“Wow,” Odette walked out of her house the moment I pulled into her driveway to pick her up for our date.
“You like?” She did a spin in front of me as I opened the side door to my car. She was in overalls with a long-sleeve top underneath, platform shoes, and a heavy cardigan. She looked amazing, and I was speechless. I’d donned a pair of jeans and a sweater. It had grown colder over the last week, and today we were going to be feeling it.
“I do.” I knew my smile was large, and with Odette looking at me, it grew even bigger. My cheeks were starting to ache.
“I thought it was just simple.” She shrugged, placed a hand on my cheek, and then kissed me. She moved past me to open the car door, but I swooped in first, opening the door for her.
“You look amazing in everything,” I leaned down to place a kiss on her lips. “But don’t ever try to open the door on your own again.”
I let her know as she slid into the seat. I closed the door and drove us to our date location. I was taking Odette down to Lake Erie. I’d come here a few times in the past and had seen it was a huge place to look for sea glass, but had never participated in thescavenger hunt myself. I’d packed the car with snacks, drinks, and little bags for us to collect glass with.
When I pulled up to the small parking area, Odette looked over at me, confused.
“Why are we here?”
For us being so close to her house, it shocked me that she hadn’t been there before herself.
“You’ll see.” I got out of the car, running to her side to open the door before she decided to open it herself. She took the hand I offered her and followed me to the truck.
I handed her a small bag with the sandwiches and chips before grabbing a second bag with the drinks and bags. I grabbed the blanket I’d packed, but didn’t say a word as I closed up the car and took her hand, leading her down to the sand.
It might have been cold out, but it was a clear day. The wind was whipping by, though. I took the blanket draped over my arm and wrapped it around Odette’s shoulders, giving her extra warmth, and we trekked through the dense sand down closer to the water.
We weren’t the only ones here today. Other families were walking around, couples, and even a few people were here on their own.
“You still haven’t told me why we are here.” Odette reached out to grab my hand.
I’d been leading her to the water, distracted by looking at the ground, so I didn’t answer her right away.
No, I was busy looking, searching, until I found it.
“This!” I leaned down and picked up the light blue piece of sea glass that was no bigger than a bead. I pulled Odette’s hand closer to me, opened it, and placed the glass in the middle of her palm. “For you."
She brought it up closer to her face, inspecting it.
“Is this sea glass?” She looked up at me. Her eyes were big with wonder. She looked so innocent, childlike in this moment.
“Yeah,” I stood straighter, proud of myself for thinking of this adventure for us to do together.
“This is so cool!” She went to put the glass in her pocket, but I grabbed one of the small canvas bags I brought and handed it to her. I pulled out one for myself, too. “I’d heard about this being a thing here, but hadn’t ever come to do it. We never really grew up going to the beach, so I hadn’t made it a mission to get out here.”
“I was trying to find something unique for us to do. It seemed like something that we might both like. Fits your interests and mine.”
“Oh, yeah.” She nudged me. “And what interest would this be for you? I don’t see you collecting little trinkets and hoarding them throughout your house in little glass vials.”
Odette raised an eyebrow at me, and I rolled my eyes. She was right. This was more of something for herself, but in all, it was something for me too. For us to spend time together doing something new and fun.
“Besides getting to see you happy?” I leaned down and placed a kiss on the tip of her nose. “I like taking walks in new areas. Lets me think.”
“Oh,” A blush crept over her face again. “What is it you like to think about?”
I shrugged and placed my hands in my pockets as we made our way down to the waterfront.
“Sometimes it’s just to clear my head after a long gaming session, and other times it’s because I need ideas for a new gaming session.”
“Seems like you do a lot of thinking about games.” Odette laughed at me as she leaned down and grabbed a small piece of glass.
I laughed and turned to the water that was wading to and from the shore.
