I laugh on a groan. “Lead the way, you menace.”
She marches ahead, the hem of her dress fluttering around her knees. The shop’s doorbell jingles as we step inside — soft yellow light, jars of pastel sweets, the smell of caramel. Ash presses her palms to the glass display, eyes wide.
“Okay. Important questions: sour gummies or chocolate truffles?”
“Why not both?”
“Because I have self-control.”
I give her a look. “You just ate two scoops of ice cream.”
She narrows her eyes at me. “You’re judging me for that.”
“No, I’m impressed.”
She grins. “Good answer.”
After much debate, the shop owner bags her candy. As she fumbles in her bag for her wallet, I slide a bill across the counter first.
“Hey!” she protests. “You can’t just?—”
“I just did.”
She glares with fake indignation. “You’reimpossible.”
“And you’re slow,” I say, taking the bag and holding it out of her reach.
“Flint.”
“Casie.”
She reaches for it, and I hold it higher, smirking. “Say please.”
Her eyes narrow. “Please.”
“Nicely.”
Her voice drops into that faux-sweet tone that serves as a warning. “Please,oh mighty yoga survivor,may I have my candy?”
I grin and hand it over. “That’s more like it.”
She snatches it, smacking my arm lightly. “You’re infuriating.”
“You love me."
She doesn’t reply and that, I think, is a definite point for me.
The sky is pink with sunset, the last light brushing against the tops of the trees as we wander near the dense trees in the park. The air is full of the chatter of cicadas and the distant sound of water moving over stones. It’sthe kind of summer evening that feels like it should last forever.
Ash kicks off her sandals half way down the path, dangling from one hand as we walk. The grass is thick under her bare feet.
“You know, for someone who claims to be in peak warrior shape…”
“I did fine!”
“You nearly passed out.”
“Maybe I was meditating.”
