Being silly together feels more intimate than I expected

Early dating can make both people a little polished. You choose the good outfit, tell the good stories and try not to say anything too strange.

I like what happens after that stage. The weird jokes come out. Somebody agrees to wear something ridiculous. A random idea turns into the funniest part of the night.

That kind of playfulness makes me feel closer because it usually means neither person is trying so hard to control the impression they are making.

For me, being silly together is not the opposite of intimacy. It is one of the ways intimacy starts to feel real.