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Twelve
Agatha
My phone buzzed on the nightstand, and a groan escaped. I hated mornings. A text from Arnold popped up: "Meet me at the park? I've got a surprise for you." My heart hitched a beat. A surprise?
I tossed the phone onto the bed and scrambled to my feet. Surprises were his thing; he'd been doing them almost every day for two weeks. In the mirror, my reflection stared back, wavy hair a wild mess, eyes wide with curiosity.
I smoothed down my hair, tucking the rebellious strands behind my ears. The voice that men paid to hear was nowhere to be found as I muttered to myself, fussing with my appearance. I grabbed a simple sundress, teal and snug, a color that made my brown eyes pop.
A quick swipe of mascara and a dash of lip gloss, and I was out the door, sneakers slapping against the pavement. Arnold's surprises always managed to coax out the inner child in me, the one who melted like chocolate in the sun at a boy's attention.
The park was a short walk away, the morning light perfect, all golden and warm. Couples lounged on benches, dogs chased frisbees, and the scent of blooming flowers mixed with city air. My pulse raced as I scanned the area, looking for him—my awkward Adonis with the sandy hair and the smile that could trip me up faster than a crack in the sidewalk.
There he was, near the oak tree that stood like a guardian of childhood memories. A picnic blanket was laid out with precision, and there Arnold stood, lanky and lovely, anticipation etched into the creases of his shirt.
"Hey," I breathed out, not quite a whisper but soft enough to betray the thudding in my chest.
"Hi, Angelcakes," he said. His nickname for me made me blush. His hand went to his hair, a nervous tick I'd come to adore.
"Wow, this is..." I gestured to the spread before us, unsure how to finish the sentence without diving headfirst into the cheese dip. I absolutely loved this cheese dip.
"Hope you're hungry." He flashed a grin, and it was infectious, lighting up my own face in response.
"Starving," I admitted, though it wasn't food that had my appetite stirred up. It was him, whatever was about to unfold between us at this moment.
The park breathed life, full of laughter and chatter. As morning plodded on, we sat in easy company, munching and asking each other a hundred different questions.
"Did you do all this?" I swept my hand over the spread. Cheese dip and crackers, Thai noodles, fresh fruit, and, for dessert... chocolate-dipped strawberries. All the hits.
"Guilty." He ducked his head, cheeks pink under the sun. Pride in his eyes, though. Kid at show-and-tell with the coolest toy.
"Wow." My voice cracked. "You remembered everything."
"Of course." He beamed, chest puffed out like a pigeon. That soft blue gaze locked on mine, and it felt right, like slipping into a favorite pair of jeans.
I bit my lip, taking in the picnic that seemed plucked from my very dreams. Sighing and closing my eyes, I savored every taste, every sound. The birds overhead, the feeling of the ground beneath me. I scooched closer, and laughter bubbled up inside me, threatening to spill when my knight in sandy drapes tickled my sides, bringing me back to earth.
He rose to his feet, towering yet somehow still so gentle. In his hands, a bouquet of flowers—lilies, roses, daisies—all wrapped in a ribbon the color of the summer sky. The kind of bouquet you see in old movies, where everything feels like magic and first kisses.
"Got these for you." He held out the flowers, and his hand trembled just a smidge. Adorable.
"Arnold, they're beautiful." I reached out, fingers brushing against his as I took the bouquet. A shiver ran up my arm, the good kind. I buried my nose in the blossoms, their scent fresh and sweet. "Thank you."
"Nothing's too good for you." His shoulders hitched in a shrug, cheeks coloring with a bashful red.
"Stop it, I'm gonna cry or something." I smiled behind the petals, cheeks hot. Flowers clutched to my chest, I glanced at him through my lashes. "What's all this for?"
"Just because. It's our monthaversary, and I thought you deserved something to commemorate this momentous occasion." His grin was lopsided, eyes crinkling at the corners. So darn cute.
"Really, this is perfect." I meant it. And not just the flowers—the park, the food, him. All of it. Arnold had this knack for making ordinary things feel extraordinary. It was one of a million reasons why he mattered, why this whole crazy thing between us felt like it might just work.
I set down the flowers, their colors vibrant against the green of the grass.
"Mmmmm." I moaned as I bit into the noodles. "God, you are a whiz at this."
"Wait until dessert." He winked, and I could feel my cheeks heat up, probably redder than the strawberries now.
"Can't wait." My voice hitched, betraying the casual front I was aiming for.
