Page 51 of Crossing Between
"Smells amazing," she slid onto a stool at her tiny kitchen counter, watching me work.
"Just wait till you taste it," I winked, flipping the omelet with a flourish.
We ate in comfortable silence, the domesticity of the moment not lost on me. It felt right, being here with her like this. As if we'd been doing it for years rather than days.
After breakfast, I cleared my throat. "So, I was thinking."
"Dangerous," she teased, sipping her coffee.
"Very funny," I rolled my eyes. "I was thinking we should go on that date I mentioned. Today."
Her eyebrows shot up. "Today? But Varon said...?"
"Varon said one of us needs to be with you at all times," I reminded her. "I'm one of us and I'll be with you the whole time."
She hesitated, clearly torn between caution and desire. "Is it safe?"
"I wouldn't suggest it if I thought it wasn't," I reached across the counter to take her hand. "Besides, we can't put our lives on hold indefinitely. The Essencefeaster wants us scared, isolated. Living is the bestrevenge."
A slow smile spread across her face. "Okay. What did you have in mind?"
I grinned, excitement bubbling up inside me. "An oni-style date."
"What exactly does that entail?" She looked both intrigued and slightly worried.
"It's a surprise," I squeezed her hand. "But wear something comfortable. And bring a jacket. We'll be out late."
Her eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Now I'm really intrigued."
"Good," I stood, gathering our plates. "We leave in an hour."
I texted Elias and Varon while Zoey got ready, letting them know my plans. Elias responded with cautious approval. Varon was less enthusiastic, but didn't forbid it outright, which I took as tacit permission.
When Zoey emerged from her bedroom, she wore purple leggings that hugged every curve, a bright teal top with some kind of glittery pattern, and comfortable sneakers. Her hair was pulled into a messy bun, and her smile was eager and excited.
"Ready for adventure?" I offered my arm.
She linked her arm with mine. "Lead the way, oni-man."
I drove us out of the city, taking meandering back roads to avoid the crush of weekend traffic. My car might not have been impressive, but it knew these winding shortcuts like an old friend. Zoey peppered me with questions the entire way, each one more creative than the last as her patience wore thinner.
"Are we going skydiving? Monster hunting? To a secret supernatural fight club?" She leaned toward me, her colorful form practically vibrating with anticipation.
"Patience is a virtue," I replied with exaggerated solemnity, enjoying how her nose scrunched up in frustration. There was something delightful about keeping her in suspense with the way her eyes lit up every time we made a turn, how she studied the passing sceneryfor clues.
Finally, as the sun began its lazy descent toward the horizon, painting the sky in strokes of amber and rose, I turned onto a narrow dirt road that wound through a dense forest. I glanced at Zoey, savoring her expression of wonder as we emerged from the treeline.
Before us stretched a sprawling meadow, tall grasses swaying like a golden sea in the breeze, bathed in the honeyed light of sunset. Wildflowers dotted the landscape in splashes of purple and white. In the center, looking impossibly romantic against the natural backdrop, sat a small table draped in white linen with two elegant chairs. Surrounding this intimate island were hundreds of tiny lanterns placed in careful patterns, currently unlit but promising to transform the space into something magical once darkness claimed the sky.
"You did all this?" Her fingers pressed against the passenger window like a child glimpsing snow for the first time. "What is this place?" Zoey's voice was hushed with wonder as I parked the car.
"My secret spot," I admitted, suddenly feeling a bit vulnerable. "I found it years ago when I first moved here. It reminded me of home."
I led her to the table, which was already set with plates and glasses. A large picnic basket waited beside it.
"A meadow picnic?" Her face lit up with delight.
"An oni-style date," I confirmed. "We believe the best connections happen under the sky, away from the noise and distractions of the world. Just two souls and the universe."
