Page 64 of The Perfect Love

“Been paying attention, huh?”

She shrugs one shoulder, giving me a mischievous smile.

“Okay, uh, Mint-Ting-A-Ling. It’s a flavor of Perry’s ice cream. One of my mom’s favorites and my dad always made sure we had some in the freezer. It’s so comforting and nostalgic. It’s one of my favorite ice creams. And going along with that, I’m a sucker for little gestures. My parents were never big gift givers—at least not between each other—they showed their love through small thoughtful acts. Like the Mint-Ting-A-Ling in the freezer or how my mom would leave little notes in my dad’s lunchbox.”

Oh, shit. Move away from this topic before I start crying.

“AndTerminatormovies. Some of them are legitimately terrible, but I can’t help it. I love them. I’ll watch them anytime I see they’re on TV, and if I’m sick, they’re my go-to movies.”

She squeezes my hand a little tighter. “Good to know.”

A smile tugs at the corners of my mouth. “Are you making a list?”

“Maybeeee. Oh look, penguins!” She tugs on my hand and leads me down the path, eyes already on the penguins, but I’m watching her, trying to memorize everything about her. The way she’s smiling. The brightness in her eyes. She’s so beautiful it makes my chest ache.

She’s so giddy when we get to the enclosure and she starts cooing at them.

“Fan of penguins?”

“Yes. I love them. They’re so cute, but they’re also spicy. They’re known to be incredibly loyal, but they also don’t take shit from other penguins or zookeepers. And they’ll fight a bitch for food. So basically, they’re a cute, waddling, little version of me.”

I move closer, wrapping my arms around her from behind. “You’re so much cuter than them.”

She leans back into me. “Did you know they can also be grumpy sometimes? Like thisadorableguy I know. They also tend to mate for life.”

Her words hang in the air, and my lips ache to kiss her. I have to physically hold myself back, because we haven’t talked any further about what she’s comfortable with, and I don’t want to ruin tonight by taking things too far.

She turns her head and looks up at me, her eyes flitting to my lips. It takes all my willpower to hold back. If she wants to start this, it’s up to her. But after a moment, she tilts her head back and brushes her lips over my cheek instead before looking back at the penguins. I hold her a little tighter, loving the feel of her body so close to mine.

“This was a perfect date idea.”

“And for a great cause too.”

Slowly, she steps away from me and takes my hand, giving the penguins one last look before we continue down the path.

“How did you hear about this? I don’t remember seeing anything about it on campus.”

“Promise. We had signs and little handouts about it. I figured what better way to spend a date night? Delicious food, cute animals, supporting women? All my favorite things.”

I feign disappointment. “Should I be upset that you didn’t include me in that list?”

She stops and spins to face me, tugging on my shirt to pull me closer. “You’re the best part about tonight. Getting to share my favorite things with you only makes them better.”

Her eyes sparkle in the setting sun as she stares up at me. It’s impossible to keep my eyes from drifting down her face to her lips. I want to brush my lips over hers, dive in, and get lost in her, but she’s been trepidatious from the start. She ran away after we kissed that night at the lake house, and the panic in her eyes was unmistakable.

So I lift my gaze, pull her close, and press my lips to her forehead.

When we pull apart, she wraps her hand tightly around mine, and we continue our adventure around the zoo.

My girl still has the most vibrant smile on her face as we walk through the parking lot to my car.

My girl.

Maybe I don’t get to call her that yet, but in my mind, that’s what she is.

She lets go of my hand and skips toward the car. God, I’m a sucker for her.

She leans against my driver’s side door. Waiting for me?

---