Do one thing every day that scares you." - Eleanor Roosevelt

Katerina

My alarm clock blared its obnoxious jingle, a sound I usually greeted with a groan and a snooze button slam. Today, however, I actually felt…dare I say it… eager to face the day. A strange sensation, indeed. I stretched, a small smile playing on my lips. Last night had been… interesting. Intriguing. Downright delightful, if I was being honest with myself. Ethan. His smile, his laughter, the way he’d looked at me… it was all swirling around in my mind, a pleasant little buzz of anticipation.

I glanced at my phone. Should I? Shouldn't I? I chewed on my lip, a classic sign of my internal debate. It wasn't like me to be so… forward. So… bold. But then again, wasn't I trying to do one thing every day that scared me? And wasn't texting Ethan, suggesting we get together for chocolate cake, definitely in the "scary" category? Yes, it was. So, with a deep breath and a silent pep talk, I decided to take the plunge. I typed a message: *"Morning, Ethan. Hope you slept well after all that dancing. I'm suddenly craving chocolate cake. Is there any chance you're free to indulge in our shared weakness later today?"* and hit send.

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With that out of the way, I went about my day as usual. First, the necessities: coffee, a quick workout (gotta keep those endorphins flowing!), and a shower. Then, it was on to the whirlwind of emails, phone calls, and client meetings that made up my typical workday. I juggled vendor contracts, debated floral arrangements, and soothed the anxieties of a bridezilla who was convinced her wedding would be ruined if the napkins weren't the *exact* shade of blush she'd envisioned. It was all in a day's work for an event planner.

But even with the usual chaos, a small part of my mind kept drifting back to Ethan. I found myself smiling at random moments, remembering his witty remarks and the way his eyes had crinkled when he laughed. It was a welcome distraction from the usual stresses of my job.

As the day wore on, my anticipation for the afternoon's date grew. I'd suggested meeting at "A Bite of Heaven," a charming little bakery downtown known for its decadent desserts. Their chocolate ganache cake was legendary, and I couldn't wait to share it with Ethan.

Finally, it was time to get ready. I swapped my power suit for a more casual but still stylish outfit: a flowy floral dress, a denim jacket, and my favorite ankle boots. A touch of makeup, a quick spritz of perfume, and I was good to go. I grabbed my purse, checked that I had my phone (and a breath mint, just in case), and headed out the door, Maximus trotting happily by my side.

As I walked towards the bakery, a feeling of nervous excitement bubbled in my stomach. This was it. The first date. The first step into the unknown. And for the first time in a long time, I felt a thrill of anticipation instead of the usual dread. Maybe, just maybe, this was the start of something special.