**What’s the worst that could happen?**

Megan stood in front of the mirror, contemplating the impending disaster that was about to be her blind date. She’d been set up by her well-meaning but meddling friend, Liz, who insisted that she and Tom were “perfect for each other.” Megan wasn’t so sure. She adjusted her dress for the tenth time, trying to ignore the growing sense of doom.

At the same time, across town, Tom was experiencing a similar crisis. He stared at his reflection, wondering if he should have shaved off his beard. Would Megan appreciate his rugged look, or would she think he was trying too hard to look like a lumberjack? He decided to keep it, reasoning that if she didn’t like beards, it was better to find out early.

The restaurant Liz had chosen was an upscale, dimly lit place that practically screamed “romantic date,” which only heightened Megan’s nerves. She arrived first, her stomach doing somersaults. She was tempted to text Liz with a last-minute excuse about a sudden outbreak of food poisoning but knew she’d never hear the end of it. So, she waited, sipping water and glancing nervously at the door.

Tom walked in a few minutes later, immediately spotting Megan. She was hard to miss, sitting there like a deer caught in headlights. He took a deep breath and approached the table.

“Megan?” he asked, his voice betraying his own anxiety.

“Tom?” she replied, standing up to shake his hand. They both laughed awkwardly at the formality of it all.

“Nice to meet you,” Tom said, taking a seat. “Liz has told me… a lot about you.”

“Oh, really?” Megan raised an eyebrow. “She hasn’t told me much about you, except that you like hiking and… beards.”

Tom chuckled. “Yeah, well, I guess she thought those were my most defining traits.”

Their awkward small talk continued as they navigated through the menu. Both decided on the safest, least messy options to avoid any potential first-date disasters. Tom ordered a steak, while Megan went with a simple pasta dish. The waiter took their orders and left them to their conversation.

“So,” Megan said, trying to steer the conversation to safer ground, “do you have any embarrassing first date stories?”

Tom grinned. “Oh, I’ve got plenty. But one stands out. I once took a girl to an amusement park, thinking it would be fun and different. Turns out, she was terrified of roller coasters. We ended up spending the entire day on the carousel. She never called me back.”

Megan laughed, the sound surprising her with its naturalness. “That’s pretty bad. I had a guy take me to a seafood restaurant once, not knowing I was allergic to shellfish. I spent the evening in the emergency room.”

“Wow, that’s intense,” Tom said, wincing sympathetically. “I promise no shellfish tonight.”

“Good call,” Megan said, relaxing a little. “So, tell me more about yourself. What do you do for fun when you’re not hiking or growing facial hair?”

Tom launched into a story about his latest hiking adventure, complete with an unfortunate encounter with a very territorial raccoon. Megan found herself genuinely entertained, his animated storytelling putting her at ease. She reciprocated with tales of her own, including a disastrous attempt at making homemade sushi that ended with a visit from the fire department.

Their meals arrived, and the conversation flowed more smoothly now, buoyed by shared laughter and relatable misadventures. Megan found herself genuinely enjoying Tom’s company, his easygoing nature a perfect counterbalance to her initial apprehension.

By the time dessert came around, they’d covered everything from favorite movies to their most irrational fears. Megan’s sides hurt from laughing, and Tom felt like he’d known her for years, not just a couple of hours.

“Alright,” Tom said, leaning back in his chair and eyeing the dessert menu. “I’ve got a question for you. If you could have any superpower, what would it be?”

Megan didn’t hesitate. “The ability to control time. Imagine all the naps I could take and still get everything done.”

Tom laughed. “That’s a good one. I’d probably go with teleportation. Skip the commute, travel the world in an instant. Plus, I’d never be late for a date again.”

“Practical and adventurous,” Megan said, nodding approvingly. “I like it.”

They ordered a shared dessert, a decadent chocolate lava cake, and continued their conversation, each question and answer building a comfortable rhythm between them. By the time the check arrived, they were both reluctant for the evening to end.

Tom walked Megan to her car, the cool night air a refreshing contrast to the warmth of the restaurant. They stood by her car, a lingering moment of uncertainty hanging between them.

“I had a great time tonight,” Tom said finally, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Would you like to do this again sometime?”

Megan smiled, feeling a warmth that had nothing to do with the weather. “I’d like that. A lot.”

They exchanged numbers, and Tom watched as Megan drove away, a goofy grin plastered on his face. As he walked to his own car, he couldn’t help but replay the night in his mind, already looking forward to their next adventure.

Meanwhile, Megan drove home, her initial anxiety replaced by a pleasant buzz of excitement. Maybe blind dates weren’t so bad after all, she thought. Pulling into her driveway, she couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. Who would’ve thought?

She texted Liz a quick thank you before heading inside, her mind already racing with possibilities for her next date with Tom. As she got ready for bed, a final question lingered in her thoughts, one that filled her with a sense of hopeful anticipation.

**What if this is just the beginning?**