Kimberly considered her life and the things that had led to this moment. Walking along the beach with just the faintest hint of sunlight still peaking out over the farthest part of the ocean's edge. She was conscious of the big smile on her face but couldn't for the life of her do anything about it but steal glances up the shoreline to try to compose herself.

Moments earlier Jason had reached down and taken her hand in his own. They were now walking in step with each other and he was telling her about some experience he had on a beach while he had been overseas. She was listening as best she could but her mind was racing as hard as her heart.

The evening had been perfect. The movie was fun. Dinner was amazing. The drive out to the beach had been full of laughter and shared stories. Now they were here, hand in hand strolling on the beach. A simple first date, but yet somehow perfect for her to allow her to come to terms with how she was feeling sharing all of these experiences with her oldest friend. Slowly but surely over the course of the night, she had become smitten by him in a way that made her almost forget their history.

"But yeah... anyway that's my embarrassing story," Jason finished up his tale with a small chuckle. He turned down to see Kimberly smiling. "You didn't catch any of that did you?"

"Hmm? Kimberly responded turning up to him. He just laughed in response.

"What's on your mind?" Jason questioned.

"Oh... no... I was listening," Kimberly defended herself. "It's just..."

She paused not sure how to put into words what she was thinking and feeling. Jason stopped and they turned to face each other.

"I think I get it," Jason said, his eyes searching hers.

"You do?" Kim asked. He nodded. "You sure?"

He didn't respond vocally instead reaching up to brush a hair from her face the persistent ocean breeze had put there. He let his hand linger momentarily feeling the moment swell.

"I've been thinking a lot too," Jason finally broke the silence.

"And?" Kim's posture felt nervous as she shifted her feet slightly.

"I think..." Jason paused. "I think this is going well."

"I do too," Kim replied in kind as she smiled up at him. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze and they continued walking now in the direction of his truck off in the distance.

(****)

Jason lowered the tailgate on his truck. And offered his hand to Kim. She effortlessly made her way up to sit on the tailgate with a cheeky grin.

"Gymnast," Kim said with a wink as she settled into her position on the edge of the truck bed. Jason nodded and smiled. He started to move to sit next to her but hesitated as he took in her appearance. He instead placed his hands on the gate and leaned forward.

"So... Kim," Jason began. Kim watched him as he spoke taking note of his tone. "Would you find it cheesy if I told you how beautiful you are?"

"No... not at all," Kim replied, she felt her cheeks burning slightly. He smiled. "You've told me that before."

"Yeah... but..." He paused and took a breath. "That was then."

"Okay..." Kim found herself hanging on what the next words out of his mouth would be.

"All those times I said that... there was this filter on it..." Jason attempted to explain. "She's your best friend, don't think like that."

"And now?" Kim asked, her hand moving down to rest on top of his.

"Now I want you to know... no filter... that I think you are beautiful," Jason said. "Not just physically... god, that's the obvious part... but you are a beautiful soul, Kim... and I consider myself very lucky to be here with you now."

"Jason," Kimberly felt his words. Almost physically she felt them. She smiled and took him by the hand. She gently led him to stand in front of her his body resting between her legs as they dangled off the tailgate.

"You know..." Kim started speaking her hands coming to rest on his chest. "I didn't know how I would feel when I said yes to this...

Kim made eye contact with him as she continued.

"Can I be honest?" Kim asked. He nodded. "Would it be awkward, could I get past our history, could he?"

Kim felt her face instinctively moving towards his.

"But none of that matters now Jason Scott," Kim stated. "It's not awkward, I love our history... but now I'm just thinking about our present.

His face was now just inches apart from hers.

"I've realized now that sometimes things change... and sometimes... that's exactly what I want," Kim said. Her eyes darted momentarily down to his lips and back up to his eyes. "And right now... in the present, I just want to kiss you."

The words barely left her lips before she moved in to kiss him. The first one gentle and tentative. The second less so.

"I should say... I don't usually kiss on the first date," Kim said as their foreheads rested against each other.

"Me either," Jason replied his lips curling into a smile.

"I have a feeling nothing is going to go like usual with you Jason," Kim replied feeling a wave of excitement and warmth wash over her at her own words.

"I hope not," Jason replied.

With those words, he pulled her up from the truck bed and into his arms returning them into a kiss.