One Wish

“Ham and pineapple.”

Her eyes go wide. “Nooo… seriously?” She then laughs.

“What’s wrong with ham and pineapple?”

“Absolutely nothing,” she replies. “I just thought I’d mess with ya.” She nudges my shoulder with hers. “Okay, since we seem to be playing this game. What’s your favorite chocolate?”

“Mint,” I respond, causing her to arch her brow.

“We really like mint in everything, huh?”

“Not on pizza.”

She scrunches up her nose at the thought. “No, definitely not on pizza.” She giggles and the sound causes my head to spin. “Mine’s Snickers. I just love those nuts.”

Now it’s my time to nudge her shoulder. “Are you flirting with me, Ms. Stone?”

She sticks her tongue out, biting it a little, and it causes my pulse to skyrocket.

“Maybe,” she replies, in a flirtatious manner.

“You’ll be talking about wieners and chipolatas next.”

“They can be quite tasty,” she sasses back.

“Oh my God, stop,” I respond, laughing. She’s going to be the death of me.

She giggles at my discomfort. “You were the one who brought it up.”

“Only because you brought up the nuts.”

With that, she leans forward, clutching her stomach with laughter. I join in with her as the sound coming out of her mouth is so infectious.

“Okay,” she starts, after calming herself. “Favorite chips?”

I quirk an eyebrow at her. “We’re still on this despite where it went last time?” When she gives me a reproachful look, I give in. “Original, or sour cream and chive Pringles.”

“Oooh, good choice. I like Lays too.” I nod my head in agreement.

As we’re walking, she slightly turns to me. “Hey, let’s say we have an early dinner tonight, buy a load of mint, nutty chocolates, and Pringles, and watch a good movie together.”

The more that idea floats in my head, the more I love it. “Yeah, sure. As long as it’s not one of mine.”

She pouts her lip causing me to laugh. “Aww, you’re such a spoilsport.” She then rolls her eyes. “Okay, no movie with my favorite Hollywood heartthrob it is then.” She then smiles. “Cause I have him to stare at all night long.”

Oh, boy, do I want to kiss her right now. Instead, I hold those thoughts back and reply, “Okay, it’s a date.”

Her happy expression makes my stomach flutter with an unknown reaction. It’s warmth, joy, need, and… could it be love? Surely not. Way too soon. However, the emotions have me questioning what it is I’m truly feeling.

Hand in hand, we walk together, a kick in my step. Sounds so cheesy in my head, but it’s there nonetheless. For now, I’m rolling with it as right now, I feel the happiest I have felt in a long time.

After about another hour of walking, my lungs filling with air, my legs giving me that good achy feel like I’ve had some proper exercise, we start to take the trail back to the where Finnegan is waiting in the car for us.

As we’re nearing the end, a man I recognize—a very excitable man with jet black hair, and the bluest eyes you could ever see—zeroes in on us, walking fast with his hands in the air, his phone clutched in his right hand.

“Trent?” Audrey asks, squinting as he gets closer. “Tell Kendra she needs glasses,” she blurts, causing me to laugh out loud.

“Okay. But, yeah… that’s Trent,” I reply, realizing now where I know him from. Audrey’s café.