I'm sorry. I don't own things.

The grass is itchy against the skin of her legs, and Cindy sighs in frustration. This entire thing had been a disaster. Mosquitoes had hunted them despite the bug spray. The heat is sweltering, and flies are buzzing around the light lunch she made. Even though the picnic had been her idea, she is regretting it. Her stomach turns as she pushes the rest of her unfinished sandwich to Jimmy. "Well, I declare this date a dud."

"I disagree, Vortex. I quite like it when you take me to your secret places," he grins at her, his teeth glinting.

"It's not that secret," she hisses, purposefully ignoring his vague double entendre.

"But you came here when you wanted to think, right? It's important to you, so that's the same thing."

"Yeah, when I wanted to get away for a while. I had Tai Chi, but sometimes I craved a little bit of nature to feel the wind on my face. Here, the soft song of the river made me feel like it could also wear away some of my rough edges."

"It is lovely, despite the heat. I'm glad you brought me here," Jimmy adds as he turns to her.

She can't help but notices how the sun kisses his skin, making it almost appear as if he is glowing. Something about the image makes her heart swell. She smiles, lifting his fingers to her mouth, kissing each one in turn. He raises his eyebrows curiously, and she laughs. "What?"

"What are you doing?"

"I felt like kissing you, so I kissed you."

His eyes tilt down to her mouth. She thinks of the strawberries he'd been eating. She wonders if his lips are still sticky with their sweet residue. "Is that so?"

She moves a little closer to him, bringing his hand to her mouth again. Kissing along his palm, then down the sensitive skin of his inner wrist. His pulse is so pronounced it's as if she can taste it. Desire awakens in her, wicked sharp and almost alive. With regret, she tampers it down softly, with a promise of later.

"Cindy," he whispers, and when she looks up into his eyes, she can see into him. The sharp edges that match hers, and his gentleness and bravery.

"I love you," the words she'd tried so many times to pry from her soul flow out of her like honey. She's confused until she realizes he had held the key the entire time but hadn't used it until this moment.

"You do?" His question is soft and a little tentative.

"Yes."

His answering grin is as bright as the sun as he says, "I love you too."

Then he leans forward and kisses her. With joy, she notes that he tastes like strawberries and Purple Flurp.