"Beautiful."
I smiled and watched Alex take the photo out of the camera. "How have you not run out of film yet? How much did you bring?"
"Like half of my monthly salary's worth," she said with a chuckle. "We're tourists, so we're supposed to act like it."
Though I was only joking around, I genuinely appreciated her devotion to preserving the day through the lens of the camera, entrusted to us by Benji himself. It felt as if she was bottling up moments and letting us relive, to the best of her ability, that warm spring evening and the smiles that shone bright that day. It was a beautiful gesture.
"Would you make fun of me if I said I've never traveled?" I confessed, feeling almost sheepish. "I haven't been in another city besides Toronto before."
"Really? How so?"
"We didn't travel much, my family. We occasionally spent weekends in the countryside where Chris' ex-wife had this small house. Or my dad would take me camping in the mountains. I don't think we felt the need to go beyond that."
Soft curiosity sparkled in her eyes. "Is there anywhere you would really want to go?"
"I don't know. I mean, probably those places that most people go to. Honestly, I'm not even sure what—" I groaned as breathlessness tainted my words. "Alex, do you have somewhere to be?"
She spun to me with a laugh. "No?"
"Then why do you always walk so fast? As soon as I take your hand, you start dragging me like you're late for something."
"Who was it that insisted on walking everywhere? Not me."
"I might be regretting it right now." I sighed. "I think I wore the wrong boots, and now I have blisters."
She immediately stopped and pulled her phone out. "Why didn't you say anything? Let's head back to the car then."
As I wasn't one for planning, Alex had taken charge of navigation for the day, choosing the destinations she had her heart set on. But as we strolled around, we discovered places that led us to take slight detours. The day flowed naturally, from spontaneity to purposeful direction, exhaustive yet utterly heartening.
Montreal was the kind of place that begged to be explored one step at a time. The stunning buildings, the picturesque cobblestone streets that crisscrossed, and the breathtaking landscapes that seemed to have flown straight out of a postcard. Each step offered something exciting, like a lot of French people. My ears were immensely enjoying our trip.
As soon as Alex caught wind of the direction we had to go in, she slung her backpack off her shoulders and handed it over, turning her back to me. And when she tilted forward, extending her arms, I couldn't help the wide grin that spread.
"All of a sudden, I'm glad I wore these boots." I chuckled and hopped onto her back. "Ah, yes, carry me. You're like a donkey."
Huffing, she adjusted me to a comfortable position, but the stifled laughter beneath her words was unmistakable. "Call me that again, and the donkey might just dump you into that garbage container over there."
Only a few paces in, and quite unexpectedly, she burst into a spontaneous sprint and sent my laughter to new heights. And though our antics garnered some curious looks from the people on the street, we were too wrapped up in our own little bubble to care. I was having the time of my life and, as ever, could not get enough.
Every muscle in my cheeks and stomach had been working overtime all day long, begging for a pause. But this was Alex. Nothing suggested a pause was in order with her, and she had me in stitches. It had long become abundantly clear where Benji got his boundless energy from.
Feeling myself losing balance, a hearty yell escaped, mingling with laughter. "Alex, stop! I'm slipping!"
"You're not," she reassured, holding me tighter. "I've got you."
When something seized my attention, I put my hand over her eyes to bring our dash to an abrupt halt. "Do you want me to run into a pole?" Alex groaned. "I'd prefer to make it home without a concussion, thank you very much."
"Put me down, you crazy person!" I laughed. "Let's go inside here."
Alex merely grinned as she freed me and reclaimed her bag. Hand in hand, we stepped into the vintage thrift store that had piqued my interest with its eclectic decor and charming ambiance. And judging from Alex's fashion sense, it also appeared very much in her alley.
"If I look at something for more than five seconds, feel free to kick me," she said, reinforcing my suspicion. "I have too many clothes as it is. But my wardrobe is starting to shrink, seeing how you keep stealing."
I scoffed. "Says the one wearing my pants."
"And who was so kind and tailored them for you in the first place? That gives me certain privileges."
With feigned innocence, I cast aside any semblance of comprehension of her words. Instead, I made a beeline for the jewelry section, humming to myself and eagerly dragging her along in my search.
After a few moments, she made a frustrated noise and pulled me to a halt. "What are you looking for?"
"I want to get you something."
"You really don't have to," she protested, but I turned a deaf ear and examined her tattooed hand, prompting a chuckle. "And what on earth are you doing now?"
"Trying to figure out how fat your fingers are. Can I buy you a ring?"
A dramatic raise of an eyebrow followed. "Isn't it a bit too soon to be putting a ring on me?"
I smiled and shrugged vaguely. "I just know how much you love jewelry. And since you can't wear earrings, it's between rings, necklaces, and bracelets. But there are no pretty necklaces here, and you already have a bracelet you haven't taken off in months."
"Why would I? I love it," she said, admiring the beaded one on her wrist. "And you still wear yours."
"I'm not kidding when I say I'll be considered a hoarder soon. I shouldn't have told Benji I like pretty rocks because now I have a box under my bed that keeps getting heavier."
"I've been there." Alex snickered. "Had to force some sentimentality out of me and declutter."
One of the rings instantly caught my eye, an antique-looking one that would undoubtedly complement her collection. "So?" I simpered. "I know you already have a million of them, but I really want to get you one."
She heaved a resigned sigh. "As long as it isn't expensive."
I slid off the ring she already had on her middle finger and replaced it with the new one that fit perfectly. "How's that? You like it?"
Alex spared it but a fleeting glance, her gaze anchored to mine, lips curled into an enchanting smile. "I love it."
"Okay, listen," I whispered, drawing close to her. "I'm gonna make a scene, and you make a break for it and don't look back, got it?"
A playful spark ignited as she met my whisper with a murmur of her own, "But what if I want to stick around for your performance?"
"Then you're no fun."
"I'm lots of fun," she purred. "And you know it."
With a swallowed breath, I retreated a step. It wasn't the setting to let her playful jabs frustrate me. Alex offered one more impish smirk before walking away, probably to look at the clothes. I meandered over to pay.
However, when I tried to find her after, she seemed to have vanished into thin air. I lingered outside, pacing about for a good five minutes until it dawned on me that I owned a phone. But she reemerged soon enough, slightly out of breath.
"When I told you to make a break for it, I didn't mean it literally," I teased. "We're here to relax, not to run a marathon."
Unfazed by my comments, Alex retrieved a little cardboard box from her jacket. "For the blisters," she said before leading me to a bench close by. "And here's an extra pair of socks. That should help."
Never in my life had I felt so grateful for a pack of blister plasters and socks. "Looks like someone wants to be relieved of their donkey duties."
"Sorry, no free rides today."
After pulling my boots back on, I scoffed and fished the ring out of my pocket. "Free?"
My initial plan had been straightforward—to merely slide it onto her finger and get on with the day. But an inner whisper nudged me to say something. Something honest, something from the heart.
"Your face got all weird." Alex deadpanned. "You're about to be sappy."
"Actually, I was thinking about completely inappropriate, but I can be sappy as well," I stalled, attempting to gather my scattered thoughts. For some reason, I felt oddly nervous. I even had to double-check if I somehow hadn't gotten down on one knee. "This is yours now. It doesn't have to mean anything, but if it does, I want you to know that I love you so much. More than I ever thought possible. And I promise to keep giving you more reasons to keep it."
My words seemed banal even to my own ears, simple and cliché, but her ensuing smile was pure alchemy that turned my doubts into gold. We simply stared at each other, not knowing what else to do. But then I realized that I was still holding the ring and, without hesitation, let it find its home on her finger.
When I lifted my eyes and discerned the tears forming in hers, a puckish urge took over. "Um, and as long as you wear this," I added, "I promise to give you the best orgasms."
Her mock pout instantly turned into a straight line that struggled to stifle laughter. "We're in the middle of the street!" she hissed and poked me in the chest. "Did you see the look that lady just gave you?"
"It looked like she was jealous, if you ask me."
"She better be. I'd be jealous of myself, too," Alex said with a sweet smile, relenting. "Thank you, Kay. It's stunning."
I clasped her hand and gave it a squeeze. "Still not as beautiful as you."
As expected, she glanced away—a familiar response to my flattery. "How did it get so dark already?"
I smiled, always finding her deflection endearing. "Let's go grab some food?"
"I'm craving a good burger, or a crappy one. I don't care. I'm starving."
"Lead the way. I haven't had a burger in years."
Just as quickly, another hour passed beneath our feet, leading us back to the car with a bag of fast food in hand. We kicked off our shoes, cleaned ourselves up, and settled in the backseat for a much-needed break.
I couldn't help but laugh at us. "Didn't we come here so we wouldn't have to hide? And here we are, eating in the back of your car."
"I'd rather sit here, with you," she said softly, stretching her legs on my lap. "But a restaurant would've had more legroom."
"I think the idea was more appealing than the actuality of it. And at least we washed our feet. I don't think I'd be this hungry if we hadn't."
"You've got sauce on your cheek," she said with a mouthful before bringing her foot up. "Right there."
My recoil nearly sent the food tumbling to the floor, triggering peals of her laughter. "That doesn't mean you have to put them in my face!" I feigned revulsion as I dabbed at my cheek with a napkin. "I know I did an awesome job with your pedicure, but no need to rub it in. Literally."
"Oh, don't be so dramatic." Alex pouted. "It's just a foot."
"Disgusting."
"You're disgusting."
Nightfall slipped in silently, its arrival quiet and almost stealthy. The heavens above painted deep obsidian, and the city became the sole source of illumination, hugging us in its amber and dissolving into each of Alex's features. And with each ticking second, her yawns grew more frequent.
"Let's go find a hotel?" I suggested. "Or I can drive us home, so we don't go broke at this rate."
Alex glanced at her watch, as if to silently plead for its hands to slow down and the night to last a little longer. "I don't want to." She shook her head, warding off the impending slumber. "I don't want this day to end."
"Then it looks like someone is in need of a large dose of caffeine."
Her expression turned pensive. "We do have to drive for three hours though," she mused aloud. But without missing a beat, she pulled her boots on and stepped out of the backseat. "And that's a problem for later."
The otherwise noisy city seemed so quiet as the once-teeming crowds had thinned, and the few people left shared the streets with us in respectful silence. Our aimless stroll unknowingly retraced old steps, leading us into a beautiful square we had already visited, framed by historical buildings and trees. All of it, it was the perfect escape.
We had run away from the world, from any prying eyes, and carved out a secret space to treasure each other uninhibited. And though it was only for a brief day, it was all I needed. Just us beneath a starry blanket and the city at our feet. It was a place of contentment, where we found peace in our own little corner, where love and blissful ignorance reigned.
As we found a cozy spot on one of the benches, I had anticipated staying quiet and simply enjoying the scenery and the moment. But Alex piqued my curiosity. A thought seized her, causing her hand to slip from mine before she rummaged through her bag.
Mirroring her cross-legged position, I watched her take out the photos we had snapped throughout the day and lay them out between us. Each captured memory breathed life—the beautiful city, the people, and the emotions we shared. All beautifully represented, as though time had paused only for us.
When every photo had been placed, Alex delved into her bag again. "We can put them in here," she said while handing me a photo album and a glue stick. "Don't mind the cover. It was the only one they had, and I was in a hurry. I can buy a prettier one later. But for now, that can be ours."
My eyes beheld the album and its empty pages, a prolonged stare that tangled with the sweet yet sudden rush of surprise and the emotions rising within. It was the essence of it all that caught my heart—the tenderness, the sincerity that always underscored her affection, the care in her gesture. The memories already made and all those that were yet to come.
It was not just about the memories themselves, but the act of choosing to preserve them, to hold them close. Every page of her own albums spoke volumes of her dedication, and the idea of one crafted just for us brought tears to my eyes. It felt like a vow, like laying down the foundation for a future. A commitment to cherish and remember, to keep adding to our story.
With a playful sigh, I swiped away the lone tear trickling down my cheek. "You're getting too good at making me cry."
There was that same shimmer in her eyes. "Consider it payback because I'm really starting to embarrass myself here," she muttered. "I feel like I've been on my period for two months straight."
"Well, that's romantic," I joked. "Such a softie."
"Shut up." Alex was giggling before I even finished my sentence. "Seriously, what in the world have you done to me? I love you so much."
Every utterance of those sweet words from her awakened a flurry of butterflies in my stomach. We didn't say it often. I had learned that it wasn't just a three-word phrase to her. She held our I love yous sacred, a sentiment created with utmost vulnerability and sincerity, only voiced when she was entirely conscious of its meaning, when the accumulated emotions could not be contained. For with words, power can wane with excess, but meaning be lost with scarcity. And in such precious moments, I knew she was baring her soul to me.
"I love you too," I said, noticing how her eyes always lit up when she heard it. For endless moments, I admired her smile and the curves of her face, the beauty of her hair, and that endearing innocence of her soul that sometimes escaped in subtle senses, more often lately. And I found myself wondering what I ever did to deserve such privilege to call her mine. "For how long have you known?"
Tender affection filled her eyes, a little wet, gazing at me as if traveling back in time to pinpoint the moment. "There were many moments and many passing thoughts over the months," she finally spoke, "but the one that stuck with me was on the day right after your date with Benjamin. He was telling me all about it, and I'm not kidding when I say he talked for like an hour, repeating the same stuff again and again. Then you came over, doing that little song you always do with the knocks before coming inside. He instantly leaped from the bed and bolted to you. You just started singing some random song with him, tickled him to his room, and stayed there for the whole evening until I called you both for dinner. I don't think you even said hi to me."
I raised a questioning brow. "You realized you loved me when I didn't pay you any attention?"
"No, I realized that I love you because of how happy you make us both. You always include him in everything and don't even think twice about it. It means the world to me, and I really love that about you. How you always go the extra mile and have this way of making people feel appreciated. It's so beautiful to watch, and to feel. So yeah, that's when I knew for sure."
Determined not to cry, I let out a sarcastic sigh instead. "And here I was, thinking that it was the sex."
"No, I already knew. But if I hadn't, I'm sure you would've made me fall pretty damn quick that night."
"That good, huh?"
She fixed me with a teasing glare. "You'll get a big head, so I won't be giving you any reviews."
"I think I get enough of those reviews during the heat of the moment anyway."
"No comment." She went to throw her head to the side but stopped, her eyes chasing mine. "And when did you know?"
I took a moment to think before realizing the answer was more complicated than I initially thought. "I don't think there was one exact moment," I tried to explain. "Some strange realization came that day when you were in Toronto. Soph brought it up, and I kind of freaked out. But honestly, it feels like I've always held some love for you, like a platonic one, but then it turned into something more. Oh, but I remember feeling a little funnier when you came out of your bedroom with the birthday cake."
"Oh, yeah. I think I did, too. But then you attacked me, left a bruise on my ass, and lost some of that love," she said with mock annoyance. "You really have a knack for giving me limps."
I groaned. "Stop being dramatic. It's not like I do it on purpose."
"Okay, okay. I still remember how much my stomach hurt. I don't think I had laughed that hard in years."
"And stop being so repetitive! You've said that sentence a hundred times already."
"But it's the truth!" she protested. "With you, I've laughed more than I ever have in my entire life, and I've never felt this calm. I'm not sure if I can even put it into words."
"You can try. I'd like to hear."
A deep breath entered her precious lungs, as if preparing for a deeper conversation. "Sometimes I still feel like I'm in some kind of a dream, like I'm floating in a bubble where nothing can touch me," she explained, a sweet smile playing on her lips. "I used to stress about everything from the second I opened my eyes in the morning, but with you, I've started focusing more on my own feelings and my life in general, on living in the present. I had grown out of it during the last years, but now, I feel like there's a great balance between everything. You always remind me to relax whenever I get too caught up in work or my goals, you make me talk about what I'm feeling, like right now, and you always make sure to ease any fears or doubts I have."
An all too familiar warmth streamed through my veins. "It's the same for me, but, in a way, the opposite," I mused aloud. "I've always been so unsure about everything, not exactly caring about the future. But you remind me to focus on my goals, to work toward them. And now, there are so many things I'm sure about in my life. I feel so grounded with you, but in the most perfectly balanced way, if that even makes sense. I don't know if I ever would've taken myself seriously if it weren't for you."
She sighed in contentment. "I can't even remember what I was so scared of. I guess I just never thought it could be so easy. Oh, and I still can't believe you managed to make me like apple pie, of all things."
That made me laugh. "What?"
"Yeah, I probably should've told you earlier that I hate those. But yours were great."
"Alex, you just took me to like five museums, and I enjoyed every second of it. I even enjoy grading papers." I shook my head, feigning disapproval. "You've messed me up real good."
She gazed at me for a moment longer before whipping out the camera. And as I braced myself for the flash, it wasn't even necessary to think about smiling. It was already there, stretched across my face without any conscious effort.
Once the blinding light faded, I snatched the camera from her, eager to capture the moment from my own perspective. Peering through the viewfinder, I saw her beautiful smile first—a constant fixture on her face. She was utterly lovely.
"Did I tell you how absolutely gorgeous you look today?" I was unable to contain my admiration. "I love that outfit, and you look stunning. I still have no idea how you do that."
That exact moment when the words penetrated her consciousness was obvious. Her once confident smile took on a shade of endearing bashfulness, accompanied by a subtle shift of her gaze. And that's when I clicked the camera. I was always captivated by that, by how unaware she was of her own reaction.
"Yeah," her voice dipped to a soft murmur, "you've said that at least ten times today."
"And every single time, you blush like it's the first time you've heard it."
Clearly, she couldn't help but crack a smile. "I do not."
"You're not even looking at me anymore," I teased, drawing her eyes back to mine. "Yup, as red as a tomato."
"Okay, fine, I like it," she relented with a diffident chuckle. "You know, I think you might be the only one besides my own family and drunk men that has said the word beautiful to me. At least in the way you say it."
I scrunched up my forehead. "That can't be true. There's absolutely no way."
"It was always something sexual," she mused, a thoughtful sigh slipping past. "To be fair, I wasn't looking for anything romantic, so it was probably my fault. And it was all meaningless anyway, so I don't care."
"Don't blame yourself for that. The problem is that people need to learn to appreciate things more," I remarked. "Like, come on. Look at yourself. The moment I saw you, I swear you could've asked me to bark for you, and I would've gotten on my hands and knees without a second thought."
She laughed, and my heart jumped at the sound. Such a beautiful kind of feeling—an inexplicable one that made my love for her grow more profound and all-encompassing with every beat.
With a light touch, she reached for my hand and pressed her lips to my knuckles, before shifting our focus to the photographs spread out before us. A silence of innate appreciation settled as every beautiful frame found its place in the album. Even the candid shots, where I was clumsily caught mid-sentence, mouth agape.
I had found them unflattering at first, until Alex mentioned that she also wanted to remember certain conversations. It was incredibly endearing, her dedication to safeguarding even the most minor details of our time. I could see right in front of me us for who we were, and who we were together. Happy, close, and each someone in the other's life.
Hours disappeared in conversation, and when words grew weary, I would simply lay my head on her lap and stare into the sky. Even the drive home, though sleepy, was a happy time. The morning rays of the sun, the karaoke that kept us awake, the endless laughter, and her random ideas that I could never deny. She might've not known it, but she was giving me some of the happiest hours of my life.