Maddie stood in front of the bathroom mirror, practicing her speech for what felt like the hundredth time. Her hands trembled slightly as she adjusted the crisp white blouse she'd picked out—one that Clara had probably secretly critiqued a thousand times. *"You're ready,"* Maddie told herself, but the knot in her stomach didn't loosen.
Her phone buzzed on the counter, breaking her concentration. A message from Alex: *"Dinner on me tonight. You'll crush that presentation. Promise."* She smiled, the simple text easing her nerves a little.
Later that evening, Maddie met Alex at *The Rusty Spoon*, a cozy bistro with mismatched chairs and twinkling fairy lights. Alex was already there, nervously stirring his water. His usual easygoing smile looked a little forced.
"Hey, you," he said, standing up to hug her. "Ready to conquer the world?"
"Trying to be," Maddie replied, sinking into the chair with a sigh.
As the waiter took their orders, Maddie felt her mind spin with all the what-ifs. What if she forgot her points? What if Clara's snarky comments were right?
Alex reached across the table, grabbing her hand. "You've got this. I believe in you."
A genuine smile broke through Maddie's anxiety. "Thanks. I don't know what I'd do without you."
The dinner was going surprisingly well—until the moment disaster struck.
A waiter carrying a tray slipped just a little, sending a splash of deep red wine flying right onto Maddie's pristine white blouse.
"Oh no!" Maddie gasped, jumping up and clutching the fabric as the stain spread.
Alex sprang into action, grabbing napkins and patting at the stain with a grin. "If this is a test, you're definitely acing it."
Maddie couldn't help but laugh despite herself. "I'm officially a walking disaster."
"Hey, you make disaster look cute," Alex teased, squeezing her hand.
The waiter apologized profusely, offering to pay for dry cleaning and a free dessert. Maddie waved it off, still chuckling.
"I guess it's just one of those days," she said, leaning on Alex's shoulder.
He kissed her forehead gently. "Then we'll face it together. Wine stains and all."
As they finished dinner, Maddie realized that while the presentation was important, moments like this—messy, imperfect, and full of laughter—were what really mattered.