Strings Attached / J. Kirstein

41

You perched on the passenger seat, fingers nervously tapping your lap, while Jean cruised through the quiet summer roads with his usual calm grin.

"So... you ready for this surprise?" he asked, one hand casually resting on the steering wheel, the other drumming a light rhythm against his knee.

"Uh... I think so," you said, trying to sound casual while your heart thumped a little too fast. "You didn't really give me any hints."

Jean laughed softly, glancing at you from the corner of his eye. "Where's the fun in that? A little mystery keeps things exciting."

You nodded, tugging at the hem of your top, your mind spinning. Maybe he'll finally... maybe he'll ask me to be his girlfriend today.

But you quickly shoved the thought down, not wanting to jinx it. "Exciting," you murmured, hoping it didn't sound like too much longing.

Jean parked in front of a small, lively boardwalk buzzing with summer energy—light strings of bulbs swaying in the breeze, the distant smell of saltwater and fried dough, the hum of carnival rides in the background.

"Boardwalk!" you exclaimed, hopping out of the car. "I haven't been to one of these in forever."

Jean smirked, following you. "Thought you could use a little fun after all that studying and... surviving summer boredom."

You felt your cheeks warm at the teasing tone, and you noticed he was subtly watching you as you scanned the scene. That quick glance—those brown eyes flicking to you—made your chest tighten in a way that left you dizzy with anticipation.

"You're awfully quiet," he said after a moment, elbowing you lightly. "Thinking about something?"

You shrugged, playing it cool. "Just... trying to decide where to start."

Jean grinned, looping an arm around your shoulder as you walked along the boardwalk. "Start wherever you want. This whole night is about you. Sort of."

"Sort of?" you repeated, raising an eyebrow.

"Okay, mostly you," he admitted, laughing softly. "But I might be a little distracted, too."

You rolled your eyes, heart pounding. Distracted? You mean by me? The thought made your stomach flip in both excitement and nerves. You kept silent, just smiling.

The two of you wandered from booth to booth, trying your luck at the ring toss, sharing fried dough, and laughing as Jean deliberately fumbled some of the games just to see you giggle. He let you win most of the small prizes, handing you a slightly deflated stuffed animal.

"I think this is... perfect," you said softly, holding it up.

Jean leaned closer, brushing a strand of hair from your face. "Perfect because you're happy," he said, voice low, teasing. "Not because of the stuffed animal, though... that's just an added bonus."

Your chest tightened again, and you felt a flutter in your stomach. Every small touch, every glance, made you hope a little more that tonight would be the night he asked you to be his girlfriend.

But as the sun dipped lower, painting the sky in streaks of orange and pink, Jean continued to flirt and tease, keeping the night playful and fun but never crossing into "official."

You tried to hide your tiny pang of disappointment. Maybe he's waiting... maybe he wants to surprise me later.

He pulled you over to a small boardwalk stage, where a local musician strummed an acoustic guitar. "Dance with me," Jean said suddenly, offering his hand with that infuriatingly charming smirk.

You laughed and took it, letting him twirl you a little, the lights reflecting in your eyes, and the warmth of his hand in yours making your heart race.

"You know," he said, voice soft as he pulled you close just a bit, "I could get used to nights like this."

Your heart skipped. Yes... maybe tonight...

But the moment passed as he grinned, pulling back slightly to point out a game across the boardwalk. "C'mon, I want to see if you can beat me at that claw machine."

You laughed, chasing him across the wooden planks, your mind swirling with excitement, nerves, and hope.

Jean may not have said the words you were hoping for tonight, but the way he looked at you, the small touches, the teasing and laughter... it was enough to keep you floating.

And deep down, you knew... the night wasn't over yet.