The gravel path crunched softly under our shoes as we walked toward the ice cream truck. The evening air was cool, carrying the faint smell of water and flowers. Street lamps glowed like little moons above us, and the lake on our left kept making gentle little waves. Aeri was two steps ahead, her white dress moving with the breeze, hands clasped behind her back. I couldn't stop staring at those hands. They looked soft, small, perfect. I just wanted to reach out and hold one.
"Want to hold hands, Ezra?" she said suddenly, turning around with a playful smile and stretching out her left hand toward me.
My eyes went wide. "Ughh…" A tiny blush hit my cheeks. *How did she know?* It felt like she'd peeked straight into my head.
She wiggled her fingers, waiting.
