Maya took a breath, grounding herself. "I’ve really enjoyed getting to know you. You're wonderful. But before we go any further, I want to be honest with you. I’m a trans woman."

"Thank you for telling me, Maya," he said gently. "I appreciate you trusting me with that." He paused, his gaze steady and sincere. "It doesn’t change how I feel about you, or how much I’ve enjoyed tonight. I’m here because I want to get to know you ."

"So," Liam said, his grin returning, "now that we’ve got that out of the way... tell me more about that photography project you’re working on. I want to hear everything."

"I know it can be a lot to carry," Liam reached out, lightly covering her hand with his. His touch was warm and grounding. "But you don't have to carry it alone with me. I like the person sitting in front of me. That’s who I’m interested in."

Liam didn’t blink. He didn't pull his hand back from where it rested near hers on the table. Instead, a small, thoughtful smile touched his lips.

They sat in silence for a moment, the rain still blurring the world outside, but the atmosphere between them had shifted. The underlying tension was gone, replaced by a new level of intimacy and ease.