“Give me some pointers.” Linda swirled the wine glass in her hand before sipping again from the deep red liquid. “What do you like in a date?”

“Is this a date?” The question was out before Marissa thought better of it.

“Isn’t it? You dressed up, after all.”

Marissa spluttered with laughter. “Yes, I wore the clean T-shirt.”

“So it must be a date.”

Marissa wanted to ask why Linda hadn’t kissed her until their last day, almost their last evening. The kiss had been worth waiting for but tomorrow was so close now. She wanted something that sealed this vacation in some kind of Hall of Fame. But for what, she asked herself? Terror? Confusion? Crushes on Women Who Looked Like Amazons?

“I like dates that don’t end.” Marissa grinned but she was serious.

“They all end, eventually.” Linda’s eyes were in the shadows.

Marissa didn’t think Linda meant to send the chill that crept over the table toward her but she couldn’t help but shiver. “Some don’t. Some people—and I should know—find happy ever after.”

“Ah.” Linda leaned forward and her face came into the light. Brown eyes soft, she said, “That’s not dating anymore. That’s living.”

“How did you get so wise?”

Linda’s eyebrows arched. “There are a lot of things that are easier to talk about than actually do.”

Puzzled, Marissa opened her mouth to ask but the waiter stopped to offer them a sorbet of pineapple and coconut. The cool, creamy blend was refreshing and not too sweet. By the time they were both licking their spoons for the last time and the bottle of red wine was empty, Marissa had forgotten all of her questions. She wanted something other than answers.

“Want to walk on the beach?” Linda paused at the exit that led past the moonlit swimming pool.

“Sure.” The moon was incredible, its full splendor streaking the ocean with a path that surely led to magical realms. Don’t be foolish, said the voice of practical reality. You’re not a fairy princess about to be swept off your feet.

But I want to be, Marissa thought. I want that experience and I never let myself think it could happen to me before.

You’re going to get hurt, the little voice persisted, but Marissa shushed it with the memory of Linda’s warm lips on hers.

Flip flops dangling from her fingers, Marissa ran to the surf, aware of Linda falling behind. The warm water washed over her ankles as Marissa turned back to look at Linda’s dark silhouette. The moonlight illuminated her own footprints not yet washed away by the tide. They were like a path that Linda could walk down if she wanted to join Marissa.

I want her to take that path, Marissa thought. Walk right down here, take me into her arms and kiss me again.

Impossibly, even though the moon seemed to be sprinkling the air with silver dust, Linda fit her feet into the prints that Marissa had left in the crusted sand. Marissa heart stopped when Linda stopped only a foot away.