Chapter 17.

Eddie’s POV

The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon as I stood outside Amelia's door, a nervous knot tightening in my stomach. Tonight was our first official date, and despite my best efforts to appear calm and collected, my heart hammered against my chest with a ferocity that threatened to betray my composure.

C'mon, Eddie. Toughen up and put a smile on your face. You are grinding your teeth so hard that she will think you don't want to be here, I chasten myself.

When Amelia opened the door, her smile washed away the lingering traces of apprehension, leaving only a sense of eager anticipation in its wake. "Hey, Eddie," she greeted, her voice soft and warm like the gentle breeze that rustled through the trees.

"Hey, Amelia," I replied, my voice betraying the nervous excitement that pulsed beneath the surface. "You look amazing." I was grinning so wide that I probably looked like the joker at that moment.

A blush crept across her cheeks, the rosy hue adding to her already radian