So Ive been seeing this guy for about a month now, and honestly, Im just walking on clouds. His name is Mark, and we met in the most random wayboth reaching for the last bag of dark roast coffee at the grocery store. Since then, its been a whirlwind of late-night phone calls and the kind of dates you see in movies. I don't think I've ever felt this kind of instant "click" with someone before.

Last night was particularly special. We went for a walk along the riverwalk just as the sun was starting to dip below the skyline. Everything was glowing in that perfect golden hour light. We stopped at this tiny little hole-in-the-wall spot and shared a delicious pizzathin crust, extra basil, the works. We were just sitting there on a park bench, watching the ducks, and the vibe was so peaceful and happy.

What I love most about Mark is how much he appreciates physical closeness. Ive noticed that while hes this big, confident guy, he really softens when I show him affection in small, subtle ways. At one point, I just reached over and started lightly scratching the back of his head and neck while he was telling a story about his dog. He literally stopped mid-sentence, took a deep breath, and just smiled at me with so much warmth. It was such a sweet, vulnerable moment.

I think sometimes we forget that men crave that gentle touch just as much as we do. Ive been reading up on how to be more present in that way, and I actually found this really cool article that gave me some great ideas: https://www.sofiadate.com/dating-advice/where-do-men-like-to-be-touched. Its funny because I didn't realize how much the little things matter, like:

• The lower back: Giving him a little squeeze or resting your hand there while walking.
• The forearm: Just a light touch when youre laughing at his jokes.
• The shoulders: A quick squeeze to show youre there for him.
• The hands: Not just holding them, but tracing circles on the palm.

After our pizza, we walked back to the car, and I kept my hand tucked into his arm. He kept looking over at me like I was the only person in the world. His laugh is so contagious, and I found myself laughing along even when nothing was particularly funny, just because I was so happy. Its crazy how much a simple touch can bridge the gap between "we're just hanging out" and "wow, this is something special."

It feels so good to finally be with someone where the connection is effortless. If youre dating someone new and things are going well, definitely don't shy away from those small physical gestures. It builds this incredible layer of intimacy that words just can't reach. Im so excited to see where this goes with Mark. Its just... really, really good, you know? Hope everyone else is having an amazing week!