"Where are we going?" I asked.
"I can't tell you. It's a surprise." Mike rolled his eyes.
"Seaport Village?" I asked, surprised.
"You've been here before?" He stopped walking.
"No, no. I've just hear about it." I said.
He resumed his pace. "Good. Austin said you hadn't."
"You called Austin?" I asked again, even more surprised.
"Yeah. I was making sure you had never been here before." Mike shrugged.
I smiled. "That is the most adorable thing ever."
Mike laughed. "You think I'm adorable?"
"Yeah, I definitely do." I grinned as he took my hand.
"I can't believe you've never been here before. This place is such a tourist trap." He said.
"You're not a tourist." I pointed out.
"Isn't that what you do on dates? Tourist shit that you would never do if you weren't trying to impress a girl?" He replied.
"True. What do you do here?" I pondered.
"Shop. Eat. The usual, you know?"
"Sure, sure. Once when I was little, my family went to Mexico and I got a puppet. It was a poodle puppet." I said.
He stared at me. "A poodle."
"I thought about it because this place looks like where I got the puppet." I laughed.
"Why don't you ever talk about them?" Mike asked.
"Because they're assholes. They say that young ladies should not be prancing around a runway and should instead be studying." I rolled my eyes. "As if!"
"Do you guys, like, speak?"
"Holidays, I guess. That's about it. Austin's parents are the bees knees. I don't know how I got stuck with my judgmental parents." I sighed.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about it. Tell me about yours!"
"They're cool. They want to meet you, you know." He chuckled lightly. "Vic 'accidentally' let it drop about some supermodel Mike was seeing. I never thought I'd hear the end of it. 'A supermodel, Mike? Really? Bring her over ASAP!'"
"Then we'll have to go and see them sometime." I nodded.
He beamed. "Really?"
"Yes, really. They sound great." I said.
"You're so cool." He sighed.
"Ice cold." I replied.
"But you tell the worst jokes!" He laughed.
I shrugged. "My comedic genius is too advanced for you."
"And everyone else, evidently." Mike rolled his eyes. "Charley, can I tell you something?"
"Of course."
"It's just that. . . I know you were very sad for a very long time and I just want you to know that I don't judge you for that or anything. I actually admire how strong you are. And if you ever need me, I'm here." He said softly.
I smiled slightly. "I like you."
He laughed again. "I like you too."
"And that was really sweet. Thanks, Mike." I blushed.
"You're actually adorable, you know?" Mike looked over at me and grinned. Time to get this date started.