The sun had barely dipped below the horizon when Kaia and Jared left the gym. Jared had insisted on taking her out to unwind after a long day, and despite her initial protests, Kaia eventually agreed.
"I still don't know why I let you talk me into this," Kaia said, glancing at him as they walked down the city's main street.
"Because I promised ice cream," Jared replied with a grin, his hands stuffed in his jacket pockets.
Kaia rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress her smile.
---
Their first stop was a small ice cream stand tucked into the corner of a bustling plaza. Strings of fairy lights hung above, casting a warm glow on the cobblestone streets.
Jared ordered a double scoop of chocolate and caramel swirl, while Kaia chose a strawberry cheesecake cone.
"You eat that like a damn kid!" Kaia teased, watching Jared lick his cone with exaggerated enthusiasm.
"It's called enjoying life." Jared retorted. "You should try it sometime."
Kaia snorted, taking a delicate bite of her cone. "I'll stick to my own methods, thanks dumbass."
As they strolled through the plaza, Kaia suddenly pointed at Jared. "Hey, you've got a little something—"
"Where?" Jared asked, wiping his face clumsily.
Kaia laughed, leaning closer and swiping at his cheek with a napkin. "Honestly, you're worse than a toddler."
---
The next stop was a small Italian restaurant Kaia had mentioned in passing weeks ago. Jared, ever observant, remembered and led her there without a word.
"You planned this?" Kaia asked, raising an eyebrow as they were seated at a cozy table by the window.
Jared shrugged. "Figured you deserved a break."
Kaia softened, her teasing smile giving way to something more genuine.
They ordered a simple meal. pasta for Kaia and a massive pizza for Jared. As they ate, their conversation flowed naturally. They talked about everything from gym repairs to their favorite childhood memories.
"You've got marinara sauce on your chin," Kaia said, shaking her head.
Jared smirked. "Are you just going to spend the night cleaning me up?"
"Apparently, yeah? Dumbass." Kaia replied with mock exasperation, tossing him a napkin.
---
After dinner, Jared suggested they take a ferry ride. The docks were alive with activity, the boats lit up like floating lanterns against the dark water.
Kaia leaned against the railing, the cool breeze tugging at her hair. Jared stood beside her, gazing out at the city skyline.
"This is... nice," Kaia admitted, her voice almost drowned out by the sound of the waves.
"Yeah," Jared agreed, his usual boisterous demeanor replaced by quiet contentment.
For a while, they simply stood there, lost in the moment. Kaia eventually broke the silence.
"You've changed, you know."
Jared turned to her, surprised. "What do you mean?"
"You're... softer. Not in a bad way," Kaia said quickly. "Just... more thoughtful. You weren't like this when we first met."
Jared chuckled. "yet, you're still the girl who's rude, that's a check on my list."
Kaia smiled but didn't reply.
---
Their final stop of the night was the local theme park, its neon lights visible from miles away.
Kaia's eyes lit up as they walked through the gates, the sounds of laughter and carnival music filling the air. "I haven't been to one of these in years!"
"Then we've got a lot to make up for," Jared said, grabbing her hand and leading her to the nearest ride.
They started with the Ferris wheel, the city stretching out beneath them as they reached the top. Kaia pointed out landmarks while Jared pretended to be terrified of the height, earning a smack on the arm.
Next, they tried their luck at the carnival games. Jared managed to win a giant stuffed bear on his first try, much to Kaia's amazement.
"Did you cheat?" she accused, eyeing him suspiciously.
Jared grinned, handing her the bear. "I'm just that good."
---
As the night wore on, they found themselves sitting on a bench near the carousel. Kaia hugged the stuffed bear, her cheeks pink from the chilly air.
"Thanks for tonight," she said softly.
Jared glanced at her, his usual grin replaced by a sincere smile. "Anytime."
They sat in comfortable silence, the sounds of the theme park fading into the background. For the first time in a long while, everything felt... perfect...
End of Chapter 15