And it’ll be all my fault.
All because I spent so much money all at once.
Chest tight, I say, “Why don’t we both take our own vehicles?”
“And lose several hours of time we could spend together?”
Ding, ding, ding. Give the crow a prize… “Yes.”
He stares at me.
I shift my weight and cut my attention off him, because there is a small chance I replied a littletooquickly.
“My car,” he says, “or I’m not going.”
My attention slashes back to him. “What?”
“There are plenty of places we can meet here for a first date if you’re not interested in carpooling. I’m not keen on driving alone for two hours. Either come with me, or pick something local to do.” He reclines, angling his head so he can peer down his straight nose while he presents the ultimatum. “There’s acute ceramic shop nearby. We can paint and exchange plates or mugs.”
I would never—ever—eat off anything this creature has touched.Ever.
Biting my cheek, I whisper, “F-fine. Your car.”
“Excellent.”
His smile gives me chills.
Turning to his computer, he begins typing. “I’ll plan everything. We’ll go…on Wednesday and Thursday.”
My heart plummets. “What? Why?”
“Weekdays will be less crowded at this time of year. Blessedly, we’re going before school lets out. It’s warm those days, but also partly cloudy, so it won’t be too hot from direct sunlight.”
“No.” I practically choke. “What do you meanand?”
He glances at me. “I’m not sure I understand.”
“Two days? What do you mean we’re going fortwodays?”
Humor lost, he watches me. “The park is an hour away.”
“Yes, so? That’s not that far. It’s adaytrip. Asingleday trip.”
“Logically, we get up early on the first day, arrive at opening, stay until closing, head to a hotel, and do it once more before leaving a little earlier on the second day—purely to be certain we aren’t exhausted when we drive home. Depending on the situation and how tired we are, a second night at the hotel may even prove wise. Trust me. These sorts of parks have too much to do in a single day. Going for two days, making the most of them, and fully experiencing the park from top to bottom optimizes both travel time and ticket price.”
I so wish I could argue with his logic, but it’s kind of bulletproof. These sorts of places are expensive, and they charge by a day pass. Making the most of a day is smart. But.But, but but.I think we’re forgetting something. As we stand here. In the penthouse office of the multi-billion dollar business he co-owns.
Optimizing a ticket in his position is almost as stupid as assuming I care about fully experiencing a theme park.
“Don’t worry,” he assures me as my eye twitches. “We’ll get two beds at the hotel. Promise.”
Two…beds? Not tworooms?
Sir.
I play dating sims every evening. I know fiction tropes. What I didn’t know is thatyouknow them, too. Now that I do, and now that you’ve made it clear by alluding to the infamousonly one bed, I’m not certain that putting us on opposite sides of the city in separate hotels would be enough to stop you from whatever madness you’re clearly already cooking up.
Unless, of course, Junction takes you out on the first day.
