As the morning sun streamed through the curtains and hit her eyes,she snuggled closer to Jace. He smiled, he'd been watching her since he woke up and she was undoubtedly the most beautiful woman he has ever met.
He leaned in and gave her a kiss on her forehead. "Morning beautiful"He said. She smiled as she squints her eyes trying to take in the manly presence beside her. "Morning" She replied.
"Hope you slept well?"He asked as he shove a strand of hair off her face. "I did" She replied.
"Me too"He said as he held her chin up and placed a kiss on her lips. She smiled again.
"Today,I'd like to take you around Charlottesville, I want you to see what my childhood was like outside these walls" Jace said.
"It's a date " Amy said. "Yes,a date" He replied smiling at her.
He had never felt this mesmerized by anyone not even his ex. He considered himself lucky taking her picture that day at the park because without that one click of a camera, they wouldn't have been here together.
As they prepared to leave the house, Amy slipped into a beautiful yellow sundress with white flowers, perfectly complementing her bright smile. She paired it with neutral-colored sandals and a simple yet elegant necklace. Her hair was tied up in a loose bun, showcasing her radiant face.
Jace, meanwhile, wore a light-blue button-down shirt with a pair of dark-gray jeans, accentuating his fit physique. His hair was perfectly messy, and his eyes sparkled with excitement as he opened the front door for her.
They decided to take a sleek, black Audi A4, which was parked outside the house. As they settled into their seats, Amy adjusted the air conditioning while Jace started the engine.
Just as they were about to pull out of the driveway, Elizabeth, Jace's mom, appeared at the door, waving goodbye. "Hi, you two! Have a great time today, Don't forget, dinner is at 7!" she reminded them with a warm smile.
Amy and Jace exchanged a sweet glance before waving back at Elizabeth. "We won't forget, Mom!" Jace called out as they pulled away from the house."Bye Elizabeth"Amy said.
As they drove off, Amy turned to Jace and asked, "So, where are we headed first?" Jace grinned. "I want to show you one of my favorite childhood spots."
Their first stop was a quaint little café in the middle of town, where Jace had spent countless hours as a child, sipping hot chocolate and reading books. As they walked in, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee enveloped them, and the friendly barista greeted Jace with a warm smile, recognizing him from his childhood visits.
"How's it going J,it's been a long time" The old barista,Mr Kareem asked.
"Very well Kareem" Jace replied.
"I almost didn't recognize you there,it's nice seeing you again, we've missed you around here" Kareem said.
"Me too,it's nice coming back here"He replied and Kareem nodded.
"This is Amy, my girlfriend "Jace added holding her hand.
"Nice to meet you sir" Amy said with a genuine smile.
"You too miss,glad to have you here,Jace never brought a girl here while growing up,you must really be the lucky one"Kareem said as they smiled.
"As a matter of fact,she is" Jace said smiling back at Amy.
Amy felt her heart skip a beat as he held her hand tighter.
"Would you like your usual?" Kareem asked.
"You still remember that?" Jace asked.
"Espresso with whipped cream and 2 cubes of sugar, I could never forget"Kareem said smiling.
"Correct" Jace replied smiling back.
"What about you Amy?"Kareem asked.
"A macchiato would do" She said .
"It's on the house " Kareem said.
"You don't have to do that" Jace said.
"Don't worry J, I still owe you one after what you did for me" Kareem said genuinely grateful. "This place wouldn't be running today if not for you" Amy smiled. This is what she loved seeing. She was really happy to be with a well respected person.
"Alright if you insist Kareem"
"I insist, go find a seat, it'd be out In a minute"Kareem said scurrying away to get the orders.
As they sipped their coffee and indulged in sweet pastries, Jace regaled Amy with stories of his childhood adventures in Charlottesville. Amy listened with rapt attention, her eyes sparkling with delight.
"As a little kid, Kareem's coffee shop was more than just my favorite place - it was my happy haven. Every time my parents brought me here, I'd excitedly run to the corner table by the window and claim it as my own" He smiled and looked across the shop to his favorite table which was already occupied by a couple and and thier 2 kids.
"Kareem would always greet me with a warm smile and a special treat, like a chocolate-dipped cookie or a sprinkle-topped hot chocolate. Those carefree afternoons sparked my imagination and fueled my love for photography" He stopped as he noticed Amy's smile grow wider. He sees so much admiration in her eyes for him,he wished he could capture this moment.
"I'd look out the window and see a scene worth picturing"He paused again. "As I grew older, Kareem's coffee shop remained my go-to spot. I'd meet friends here to study, grab a quick breakfast before school, or simply enjoy a quiet moment to myself. Kareem's shop was - and still is - my comfort zone, a place where I can always be myself and feel at home."
"That's really beautiful Jace" Amy said as she squeezes his hand with love and he smiles.
"That's not all,we have two other spots before we call it a day" He said.
"Can't wait "Amy beams.
...
Jace smiled as he pulled into the parking lot of the old arcade. "Welcome to my happy place, Amy," he said, his eyes sparkling with nostalgia.
Amy's eyes widened as she took in the neon lights and retro signs. "This place looks amazing!" she exclaimed.
Jace chuckled. "It's a blast from the past. I spent hours here as a kid, playing Pac-Man and Galaga."
Amy raised an eyebrow. "Pac-Man? Isn't that the game with the little yellow circle that eats dots?"
Jace grinned. "That's the one!,And Galaga is a space shooter game – you have to defend against alien invaders."
Amy's eyes lit up. "I love space shooters! Let's play."
"Alright" He said and gets out of the car to open the car door for Amy.
Inside the arcade was just as Jace remembered it. The air filled with the smell of nacho cheese and children playing games and giggling.They got tickets made their way to the classic arcade games, and Jace challenged Amy to a game of Pac-Man.
"I bet I can get a higher score than you," Amy said, her competitive streak showing.
Jace raised an eyebrow. "Oh, yeah? I've been practicing my Pac-Man skills for years."
Amy smirked. "I'm sure your skills are a little... rusty." Amy said raising an imaginary sleeve.
Jace laughed. "We'll see about that."
They played several rounds, their competitive banter filling the air.
"Yes! I got the high score!" Amy exclaimed, pumping her fist in the air.
Jace grinned. "Nice try,I just let you win."
"No,you didn't,I won fair and square" Amy said smiling.
"You know what?,let's play galaga,the winner gets a kiss" Jace said placing his hand on her shoulder.
"It doesn't make any sense, the loser gets a kiss too" Amy pointed out smiling.
"Let's just play, get ready to be kissed cause I know I'll win"Jace said slightly pushing her towards the next game as she giggles.
They moved on to Galaga, where Jace showed off his impressive shooting skills.
"Whoa, you're a natural!" Amy said, watching in awe as Jace destroyed wave after wave of alien invaders.
Jace chuckled. "Thanks, I've had a lot of practice."
Amy playfully rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, you're a Galaga master."
Jace mistakenly missed a point.
"Wow, 750,000 whooping points, that's high" Amy exclaimed.
"I'll like to see you beat that" Jace Said as he imitated dropping a mic and making a funny sound.
"Alright,watch how it's done" Amy said and Proceeds to play.
She was just a few minutes into the game and she lost. "A 180,000 points,you know what that means" He smirked as Amy blushes.
"Come here"He said gently pulling Amy to himself. He brushed her hair aside and looked into her eyes. He wished this moment would last forever. His hand went to her waist as he leaned in. Amy tilted her head to the right smiling as their lips met each other in slow motion. Amy parted her lips as their tongues tangled slowly.
"Get a room you guys" A little boy of about 10 years old said.
Amy and Jace laughed as the boy ran away.
As they played, they shared laughs, jokes, and playful teasing. The funny competitive atmosphere brought them closer together.
After a while, Jace suggested they take a break and grab some snacks from the arcade's café. They walked back to the car with Amy sipping Slurpees and nachos in her hand.
As they settled down in the car, Jace turn to Amy"Thanks for coming here with me," he said, smiling at her. "It means a lot."
Amy smiled back, her eyes shining. "You don't have to thank me,I had a blast," she said. "I can see why this place is so special to you."
"It really is....Alright, 4 more hours before the dinner,let's make a quick stop"He said.
"I'd like that" Amy said as she tries fastening her seat belt.
"Let me help you with that,enjoy your nachos" Jace said as he helped her fasten the belts. Amy smiled as the butterflies in her tummy increased.
Next, Jace took Amy to the nearby Rivanna River, where they strolled hand-in-hand along the scenic trails. The warm sunlight cast a golden glow over the tranquil water, and the sweet songs of birds filled the air.
Amy was enchanted by the charm of the river.
Their leisurely stroll eventually led them to a picturesque spot overlooking the river and they sat down together, watching the river flow gently by.
"I'm so glad I got to share this with you," Jace said, turning to Amy with a tender smile. "This place holds so many special memories for me."
Amy's heart swelled with emotion as she gazed into Jace's eyes. "I'm honored you're sharing it with me," she replied softly.
As they sat there, wrapped in the serenity of the river, Jace leaned in and gently brushed his lips against Amy's. The kiss was soft and sweet, a perfect moment in their blossoming romance. As they withdrew from the kiss,their eyes met and they couldn't stop looking at each other. It was as if time stood still for them.
Amy smiled fluttering her eyes as she breaks of contact. "Alright, tell me about this river" Amy said.
"This river" Jace said, gesturing to the serene water, "This is where I learned to skip rocks with my dad. He'd take me here every summer, and we'd spend hours skipping rocks and watching the sunset." Amy's eyes sparkled with delight, and she leaned in, fascinated but as he mentioned his dad, his countenance changed a bit. Amy noticed but he continued talking immediately to avoid her questions.
Jace's eyes softened, and he took Amy's hand. "We stopped coming here when I was 17 and this became where I used to come clear my head when I was stressed or overwhelmed. I'd sit here for hours and somehow the fresh air and the sound of the river would always calm me down."
Amy squeezed his hand, feeling a deep connection to Jace and the places he'd shared with her.
"It must have been really hard dealing with all these as just a teenager"
"It was but I'm happy I didn't turn out worse"
"Me too" she smiled.
As the sun began to set, casting a warm orange glow over the river, Amy turned to Jace with a gentle smile. "Let's take a picture to remember this moment" She said.
Jace smiles and dips his hand into his pocket for his phone. They held each other as they took a selfie.
Amy's heart swelled with emotion as she looked at the picture and she leaned in, her lips brushing against Jace's in a soft, sweet kiss.