Great first date then nothing? What to do next

Start with the last thing she sent. If it was warm and specific, like a comment about the bar or a joke you two shared, she was engaged, and the silence is probably about timing rather than interest. If her last message was short and asked nothing back, she may have already decided, or she may just be a slow texter who wrapped up the night there. Look at whether she reached for the next plan or waited for you to bring it up. People who want a second date usually mention something coming up, even vaguely. People who are unsure often stop at the thank you. Neither reading is certain, but the pattern in her own messages tells you more than how the date felt to you while it was happening.

A good follow up refers to one concrete detail from the date, something she said or a moment you both laughed at. That shows you were paying attention and gives her a reason to answer that is about the evening, not about whether she owes you a reply. Keep the ask small. A question she can answer in a few words works better than a proposed day and time, because a plan asks her to commit before she has decided anything. Do not apologize for the gap, do not ask whether you did something wrong, and do not explain how much you enjoyed the date. Those moves put her in the position of reassuring you.

Once you've sent one follow up, give it real time. Two days is usually enough for a busy person to reply, and a week is a fair ceiling for a warm but quiet thread. Sending a second message the same afternoon makes it look like you're checking a clock, even if you aren't. If the first message gets no reply, wait until the following week and send one short message with a different angle, like a question about something she mentioned or a link to something she'd probably enjoy. Send it in daylight, when it reads like a passing thought. If that also goes unanswered, stop. Two unanswered messages after a great date is a clear answer, and a third one only makes the silence louder.