"Partner"
Nick swallowed his last spoonful of blueberry ice cream. "OK, Carrots," he said as he sat with his partner inside Jumbeaux's Café, which was now serving mammals of all sizes and species, "I think it's time for me to tell you why I really asked you to come here."
"Besides it being our lunch break and we always eat together?" Judy licked a drip of strawberry ice cream that was running down her cone. "Hmm. Could it be that the twenty dollars I spent on that popsicle when we first met here has been eating away at you for a while, and you want to clear your conscience by treating me to a treat?"
Nick chuckled. "Twenty dollars?" He pointed his spoon at the bunny. "You are sly. It was only fifteen—you chose not to ask for change." He smiled. "But yes, that's part of the reason. But there's a little more."
"OK," Judy said. "What is it?"
"Well," Nick continued, "I know we've only known each other for a few months, but I think these have been the most exciting months of our lives. I don't deserve your friendship, but I value it more than you'll ever know." He cleared his throat. "That's why when you asked me to become your partner, I jumped at the chance. Now I'd like to ask you to be my partner, and I hope you'll do the same." He started to reach into his shirt pocket as he continued, "Carrots, will you—"
Judy's jaw dropped and her ice cream cone followed. "Yes! Yes!" Her heart raced as she reached across the table for Nick's paw and held it in her own. "Oh, Nick! I can't believe this is happening! Yes! Absolutely yes!"
Nick stared at her for a moment, his eyes wide. He certainly hadn't expected this hopped-up reaction. Maybe "jumped at the chance" was another thing it wasn't wise to say to a bunny. "You all right, Carrots?" he asked as he pulled his paw away. "I was just going to ask you if you wanted to be my partner in the upcoming ZPD charity talent show." He slowly reached into his shirt pocket again for the flyer, which he unfolded and handed to her. "I overheard you singing along to one of Gazelle's songs the other day—you've got a great voice. I play the guitar. I thought we could do a song together." He paused for a moment. "What did you think I was asking you?"