Page 63 of The Perfect Love

I chuckle. “Italian for our next date night?”

“I won’t complain.”

I pull her closer and wrap my arm around her back, enjoying the heat of her body pressed against mine. As September goes on, the nights have gotten cooler. She leans into the touch, wrapping her arm around my back as well. The wind ripples across the lake, adding an extra chill to the air.

“So, food is one thing. What are the other ways to your heart? I need to take some notes if I’m going to stay on your good side.”

She tilts her head and looks up at me. “Hm. Let’s see. Puppies. And kittens. I always think I want one, even though I know they’re a lot of work. Really, I want to go play with some or steal someone else’s for a day. Well, puppies at least. I might get a kitten eventually.”

“Okay, volunteering for an animal shelter is now a date option. What else?”

“Psychics.”

“What?” I ask with a laugh.

“It’s a weird thing, but I’m a sucker for psychics—the hokier the better. I won’t book an appointment at a place for the heck of it, but if I’m at some event or carnival with a psychic, I always stop into the tent. I’ve never had an accurate reading, and they’ve always been ridiculous, but it’s so much fun. I’m also obsessed with psychic reality shows.”

“A date to a psychic. We can try and confuse them and see if they figure it out.”

She laughs. “Brilliant.”

I brush my lips over her cheek. “Tell me more.”

“I love road trips. Especially in the late summer. Something about it makes me want to jump in the car and just go, destination unknown. Makes me feel whimsical, like I’m living in an Eagles song.”

My grip on her tightens, and I feel the familiar tug of that tether between us. The one I still don’t fully understand, but want more of nonetheless.

“My dad loved the Eagles. He always had music on in the car, but if we were going on a road trip, vacation, whatever, we always ended up going through his collection of Eagles albums.”

“Sounds like the perfect summer plan.”

I glance at her out of the corner of my eye, but she’s smiling, taking in the view of the lake in the distance.

Is she thinking about summer… together?

Fuck, I love the thought of that.

If I’m honest, it kind of scares the shit out of me too. I didn’t realize until she said it, but I’ve been picturing her in my future. Christmas, summer break, next year.

When did I get this lost in her and us? It’s not a bad thing, but… if things don’t work out between us, I already know I’ll be crushed.

So, I’m going to manifest the shit out of it. Anything to help make sure it happens.

I want so much more with her, and at this point, I can’t imagine a time when I won’t.

That’s almost unsettling, so I quickly push it away and focus on the sprawling tiger enclosure in front of us.

“What about you?” Chelsea asks.

“Huh?”

“You want to know all the ways to my heart. What are some of yours?”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to mention baseball, but I don’t want to. For now, I like that it’s separate from my relationship with her.

Before she can say anything else, she adds, “Besides lazy days looking at the clouds, Loganberry, Dunkaroos, and generally anything nostalgic.”

Damn.I’ve been making notes of all the things she loves, but I wasn’t expecting her to do the same.

---