Page 52 of Crossing Between
"That's..." She seemed at a loss for words. "That's incredibly romantic."
I felt my cheeks warm slightly. "Don't sound so surprised."
"Sorry," she laughed. "I just didn't expect this."
"There's a lot about me you don't know yet," I pulled out her chair. "I'm looking forward to showingyou."
As darkness began to slowly fall, the lanterns automatically lit up, bathing the meadow in a soft, golden glow. I unpacked the picnic basket, revealing an assortment of foods I'd had delivered from my favorite Japanese restaurant.
"I hope you like sushi," I arranged the containers on the table.
"I've actually never had it," she rubbed the back of her neck. "But I'm willing to try."
I gasped in mock horror. "Never had sushi? This is a tragedy that must be remedied immediately."
I spent the next hour introducing her to different types of sushi, enjoying her reactions as she discovered new flavors. Her face when she first tried wasabi was particularly memorable. Her eyes widened in shock before she gulped down half her water.
"You could have warned me!" She was still fanning her mouth.
I couldn't stop laughing. "Your face was priceless!"
She threw her napkin at me, but she was laughing too.
As we ate, we talked about everything and nothing. Our childhoods, our dreams, our favorite movies. I told her stories about growing up in Japan, about the festivals and traditions I missed. She shared memories of her parents before they died and how she'd raised her brother while still a child herself.
"Dessert time," After we'd finished the sushi, I pulled out a small container filled with brightly colored mochi.
"These look interesting," she picked up a pink one, examining it curiously.
"Magical mochi," I wiggled my eyebrows mysteriously. "Each one has a different effect."
She raised an eyebrow. "What kind of effect?"
"Nothing dangerous," I assured her. "Just fun. The magic only lasts a few minutes." Well, except for a special one.
She hesitated only briefly before popping the pink one into her mouth. Her eyes widened as the flavor hit her tongue, then widened further as her body suddenly lifted a few inches off her chair.
"I'm floating!" She grabbed the table for balance.
I grinned, delighted by her reaction. "Sakura mochi. Makes you light as air for about two minutes."
Sure enough, after a couple of minutes, she settled back onto her chair, looking amazed. "That was incredible! What do the others do?"
I pushed the container toward her. "Try and find out."
For the next half hour, we sampled the magical mochi, laughing as each one produced a different effect. The blue one made our voices sound like we'd inhaled helium. The green one made us glow softly in the dark. The yellow one created tiny butterflies that fluttered around our heads before disappearing.
The last one, a deep purple, had a more potent effect. As soon as Zoey bit into it, her pupils dilated and a flush spread across her cheeks.
"Oh," she breathed, her voice suddenly husky. "This one feels different."
Heat pooled in my stomach at her tone. "Midnight berry," my own voice dropping lower. "Enhances sensation."
"I see," she licked her lips, her eyes never leaving mine. "And did you bring this one on purpose?"
I held her gaze, not bothering to hide my desire. "Maybe."
The air between us crackled with tension. Slowly, deliberately, I picked up the last purple mochi and bit into it. The effect was immediate. Every nerve ending in my body seemed to awaken, making me acutely aware of the slight breeze on my skin, the scent of her, the way her chest rose and fell with quickened breaths.
