froze.
All movement had stopped.
Her staff stood gathered together, watching her. Servers. Chefs. Even the dishwasher lingered near the doorway. They exchanged looks with one another, barely containing their smiles.
Lesley frowned. "Why is everyone just standing here?" she asked. "We open in forty-five minutes. Shouldn't you all be working?"
Kate, the manager, cleared her throat.
"Ahem. Are we forgetting something, boss?"
Lesley blinked. "Forgetting what?"
Kate lifted the folder in her hands. "It's the first day of the month."
Understanding dawned slowly.
"Oh," Lesley said. Then she laughed softly. "Right."
"Today's the day, boss," one of the chefs added, barely hiding his grin.
Kate didn't speak right away.
She shifted the folder in her hands, fingers sliding deliberately along its edge, drawing out the silence until it settled over the kitchen. The paper inside rustled softly as she opened it, page by page, her eyes scanning the numbers as if she hadn't already memorized them.
The staff leaned in without realizing it. Someone held their breath.
Finally, Kate looked up. A slow smile spread across her face.
"Last month's revenue," she said, pausing just long enough to make it hurt, "rose fifteen percent over our previous results."
The kitchen erupted.
Cheers echoed off the tiled walls. Someone clapped. Someone else whistled. Lesley smiled, genuine and warm, pride blooming in her chest at the sight of her team celebrating together.
"Okay, okay," she said, lifting her hands. "Settle down. You'll get your bonuses this coming payout."
That only earned her more excited murmurs.
"And," Kate added, eyes glinting, "you know it doesn't stop there."
Lesley sighed, already suspicious. "Yes, yes. I remember. So what do you want me to do?"
Carla, one of the chefs, stepped forward. "We decided to make it easy for you."
Lesley arched an eyebrow. "Easy how?"
Carla smiled sweetly. "Because you're the best boss in the world and we love you so much, we dare you to go on a real date. A proper one. Meet someone spontaneously. No bars. No disappearing after twenty minutes."
"I go on dates," Lesley protested.
Kate snorted. "You flirt. You sample. You leave."
"And you rotate," David, the head chef, added. "Weekly."
Lesley crossed her arms. "Why limit myself? Variety is efficient."
They groaned in unison.
"That's exactly why this dare exists," David said. "So you can experience an actual date and maybe have a relationship for real."
Lesley exhaled slowly, considering. "Fine," she said at last. "How does this work? Who's the lucky woman you want me to date?"
Kate turned slightly and gestured toward one of the servers.
"Mia," she said, calm but unmistakably directive, "go ahead and set up the app for her."
Mia's eyes widened with excitement. She wiped her hands quickly on her apron and stepped closer to Lesley, already pulling her phone out before stopping herself.
"May I borrow your phone, Ms. Lesley?" she asked, polite but barely containing her grin.
Lesley's brow furrowed. "Set up the app?" She looked from Mia to Kate, suspicion creeped in. "Are you seriously setting up a dating app for me? If it's one of those, why bother? I already know plenty of women who use them."
Kate didn't even blink. "Just give her your phone."
Lesley exhaled through her nose, half-annoyed, half-amused. "Fine."
She unlocked her phone and handed it over. The screen lighted Mia's face as she immediately started the download. The app's logo appeared, bright and unfamiliar.
"This one's trending right now," Mia said as the progress bar creeped forward. "It's a blind date app. Like, real blind dates. You only know each other's first names. You just put in a few details, and the app matches you with someone who shares the same interests."
Lesley watched from behind her shoulder, arms crossed. "Don't you think that's a little crazy?"
Kate let out a short laugh. "Nope. And you love crazy. You always have. Ever since grade school."
Lesley shot her a look, then rolled her eyes, though there's a reluctant smile tugging at her lips.
The app finished downloading. Mia tapped it open.
"Okay," Mia said, suddenly all business. "We'll just need to set up your profile. Name, meeting place, and one question the app uses to match you."
Lesley considered this for a second. "Use my second name," she said finally. "Nicole."
Mia nodded and typed.
"And for the meeting place," Lesley continued, "definitely not my restaurant. If you all know where I am, you'll be too distracted to do your jobs." She paused, then added, softer, more thoughtful, "Use my favorite coffee shop instead. Cloud Garden Café."
Kate smiled knowingly.
"They have the best chocolate soufflé," Lesley said, almost to herself. "It reminds me of business school. Paris. Long nights, bad decisions, and really good desserts."
Mia glanced up. "I'll choose dessert as the matching question," she said, fingers moving quickly. "And I'll list chocolate soufflé as your answer. That way the app matches you with someone who also likes Cloud Garden Café and chocolate soufflé."
Lesley tilted her head. "So the app really only uses two things to find someone for me?"
"They're the biggest factors," Mia explained. "But the meeting details matter too. You both have to choose the same date and time. Since it's a blind date, you don't get to talk before you meet. No messages. No photos."
Lesley's lips curved faintly. "That's... interesting." Then, more quietly, "But what if I go and she doesn't?"
Mia shrugged lightly. "That's why it went viral. The thrill. The risk. Everyone gets excited not knowing what will happen."
Lesley exhaled, considering. Her pulse picked up just a little.
"Alright," she said. "What's next?"
"Preferred day and time," Mia replied.
"Sunday," Lesley said after a moment. She glanced around at her staff, all watching her with barely hidden anticipation. "Ten in the morning sounds fair."
They nodded in approval.
Mia typed it in. "Last question," she said. "How will she recognize you? Because I assume you're not wearing a flashing sign."
Lesley thought for a moment. "I'll arrive on a motorbike. That should narrow it down. If I arrive in a car, I'll blend in. And you know I mostly wear black—it's not exactly distinctive."
"That works," Carla said, nudging Mia. "Definitely write that."
Mia finished typing and turned the phone so everyone can see. "Okay. Profile's all set. All that's left is to press search."
Kate clasped her hands together. "Go on," she said. "Press it. Meet your fate."
Lesley shook her head, amused despite herself. A small, nervous smile flickered across her face as she took the phone and tapped the screen.
The word Searching... appeared.
They waited.
The kitchen, usually buzzing, falls unnaturally quiet. Two minutes stretched longer than they should. Lesley became acutely aware of her heartbeat, of the way her staff has unconsciously leaned closer.
Then—
A loud ding cut through the silence.
Everyone erupted at once.
"MATCH FOUND," the screen announced.
Kate grabbed the phone and read the message aloud.
"Denisse," she said. "She loves Cloud Garden Café and chocolate soufflé. She'll be your date tomorrow."
Lesley's eyes widened. "Tomorrow?"
Kate looked up. "It's Sunday tomorrow. You chose Sunday."
"Oh shoot," Lesley muttered, a mix of disbelief and nerves flooding her chest. "I didn't expect it to be this fast. Or that I'd meet her so soon."
David grinned. "Good luck on your date, boss."
Kate's voice softened slightly. "And make sure you go. Don't make someone wait for nothing."
Lesley nodded, the weight of that settling deeper than she expected. "Alright. Alright. Now get back to work."
They scattered, still buzzing with excitement.
Lesley stood there a moment longer, the phone warm in her hand, staring at a stranger's name and wondering how a single impulsive tap had brought her here.
The ring of her phone sliced through the low murmur of the café, snapping Lesley out of her spiraling thoughts. She blinked, then laughed softly under her breath, already guessing who it was. Of course. Perfect timing.
She answered, lifting the phone to her ear as she scanned the room again, half-hopeful, half-resigned.
"Hey Les, how's your date? Is she beautiful? Hot? How old are we talking?" Kate asked on the other line.
Lesley huffed, lips twitching despite herself. "Yeah, that's the problem."
"The problem?" Kate echoed.
"I'm late," Lesley said, grimacing but with a shrug in her voice. "And I think I missed her. I think she already—"
"What?? Why are you even late?"
Lesley dragged a hand down her face, peeking at her reflection in the dark café window. Slightly rumpled. Definitely guilty. She winced playfully. "I was so drunk last night and I woke up late."
"God, Lesley, you went on a drinking rampage last night knowing you have a date the next day."
"I know, I know." Lesley smiled sheepishly, shifting her weight from foot to foot. "I went as fast as I can. I think I even pushed past the speed limit on the highway just to get here on time."
"But you didn't."
"Unfortunately." She glanced around once more, hands spread as if the café might magically present the answer. "I am in the coffee shop right now, but nothing here seems to be waiting for someone."
She stood as she spoke, unable to sit still any longer, chair legs scraping lightly as she started toward the door.
"Have you tried to check every corner of the cafe?"
"Yes, I did."
"No lady wearing pastel pink dress? How about the patio, your usual spot, have you checked that?"
Lesley reached the door and pulled it open, the outside air brushing against her face. "Yes, there is no—"
She stopped.
Her breath caught, her smile freezing mid-curve.
"Kate," she said slowly, eyes narrowing as her heartbeat kicked up, "what did you say she's wearing?"
"She's wearing pastel pink, for God's sake Lesley it's on the match details, you have it on your phone."
Lesley barely heard the rest.
On the patio, a woman was standing, clearly preparing to leave, one hand on the back of her chair. She wore a pastel pink dress that hugged her just right, the color soft and warm against her skin. Long black hair spilled down her back in loose waves, catching the light. When she turned slightly, Lesley caught her face—angelic, glowing, unfairly beautiful. Fair skin, a delicate nose, lips brushed with soft pink lipstick that made Lesley swallow hard.
She looked like a dream you almost miss.
Lesley's thoughts rushed in, light and frantic all at once.
Please be Denise.
Please be her.
Please say you waited for me.
Her heart thudded with nervous excitement, hope buzzing under her skin as she stared, poised on the edge of either a very embarrassing moment—or something wonderful.