Episode 1.9 Amuse-Bouche

The smile Michael gave me was like he won a trillion bucks when I said yes.

It meant a lot to have this happening between us. Throughout the time since we'd agreed to filming, we spent time together. I'd gotten to know pretty much all sides to him. His serious side, his sad side, his jokey side. We hadn't had a big argument yet, so I didn't know what he was like when really angry. Right now I was getting to know his fluffy, romantic side.

"It's cold," I said.

The rain was still quite strong, and we didn't bring an umbrella with us. The water dripped from the edges of the bus shelter. The dewy smell of the rain reached our noses, and I shivered. Our neighborhood was quiet save for the storm noises. Most people were indoors, with a few random cars and pedestrians braving the weather.

Michael held me for a few more moments, refusing to let me go.

"I'll keep you warm," He hugged me closer, his head on top of mine.

I felt so safe with Michael at that moment. Activating all the fuzzy feelings in me, he sighed in satisfaction.

"Ah, my Marie meter is fuller now."

"What Marie meter?" I asked.

"The amount of time I get to hug you," He explained.

I laughed, and I leaned back to look him in the eyes.

"My Michael meter is filled up too."

We disentangled ourselves, smiling like silly fools.

"We have to run back in!" I said, seeing the storm and clouds getting closer.

Holding hands, we made our way back inside together. The rain poured over our skin as I tripped slightly but he made sure I didn't fall.

When we were back inside, he dried my hair with a towel and I did the same for him.

I asked, "So where are we going for our date?"

"I already have an idea, but it depends what you think," Michael told me.

He pulled up a website for us to peruse.

I gasped.

"I love theme parks!"

It was a website for a theme park called Wonderland. With Alice in Wonderland inspired rides and game stalls, it looked really fun though I'd never been there before.

"Me too! I'll get our tickets tonight." He said.

"Okay, I'll pack my bag!"

I threw my arms around Michael, I couldn't help but to peck his cheek with my lips briefly.

Michael stopped, his fingers hovering over the mouse.

My breath caught in my throat as I saw the roguish fire in his eyes and the clockwork ticking in his mind.

By the time he got up to reciprocate I yelped in glee and skidded to my room. He caught me around the waist before I reached, and bent down to give me kisses.

He dropped his lips with a soft press against my eyebrow, my nose, my cheek. Each kiss drew those sea waves somersaulting in my tummy.

Our eyes spoke of deeper desires, but as I remembered the cameras, I gently pushed his chest.

"Stop distracting me with your addictive kisses, otherwise we will never stop."

Michael advanced, saying, "That's not a bad idea."

I shook my head, pointing and gesturing, acting out a camera.

He nodded, turning into that serious sexy mode.

"Mhm, sneaky cameras everywhere. We'll have to find a way around them some day." He whispered, his breath fanning my neck and tickling my ear.

He stepped back, wiggling his eyebrows before walking back to the living room.

Now I couldn't wait until the cameras got turned off.

—-

Wonderland the theme park was outside the main city center, so we had to take a metro train and then a short bus journey. It was a Thursday so that meant less people at the park, and more space for us.

As we stepped off the bus and arrived at our destination, I flung my arms around in the open space.

The setup outside the ticket booths was so aesthetically pleasing. Large leafy trees covered the area, and some billboards with bright colors as well as some machine operated replicas of the characters such as the Cheshire cat and the caterpillar.

"This is amazing!" I exclaimed.

Michael snapped a quick candid with his camera and when I saw he was taking photos, I gave him my award winning smile, popping my foot upwards. I probably looked like a boujie tourist, like those people with peace signs in the vintage photos and sunglasses.

"Let's go!" I said, tugging Michael with me.

Our first ride was a rollercoaster. We did it twice.

It was the most intense ride they had at Wonderland, and I was thankful for that. It was pretty much at my limit for thrilling rides. So if we got it done first, we wouldn't have to do it again. Hopefully. Unless Michael really liked roller coasters. He was a bit of an adrenaline junkie, though he could tell I didn't want to go again.

"Let's try something else!" Michael said, pulling me along with his hand.

We had a short conversation while waiting for one of the teacup rides.

"Did you ever get lost as a kid? Like your parents had to go looking and you were waiting for them by the info counter?" I asked Michael.

He scratched his chin and said, "Hmm, I don't think so. You did?"

"For sure. Maybe even twice. They would be like, announcing Mr. and Mrs. Bits, please come find your daughter at the counter. My mom told me I would sometimes hide, even try to pretend I didn't know them." I said, recalling my memories.

"Naughty child," Michael's eyes sparkled with mirth, his lips curling into a smile as he wrapped an arm around me.

Then after the teacup ride, I saw a huge game stall, with throwing darts as the main challenge and cute stuffed toy prizes.

"Oh it's my favorite character!" I told Michael.

"Tweedledee and Tweedledum?" He echoed.

"Cheshire cat!" I said.

He knew I was egging him on to do the challenge and win something, and he gladly took the challenge.

"Alright, here goes!" Michael said, stepping up to the batting plate.

"Yay, go Michael!" I whooped.

I used the film camera and took a couple photos of him throwing darts too. In the end, he won the biggest Cheshire cat stuffed toy for me.

"Ah! You're the best!" I squealed.

"I need the toilet real quick," Michael said, pinching my cheek.

"I'll go get us some snacks!" I smiled, patting his shoulder.

When I finished ordering our food, I stepped back and turned around. Only to stop and freeze completely.

There in front of me was my ex Graham, with none other than Jenny the vet.