Page 30 of Honest With You

“So, you mentioned this was one of your favorite places. Does that mean there are other places you go to on nights like this?”

Perceptive, as always.

Nodding, I start putting away the swords.

“I have a couple, actually. But my favorite one besides this place is called Sunset Cliffs. It overlooks the Pacific Ocean. Most people go there to explore the sea cave at low tide but I go there for the view. Especially at sunset and sunrise, hence the name.”

She smiles as she helps me sort the swords by color.

“Sounds like the perfect place to think.”

“It is. It’s quiet and relaxing. But it can get crowded at night so if I do decide to go there, I usually do after the sun already sets. People tend to leave and not linger, choosing to hike the trail there instead.”

“Oof, that’s a no from me. Hiking, no. Views and snacks, yes.” She points finger guns at me with a wink at the wordsnacks.

Another laugh spurts out of me and I shake my head in disbelief. I’ve lost count of how many times she’s made me laugh and smile tonight.

I stick my hand back in the backpack and come out with Go Fish and Uno. I waggle my eyebrows at her, earning a smile back as she places the Pirate and swords back in the bag.

“Are you sure you’re ready to get your butt handed to you?”

“Depends.”

“On what?” She asks, incredulously.

“Will you be touching my ass?”

Her eyes crinkle as she swats my arm playfully but her gaze lingers and she smiles a little wider. I can’t help it. I trace a finger on her cheek. “Ava. Why does it feel like not a single minute has passed since I last saw you, yet it feels like I’ve been waiting forever to see you again?”

I can practically see the gears spinning in her head as she keeps her gaze locked on mine. Her hesitation and fear might as well be written on her forehead in black sharpie.

Her breath hitches and her mouth falls open.

“Not very friendly,friend.”

She starts stacking the cards, blushing furiously. I’m tempted to tease her more. Maybe coax her into, I don’t know, holding my hand again. But I decide, since we’re in an easy flow again, not to push it.

We play a round of Go Fish before playing the hypercompetitive Uno. I take out the rest of the snacks I bought and with each one I pull out, her eyes light up.

They are all the same ones we ate back then, so I know they’re her favorites.

Vcut. Chippy. Piattos. ChocNut. Clover. Moby. Cloud9.

I went to three different Filipino stores just to find every single one of them.

I want to remind her of that time so she can stop second guessing everything and just live in the moment.

She smiles at me from behind her cards.

Worth it.I’d do anything to keep her smiling like that at me.

We’re down to the last two cards each and one of us will end up yelling Uno. It’s my turn and even though we both know I’m going to win, there’s not a hint of annoyance or frustration on her part.

I hit her with an Uno and she just chuckles and picks up the cards we have already dealt.

“So…” She trails off, arranging the cards in a stack.

“So?”

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