Summer flushed. “Sez you,” she retorted. “I shriek with delight just fine on rides, thank you. Roller coasters first, please?” She pressed forward, pulling him with her. “Let’s make the most of our time in the park, and then we can walk on the beach after.”
“Sounds like a plan.” He laughed a bit and started off with her at a rather quick pace. “And before you say anything, I’m paying for tickets. Got it?” After all, this is a date, right? No one said it was, but… He could hear children screaming in the distance. Good, they were closer than he thought. “You know, I forgot how much more fun vacations are when you’re with someone…”
“Excuse you? Just because you happen to be a famous person with money to burn does not mean you get to spend money on me!” She didn’t even bother to look at him to say it, towing him along, despite her shorter stature and stride. “Only dates get to spend money on me. Everyone else has to pitch in equally.”
He stopped moving for a moment, causing her to jerk a bit on his arm as he was planted firm where he was. “I was under the impression this was a date, dear,” he said simply, looking her dead in the eyes with that slight grin of his. “I mean, it’s cool if it’s not, but…” He shrugged a bit and raised an eyebrow at her. “You’re too cool to just let go like that.”
Summer let go of his hand, wheeling to face him, heedless of anyone around. Her face was burning. “Robert, are you — yes, of course you’re serious.” She stopped, at a loss for what else to say, and just looked, searching his face for some reason, some kind of sense. It felt … very strange, actually looking into the eyes of someone she liked quite a lot, had daydreamed about. Finally, she said, simply, “Thank you.”