We ate in comfortable silence for a bit, and then the conversation started flowing naturally.
« So, » I said, breaking the quiet. « Any favorite movies or books? »
He thought for a moment before answering. « I always loved old westerns. And books? Probably The Old Man and the Sea. Simple, but there’s something about it. »
« Really? Hemingway? I wouldn’t have guessed, » I said, a little surprised. « I thought you’d go for something darker. »
He chuckled. « You’re not wrong, but sometimes, simple stories hit the hardest. »
« I get that. »
We spent the rest of the evening talking about random topics that made us laugh. He had a dry sense of humor that caught me off guard, and by the end of dinner, I felt surprisingly comfortable around him.
« Did you… do the dishes? » I asked Christopher, peeking around the corner.
« Seemed like the least I could do. »
I smiled, genuinely touched by the gesture. « Thank you. »
