Avery stood on the bustling sidewalk, holding her now-empty salad bowl, her face burning with embarrassment as she looked at Ryan Hayes. The remnants of her vinaigrette-drenched salad clung stubbornly to his once-pristine white shirt. His leather jacket, slung over his arm, had been spared, but it didn’t make her feel any less mortified.
“I’m so sorry,” Avery stammered for what felt like the tenth time. “I can’t believe I just ruined your shirt. Please, let me pay for the dry cleaning.”
Ryan smiled, his hazel eyes warm and unbothered as he dabbed at the mess with a crumpled napkin from her bag. “Really, Avery, it’s fine. It’s just a shirt.”
“No, it’s not fine,” she said, her voice firm despite her flustered state. “I owe you a new one—or better yet, a new suit. You shouldn’t have to deal with this.”
Ryan laughed, the sound deep and disarming. “A suit? That’s a bit much, don’t you think? I’m pretty sure a little salad dressing isn’t going to ruin my career.”
Avery crossed her arms, her expression determined. “I insist. I can’t let you walk away covered in vinaigrette without doing something to make it up to you.”
Ryan’s smile widened, a teasing glint in his eye. “How about this—forget the suit. Buy me a coffee instead.”
Avery blinked, surprised by his casual suggestion. “Coffee?”
“Yeah,” he said, shrugging. “It’s less expensive than a suit and less awkward than you buying me clothes.”
She hesitated, studying his face. Ryan Hayes, the boy who had teased her mercilessly in high school, was standing here offering her a way out of her embarrassment with nothing but good humor.
“Alright,” she said finally, though she couldn’t help but narrow her eyes playfully. “But only if you promise not to order the most expensive thing on the menu.”
Ryan chuckled, stepping aside to let her lead the way toward the nearby café. “Deal. But I make no promises about adding extra whipped cream.”