Chapter 6 – The Park Date
446 Words
The driving lesson ended with neither of us dead, which I counted as a major win.
Naturally, I decided to reward Kael with something peaceful and low-risk: a stroll in the park.
I forgot that Kael’s definition of “peaceful” was still… different.
We parked near the entrance, and Kael immediately stopped to stare at the big oak trees swaying in the breeze.
“This is… pleasant,” he admitted. “The air is cleaner here. The sounds softer.”
“That’s the point,” I said, smiling. “Parks are for relaxing.”
He tilted his head at a family having a picnic on the grass. “They’re eating outside… on purpose?”
“Yes.”
“…Mortals are strange.”
We followed a winding path, Kael keeping just close enough that I could feel the warmth radiating off him.
Every so often, he’d point at something and whisper questions like we were on a secret mission.
“Why does that man have his dog on a rope?”
“It’s a leash.”
“Is it for safety, or does the dog control him?”
We reached a pond where ducks floated lazily across the water.
Kael crouched at the edge, frowning. “They have such tiny wings. Can they truly fly?”
“Yes, Kael. They’re ducks.”
He studied one intensely until it flapped away, then gave a low whistle. “Respect.”
We bought ice cream from a little cart—mine strawberry, his vanilla swirl.
Kael examined his cone suspiciously before taking a tentative lick. His eyes widened. “Cold… sweet… and temporary. I approve.”
Then the ice cream dripped onto his hand and he stared at it in horror.
“It’s melting! It’s dying!”
“It’s supposed to,” I said, laughing. “Eat faster.”
We found a bench in the shade. Kael stretched his legs out, looking uncharacteristically calm.
After a moment, he said quietly, “This is… different. Where I’m from, there’s no place like this. No stillness. No moments you want to keep forever.”
Something in my chest tightened. “Guess that’s a perk of the mortal world.”
He glanced at me, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Maybe the best perk is who I’m sharing it with.”
I looked away quickly, pretending to watch the ducks again. My cheeks were on fire.
When we finally headed back to the car, Kael reached out and brushed a strand of hair from my face.
“You have a leaf in your hair, darling,” he murmured, though I was pretty sure there wasn’t one.
Smooth. Infuriatingly smooth.
- Writer
