Chapter 34

• Nathalie knows that Ethan is teasing her, but she can't shake off the feeling of awkwardness that lingers. Typically, she tries to present herself in a more mature manner and avoids any behavior that might be considered piggish while on a date. However, with Ethan, she feels such an incredible sense of ease that all her usual reservations seem to vanish into thin air. During dinner, their conversation meanders towards lighter topics compared to the more intense discussions they had previously shared, and she suddenly finds herself ordering a second glass of wine—she solemnly promises herself that this will be the last for the evening. Ethan's ease in conversation and his sincere interest in everything she shares make her realize that she is talking far more than she usually does.
• They decide to share dessert since they are both quite full from the pizza, but Ethan only requests one spoon. Nathalie raises an eyebrow at him, and he responds with a playful wink.
• "I'm going to feed you," he declares with a mischievous smile. "I couldn't help but notice how you devoured that pizza. If I want to have any chance of tasting this ice cream, I definitely shouldn't get you your own spoon."