New to cold approach. There’s this adorable girl who co-runs a high-end cookie shop near where I live. I walked in yesterday and we got talking. I complimented her deep grey eyes, without being needy or try-hard, and we talked for a while. The conversation flowed, I did demonstrate high value in ways (she knows I’m halfway to building a 6 pack because I’m following a strict diet and not eating cookies, she knows I’m well-travelled and a man comfortable taking risks, I also demonstrated competence and knowledge about her area of work) but I didn’t flirt or tease her nearly enough. As a natural part of the conversation, she said “my partner” in reference to the guy she runs the shop with, but my assumption was that she was referring to him as a romantic partner and not just a business partner, although I’d rather get rejected for sure rather than on my own presumptions. I shouldn’t have done this but it did deflate me a bit internally. Someone else walked into the store so our conversation was cut short as I wanted to remain calibrated and not start flirting with her in front of her customers. She knows I live close by and I want to go back to finish what I started.

When I go back to the store, do I ask her flat out in some non-autistic way whether her “partner” is her bf? Or is it better if I say assertively/confidently “I’d like to finish that conversation we started. Let’s go for a walk after you close the shop.” Or neither of these?