A Date

"Here we are ...." Marco said as he steered the car towards the park. I looked at him from where I was sitting. He looked back at me, a small smile on his lips.

"What place is this?" I asked, feeling quite curious.

Marco's smile seemed to grow more enthusiastic. "It's my favorite place in the whole world. Want to come in?" he asked as he opened my door.

I nodded, infected by his enthusiasm.

"Come on, then." He extended his hand to me, which I gladly took.

I stared at him for quite a while, unconsciously showing him a hesitant face.

"Wonder what's wrong?" he asked.

I shrugged my shoulders. "Nothing... it's just that I think the words "your favorite place" and "park" are not something that can be combined."

My heart throbbed as he laughed very softly. "Trust me ...."

As we walked towards the park, I started to feel my body warm up with excitement. It felt like I was stepping into a different world.

"Do you like it?" Marco asked, rubbing my hand with his thumb.

"Yeah... I've never been to a place like this before. It's very peaceful and beautiful," I replied.

"I'm glad you like it."

We walked around for a while, talking about what had happened over the past two days until we came to a very beautiful spot. Some people were sitting on a bench close to the lake. Children played in the grass. The soft rustling of the leaves and the sound of laughter in the distance created a calm atmosphere that seemed to envelop us warmly. Marco and I found an empty bench to sit on, facing the calm lake and the playing children. The man closed his eyes briefly, as if lost in the moment. His words echoed in my mind, and I couldn't help but appreciate the depth of our connection (even though it had only been a short while). We sat in comfortable silence, absorbing the peaceful atmosphere around us.

After a while, Marco turned to me and said, "You know, I wanted to share this place with you because it has special meaning to me." As long as he spoke, I was immersed in his gray eyes that were not as cold as usual. "And now, this place feels even more special with you here."

"Why is this place special to you?" I asked.

"My mom," he replied, pausing for a moment. "I have many memories with my mom here."

I smiled warmly at him, feeling how grateful I was to be included in such an intimate part of his life. "Thank you for bringing me here. It's a wonderful place."

We continued our conversation, sharing stories, dreams, and thoughts. Marco finally stopped talking when my stomach suddenly rumbled. My cheeks flushed, he laughed, I punched his arm.

Marco chuckled as he rubbed his punched arm. "I think that's our cue to rest and refuel," he said with a smile. "Breakfast sounds like a fantastic idea."

We both got up from the bench, stretching our legs after sitting down. Sunlight danced on the surface of the water as we walked back to the park entrance. Marco's hand found mine naturally, and the simple gesture brought warmth to my heart.

As we walked out of the park, I couldn't help but catch a glimpse of Marco. The park seemed to be the perfect backdrop for us to connect on a deeper level.

We arrived at a nearby cafe, the smell of freshly brewed coffee and pastries wafting through the air. The atmosphere was cozy and welcoming, with a few people chatting over breakfast and sipping their drinks. We found a table by the window. Marco held out a menu for me to read. "Take your pick," he said with amused eyes.

I glanced at the menu. "How about pancakes?" I suggested with a smile.

"Good choice," Marco replied, motioning for a waiter to take our order.

While waiting for our orders to arrive, our conversation flowed easily. The more we talked, the more I found our relationship enjoyable. The side of Marco that was currently so pleasant, made me momentarily forget the other side of Marco.

When our order came, the pancake looked so delicious, garnished with maple syrup and powdered sugar. I ate it with great relish, not bothering to offer Marco, who was in a romantic relationship, a capucino of his own. I savored every bite and occasionally exchanged glances with Marco that led to our shared laughter.

After I finished eating (and just a drink for Marco), he leaned back in his chair with a satisfied face. "So, what do you think of this breakfast place?"

I grinned, feeling a sense of excitement. "Well, I appreciate your efforts to be romantic. I like it."

He growled slightly. "I'm not trying to be romantic." Then laughed along with me.

We paid the bill and headed back to the car. Our bellies were full and our spirits were high. It was still early, and I couldn't wait for whatever adventure awaited us next. As we drove away from the café, I glanced at Marco. A sense of anticipation and excitement rose within me. However, it didn't last long. I noticed Marco's expression change.

"What's wrong?" I asked, realizing he was starting to go into alert mode.

"We were found."

"Wh-what... oh, for God's sake!" I delayed digesting his words for a moment, until I finally realized something. Marco's alert expression; the tension in his hands holding the steering wheel; the deserted road... my fairy-tale princess's life was over here. First rule: don't look back. "What are your plans this time?"

"Nothing."

"Are you joking in such a situation?"

"Nothing yet," he retorted, as if that would change anything. "Just act normal. They don't seem to know yet that we're aware of being followed."

I didn't know what to do. I just sat quietly, waiting for his instructions. His hand reached out to open the dashboard drawer. I heard him swear under his breath before muttering something about Isaac and gun.

I screamed when a black car from the front suddenly changed lanes and blocked our path. Marco's right hand stretches out in front of my chest as he brakes suddenly. My heart seemed to stop for a moment. Marco's movements were quick as he opened the dashboard drawer again, picked up something in his grasp, then stuffed it into his pants.

"I'm sorry, Darling."

0209’23, Anne Joyce

Hiii! Please leave comments!

You can great me at:

Instagram: @author_annejoyce

Facebook: Anne Joyce

Email: annejoyce1402@gmail.com