Page 54 of Giovanni
“Really?”
She burst out laughing, shaking her head and collecting more tokens for us to turn in for the giant shark hanging from the ceiling of one of the booths.
“O.G., I’m five foot three. Do you think I ever played basketball, much less at the collegiate level?”
A flush hit my cheeks despite the cool temperatures.
“Could have fooled me.”
We continue playing various games, the competitive yet playful spirit between us growing with each win. Kacie’s quick wit and my gullibility create a different dynamic between us, a pleasant change from the controlled atmosphere of my loft, where I take the lead.
The evening’s crowning moment arrives at the baseball booth, where the objective is simple. Pitch a strike to topple the pin. I hand over a significant portion of our tickets and feel confident stepping up to the line, reminiscing about my high school pitching days.
Shedding my jacket with flair, I indulge in some showmanship, performing an exaggerated wind-up. But to my chagrin, the ball sails wide, completely missing the target. My ego takes a hit, and so does the booth attendant’s patience as she scolds me for the excessive force of my throw.
Kacie pulls on my shoulder to give me a sudden kiss for good luck, and then I’m off. Dial down the speed and dial up the accuracy to demolish all nine pins in a row and win us the most tickets possible. She jumps up and down, clapping with glee while I hold out my hand to collect the tokens.
I theatrically blow on my fingers, playing up the part of the confident ace, and Kacie responds by looping her arms around my waist. Together, we stroll over to the prize booth, ready to exchange our hard-earned tickets for the blue and white stuffed killer shark I promised from the beginning.
The attendant hands it to Kacie. Her delight is evident as she takes the stuffed animal into her arms and hugs it, filling me with happiness at how great of a date this is. As we leave the booth, a shark in tow, hands intertwined, I look forward to the shark ride, where we get to sit close and cuddle. Her face beams with happiness when she looks up at me, then shoves the shark’s face into mine for a makeshift kiss.
“What should we name him?”
I give her a quizzical look. Naming a stuffed toy? And assigning a gender to it? It’s cute but nothing I’ve ever done before.
“No idea. Where do you want to sit?”
The train is not crowded, especially with it being a random Saturday night in January. I bet this place was packed last month leading up to Christmas. She releases my hand to wander ahead, picking a seat in the middle of the train. She puts the shark in between us, which isn’t going to work. I pluck the thing from the space, slide next to her, and stuff it by her outer door.Once I wrap my arm around her, she presses into my body, her back against my chest and her hair grazing my cheek.
“You have no claim of naming rights. Is that what you’re saying?”
She loops her arm around the toy as mine is looped around her. Never in a million years would I have thought something as simple as a stuffed shark would make her this happy. I love how it doesn’t take much to bring out the joy in her.
“Correct.”
As the train fills up, half submerged in the glass-enclosed tunnel, sharks swimming beside and above us. Their effortless movements are mesmerizing, powerful bodies turning and twisting with fluidity. The train conductor welcomes us aboard before the train ambles deeper into the tunnel with him, pointing out the various ones. It’s calmer here, away from the loudness of the carnival, and warmer as we travel deeper into the exhibit.
I’m more content to watch Kacie’s face, the merriment as she points to different sharks we pass. When she admits to having never been here, I’m surprised and plan to take her on the Ferris wheel next.
Eventually, we emerge from the tunnel, stepping back into the vibrant energy of the Aquarium. We make our way to the Ferris wheel, the city skyline sprawling out before us as we ascend, painting a breathtaking view that grows more impressive with every foot we rise.
But as we reach the higher levels, the biting chill of the elevated air has us both shivering and Kacie’s teeth chattering. Despite the stunning view, we’re both relieved when the ride ends, eager to escape the cold.
Before leaving the carnival, we pause by the dancing dolphin fountain at the front of the property to take a photo on my phone. Some nice couple offers to help us out, and when we seethe pictures—our smiles, the stuffed shark she names Jaws after the movie, and the backdrop of dolphins frozen in mid-leap—it immortalizes this perfect first date.
“I’m cold, and I could really use some food right now,” Kacie declares, a slight shiver in her voice.
She lets go of my hand and picks up the pace, the stuffed shark bouncing in her arms as she makes a beeline for the restaurant’s warmth. I quickly follow, reaching her side as we approach the hostess stand. As we wait, I gently place my hand on her back, rubbing softly to warm her.
While the hostess scans her seating chart for our reservation, Kacie is captivated by the grand three-story Aquarium dominating the foyer. The myriad of fish swimming inside draws a look of wonder from her, and I can’t help but watch the delight play across her face.
We’re soon guided up the stairs to our table, which offers a cozy vantage point over the aquatic display. After we settle in and order drinks and salads, Kacie leans in, resting her chilled hand over mine on the tabletop.
“Thank you for bringing me here. This evening has been wonderful.”
I envelop her hand with mine, hoping the warmth from my palm will seep into her fingers. The subtle glow from the surrounding tanks casts a serene ambiance over us, the faint sounds of the water and distant conversations creating a tranquil and romantic backdrop.
“Just you wait. I’ve got plenty of ideas up my sleeve. The goal is to keep you smiling like this.”
