I was out with a group of friends and this guy I didn’t really know that well yet—he was cute but I hadn’t really clocked him like that. Anyway, we were all walking back to our cars at night and I kinda slowed down to check something on my phone, and without making a big deal of it, he just subtly fell back to walk next to me.

Didn’t say anything like “oh I’ll protect you” or whatever, he just matched my pace and casually stayed there. That quiet awareness? The way he didn’t make it weird or performative? Instant hot.

Also, any man who listens with actual curiosity instead of waiting to talk… whew. It’s over for me.