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His words weave an intriguing picture. I can’t help but chuckle. “You know how to pique my curiosity, don’t you?”
He shrugs. “Just doing my best to make it a memorable night.” Eric takes a step closer, his smile softening. “Are you ready to go?”
My heart skips a beat. With a nod and a smile, I reply, “Absolutely.”
He walks to the front door, opening it and extending his arm out. “Ladies first.”
I smile and walk through, and he follows. “So, how far is this surprise of yours?” I ask while he opens the passenger door for me.
Eric’s lips curl into a playful smile. “Not too far,” he replies, his tone a mix of mystery and intrigue. “But you’ll see soon enough.”
* * *
As Eric pullsinto the parking lot of the beach, the moon hangs low in the ink-black sky, casting a silver glow upon the waves that lap gently at the shore. “We’re here,” he announces, his voice tinged with playfulness.
My eyes are wide with wonder. “The beach is always fun!”
“Yep, but there’s something special waiting. Trust me.” He holds out his hand, and I take it.
With my heart racing, I step out of the truck and onto the sandy path that leads toward the shore. I slip my shoes off and hold them.
A trail of soft, twinkling lights guides my gaze to an area adorned with blankets and cushions. A small table stands elegantly, fake candles flickering in the ocean breeze.
I can’t help but cover my mouth in astonishment. “Eric, is this…?”
He nods, his eyes holding a warmth that melts into my very soul. “A surprise picnic on the beach. Our first real date.”
“Did Scarlett put you up to this?” I ask.
“I may have asked her what your ideal first date was,” he says.
Tears gather in my eyes. “I can’t believe you’ve done all of this.”
Eric chuckles, his thumb brushing away a stray tear from my cheek. “You deserve it. I wanted tonight to be about us,” Eric says as we both take a seat at the table.
The soft glow of the candles creates an intimate cocoon around us. I take in the spread of food before us, my stomach rumbling in response to the delectable array. “Wow, this looks incredible. Did you make all of this?” I ask.
Eric chuckles, leaning back on his cushion. “I wish I had the culinary skills to take credit, but no. Made from the local deli.” He grins, his eyes sparkling. “I thought we could indulge a little tonight. Here, try this,” he says, handing me a slice of juicy watermelon.
I take a bite. “Nothing better than fresh watermelon. I love fruit.”
“I figured. When making pancakes the other day, I noticed a bunch of grapes and cantaloupe and a near empty plastic bowl of watermelon in your fridge.”
“So, tell me something about you that I don’t know,” I ask, quirking an eyebrow.
He feigns a thoughtful expression. “Well, I used to be a professional yo-yo enthusiast.”
I burst out laughing, unable to contain myself. “No way!”
He nods, his expression deadpan. “Yep, I traveled the world competing in yo-yo tournaments.”
I wipe away a tear of laughter. “I’m sorry, I just can’t picture it.”
He grins, the corners of his eyes crinkling. “Alright, alright, I may have exaggerated that one a bit. But I did go through a phase where I thought I was the yo-yo champion of my neighborhood.”
I laugh, feeling a sense of comfort settle between us. “Well, that’s definitely a unique hobby.”
“Tell me something unexpected about yourself,” Eric asks, his gaze curious.
