“No. This is perfect.” The sun is starting to dip closer to the river. People are milling around and heading across the bridge to Broadway. “Absolutely perfect first date.”
I stab my fork into the box of to-go noodles we picked up after the game—a shutout for the Knights at 5-0, with Dax scoring two goals.
“Would we consider this our first date?” Dax asks.
“What else would it be?”
“The sex club.”
“Dax.” I bump his hip with mine. “We cannot tell people our first date was at a sex club!”
“Probably the most unique first date, don’t you think?” He waggles his brows at me.
“I’m making it official. This is our firstfirstdate and nothing else. Just you and me and no one else.”
“Okay.” He drapes his arm around my shoulders, pulling me close. “And I’m glad it’s officially this as our firstdate because I don’t want to be around other people tonight.”
The regular season started two weeks ago, and since that day in the park, Dax and I haven’t had as much time together as we would have liked. Grabbing dinner from a food truck and walking along the river after his game? I’ll take whatever I can get. And this is pretty perfect to me.
“Hey, great game, Dax!” someone calls out as we stroll along the river.
He waves in return. “Thanks, man.”
“You know, you did have a really good game tonight.” I wrap my arm around him as we keep walking.
“I could have done more.”
“Stop it. You’re allowed to give yourself more credit than that, at least with me. I know how hard you’ve been working and it’s showing. Two goals and an assist in the third period? That’s incredible.”
Pink creeps up his cheeks. Even if I tell him to take the credit, it’ll still be hard for him. “That was great teamwork.”
“They’re lucky to have you.” I spot an empty bench ahead. “Want to sit?”
“Sure.”
He drops a kiss on my cheek before I bound over to take a seat. Dax pulls me in close to him, every inch of his side touching mine. He wolfed down his own dinner before we even made it to the river—no doubt because of the game—and I relish being wrapped up in his arms like this.
It’s the most innocent of touches, but it makes me feel alive. I can’t remember the last time I felt something so good. So right.
Being with Dax just makes sense.
He heaves out a sigh, fingers trailing a warm path upand down my arm. Goose bumps break out in his wake. I really could get used to his touch.
“About the gala tomorrow night…” Dax asks, breaking me from my thoughts.
“You’re not uninviting me, are you?” I ask, wiping my hands and resting the empty container next to me.
“No, but I did hear that Genevieve might perform.”
My eyes go wide. “Wait, really? I love her new song.”
“Which one is that?” Dax asks. “You know I don’t listen to her.”
“It’s ‘Wildflower in the Weeds.’ You know,I'm a wildflower, blowing with the wind, never knowing where I’ll be, take me as I am, a wildflower in the weeds?That one.” I sing the first few lines for him.
A knowing smile slides into place. “I know the song. I just wanted to see if you’d sing it for me.”
I grab his shirt and pull him close. “It’s a good thing you’re cute.”
