Page 17 of With the Potion in the Courtyard

"Maybe." I smiled, warmed by the thought. It was nice that I’d already gotten the wheels spinning on that one. It was a dream that was close enough to touch.

"And you? What do you dream about?"

"Me?" He looked thoughtful as we continued to dance. "I've built things all of my life. Stores, businesses... But I've never built something for myself. Something that lasts. Like... a legacy, I suppose."

"Legacy's a big word," I said gently.

"Guess I'm a big dream kind of guy," he said, and we both chuckled. He spun me again, and for a second, I was flying.

"Past experiences? Hopes for the future?" I nudged, curious about what stories lay behind those piercing blue eyes.

"Growing up in my dad's store taught me about hard work. That's the past," Robbie said. "The future, well, I hope it involves magic. And someone special to share it with."

"Sounds like a good future." A warmth spread through my chest.

"Doesn't it just?" Robbie pulled me closer.

We danced until the music faded, sharing pieces of ourselves between steps and turns. It was new, opening up like this, but it was right, like the beginning of something wonderful.

I kicked off my shoes, the softness of the meadow under my feet. "It's like stepping on a cloud," I laughed as Robbie did the same.

"Only the best for our date."

The music slowly ended, and we pulled apart, staring at each other. I didn’t know what he was thinking, but I didn’t want this moment to end. I wanted to stay here with him forever.

"Should we explore a little?"

Hesmiled. "Absolutely."

The magic in the air was thick enough to touch, swirling around us like a comfortable blanket. We walked, side by side, through the meadow, our hands brushing now and then. Each touch sent a spark between us, making my heart skip a beat.

"Look at that," Robbie pointed to a squirrel dashing up a tree.

"Everything feels so light here with you," he said, and I nodded.

"Like all the heavy stuff just doesn't matter," I added. Robbie reached out to take my hand, and I didn't hesitate to let him.

"Exactly," he said, and we just stood there, hand in hand, watching the pastel sky change colors as the sun dipped lower.

The moment stretched, endless. It was as if time had slowed down just for us, giving us this bubble where nothing else existed but Robbie, me, and the magical world around us.

"Thank you for bringing me here," I whispered.

"Thank you for saying yes." He squeezed my hand gently.

We turned back to face each other, and I saw something in Robbie's gaze that I hadn't noticed before, a depth, a genuine hopefulness. It mirrored my own feelings, the ones I'd kept locked away for so long. But here, in this place made from imagination and wonder, I felt brave enough to let them show.

"Robbie," I said, but he put a finger to my lips.

"Shh, don't say anything," he said softly. "Let's just enjoy this."

And so, we did. We savored the silence, the connection, the laughter that bubbled up without effort. We were two people starting over, finding comfort in the joy of the present, in a meadow that seemed to have been conjured up just for us.

Returning to our little picnic, we both just stopped and stared for a minute. Should we sit and eat some more? I didn’t want to leave. I wanted to be close to Robbie. We exchanged a grin, and it was like we both knew what the other was thinking.

The stars above twinkled, scattered across the sky. Robbie and I lay on the blanket, our hands linked. His fingers were warm, strong wrappedwith mine, and it seemed right, like they were meant to fit together.

"Look at that one." He pointed to a particularly bright star winking at us from the heavens. "It's like it's saying hello."