Gale wasn't at all sure what had come over him the last few days. He'd always pined over Lily, certainly, but his focus on her lately had become razor sharp - with all of the strange things happening to him, she seemed to be someone he could think about without his head throbbing. It had only been natural to ask her to dinner, even if it had come out exceedingly awkwardly.

And now -- she was giving him the attention he'd always wanted from her, it seemed, and the dull headache that had been threatening to overtake him all day was being replaced with a sense of warmth. Whether it was from the wine or from the company, he couldn't say.

"And you look as lovely as you always do." He reached his hand across the table to take hers gently, rubbing his thumb over the top of her hand. "I hope I'm being tolerable company. I don't have all that much experience with -- dating."