33. Chapter Thirty-Three
My phone buzzes on the bed just as I finish tying the laces of my favorite floral printed sneakers. The message from Jamie is short and full of his usual energy.
Outside whenever you are ready, beautiful. Comfortable clothes only. Trust me.
I smile and grab my bag. He had specifically told me to wear something comfortable when we chatted yesterday, so I chose loose jeans that sit low on my hips, a cozy crew neck t-shirt layered under my blue cardigan, and the sneakers that always make me feel like I could run around all day without a single complaint.
The outfit feels right for whatever mystery date Jamie has planned. I guess I’ll find out if I’m right about that soon.
The moment I step outside the dorm building, I spot him leaning against his car with that signature floppy blond hair catching the late afternoon light and a mischievous grin already spreading across his face.
He looks adorable and buzzing with energy in a simple white t-shirt under an open flannel, sleeves rolled up, paired with worn jeans and sneakers that have seen plenty of adventures.
The sight of him makes something bright and light spark in my chest.
“Elodie!” he calls, pushing off the car and opening his arms wide like he’s been waiting hours instead of minutes. “You look perfect. Comfortable, cute, and ready for chaos. Exactly what I ordered.”
I laugh and walk straight into his hug. His golden amber and warm vanilla scent wraps around me instantly, sunny and inviting, and I breathe it in without meaning to. “You’re not going to tell me where we’re going, are you?”
“Nope.” He pulls back just enough to wink, blue eyes twinkling with pure mischief. “But I will drop hints. Helmets might be involved. Possibly small animals. Definitely victory dances. That’s all you get.”
I climb into the passenger seat while he circles around to the driver’s side. The car smells like him too, that same warm vanilla layered with something fresh and playful. As soon as he starts the engine, the radio comes on with an upbeat song that matches his mood perfectly.
Within the first two minutes of driving, I am already laughing.
Jamie launches into the most ridiculous story about filming the last lacrosse practice, complete with dramatic reenactments from the driver’s seat and sound effects that make me snort so hard I have to cover my mouth.
He keeps glancing over at me with that cheeky grin, clearly delighted every time he makes me laugh harder.
“You are terrible,” I say between giggles, wiping at my eyes. “I’m going to be exhausted before we even get there.”
“Perfect,” he replies, reaching over to squeeze my knee lightly. “That’s exactly the energy I am going for. Laugh until you can’t breathe, then laugh some more. Best first date rule ever.”
The fall scenery blurs past the windows in vibrant golds and reds while his scent fills the car and his easy teasing keeps pulling more laughter out of me. My heart feels lighter with every mile, like Jamie has a special talent for making the whole world feel fun and possible at the same time.
Whatever surprise he has planned, I already know I’m going to love it.
Jamie turns off the main road and pulls into a brightly lit parking lot that sparkles with strings of colorful bulbs.
I lean forward in my seat, trying to peer through the tall wooden fence that blocks the view.
Music drifts toward us, upbeat and silly, mixed with the sound of laughter and the occasional cheer. My curiosity is officially at its peak.
“Ready?” Jamie asks, cutting the engine with a dramatic flourish. His grin is so wide it makes his dimples pop. “Welcome to the greatest mini golf course in existence.”
He hops out and comes around to open my door, offering his hand like we’re stepping onto a royal carpet. I take it and let him pull me toward the entrance.
The moment we pass through the gate, my eyes go wide and a delighted laugh bursts out of me.
The course stretches out like a glowing wonderland under black lights.
Everything glows in neon pinks, greens, and electric blues.
Tiny castles with turrets that light up from the inside.
A giant windmill whose sails spin and cast swirling shadows.
A full sized pirate ship complete with a glowing skull and crossbones flag.
And scattered everywhere are vibrant pink flamingos wearing tiny sunglasses that reflect the lights back in sparkles.
The whole place looks like someone let a child’s imagination run wild with a bucket of glow paint and then turned the lights off.
“This is ridiculous,” I say, still laughing. “I love it.”
Jamie bounces on his toes beside me, clearly proud of his choice. “Right? Best date idea ever. Come on, I have a serious competition to win.”
We get our clubs and neon colored balls at the little booth. Jamie insists on paying and then immediately starts trash talking in the most charming way possible. “Prepare to be destroyed, Elodie. I have been practicing my windmill technique for weeks.”
The first hole is a simple ramp leading to a glowing castle moat. I line up my shot carefully, but Jamie steps behind me and rests his chin on my shoulder. “Need some help? I could guide your swing.”
His breath tickles my ear and I shiver in the best way. I swing anyway and my ball rolls straight into the water. Jamie throws his arms up in victory and does a little dance that involves way too much hip movement. “One point for me!”
I glare at him through my laughter. “That was cheating.”
“Was it?” He leans in and presses a quick, playful kiss to my cheek. “Oops.”
From that moment on the game becomes pure chaos and I discover a competitive side of myself I didn’t know existed. Every time Jamie lines up a shot I bump his elbow at the last second.
He retaliates by stealing my ball and replacing it with a glowing flamingo that he swears counts as an official obstacle. We keep score out loud and argue over every point, our voices echoing across the glowing course.
At hole seven, the pirate ship, I finally sink a perfect shot on my first try. Jamie stares at the ball as it drops into the cup, mouth open in genuine shock. “No way. You are a secret mini golf prodigy.”
I pump my fist in the air and do my own ridiculous victory dance, spinning in a circle until I’m dizzy. Jamie catches me when I stumble, both of us laughing so hard I have to lean against his chest to stay upright.
My sides ache and happy tears prick at the corners of my eyes. I can’t remember the last time I laughed like this, free and loud and completely without worry.
“You are going down,” I tell him, still breathless.
Jamie looks at me with pure delight sparkling in his blue eyes. “I’m so proud of you right now. My little competitive monster.”
We move from hole to hole in a blur of neon colors and nonstop giggles.
He kisses my cheek every time he wins a point.
I bump his elbow every time he gets too cocky.
At one point I laugh so hard I misaim the shot entirely and send it rolling off into the shadows.
Jamie chases after it with dramatic flair while I double over, clutching my stomach.
By the time we reach the final set of obstacles I’m leaning on him for support, my cheeks flushed and my voice hoarse from laughing. The playful energy crackles between us like electricity, and every teasing touch feeling a little more charged than the last.
Jamie looks down at me with that cheeky, mischievous grin, but there is something else underneath it now. Something that makes my pulse skip in a whole new way.
I realize at that moment that fun like this can be intimate too. That joy itself can pull two people closer just as deeply as heartfelt conversations and shared secrets.
And I am starting to love that about Jamie more than I ever expected.
We reach the last few holes as the sky deepens into evening. The course lights grow softer here, less chaotic neon and more gentle glow.
Jamie leads me around a gentle curve and the noise of the other players fades behind us.
This hole feels different. A small waterfall trickles down artificial rocks, lit from below with white light that sparkles like stars on the water.
Twinkling string lights drape overhead in loose loops, casting dappled golden patterns across the green.
The air smells faintly of mist and fresh grass, and the whole space feels almost private.
Jamie lines up his shot but pauses before he swings. He looks over at me, club resting lightly against his shoulder, and the mischievous sparkle in his eyes softens into something warmer. The playful energy that carried us through the whole course settles between us like a held breath.
“You know,” he says, voice lower and more serious than it has been all night, “I love seeing you like this.”
I tilt my head, still catching my breath from the last round of laughter. “Like what?”
“Relaxed. Playful. Laughing so hard you can barely stand up straight.” He steps closer, the string lights catching in his floppy blond hair.
“You have this light in you, Elodie. I see it when you talk about bugs and when you are deep in your notes. But tonight? Getting to watch you let go and just have fun? It feels like I won the lottery. I have been waiting to see you like this since the day I bumped into you outside the dining hall.”
His words land deep in my core, wrapping around me like his golden amber scent. I feel my cheeks heat, but not from embarrassment.
Jamie makes me feel light in a way no one else does. He doesn’t ask me to be serious or careful or anything other than exactly myself at this moment.
I step closer until our shoes touch on the glowing turf. “I didn’t know I needed this,” I whisper. “I didn’t know I could feel this free with someone.”