“Interesting observation.” He putts the ball, and I watch it sail over the carpet and right into the cup. Sanders does a subtle fist pump and then takes a seat across from me. “Maybe I should hire you as my assistant.”

“I don’t have a degree in the matter, so I would fit right in.”

“Hence why I asked.”

“When are we going to start jogging?” Scottie asks as we walk hand in hand through Central Park.

It’s a perfect summer day in New York City. Not too hot, a light breeze, and partially cloudy with the sun peeking out every once in a while. Everyone is out of their apartment buildings having picnics, tossing Frisbees, and going for walks.

The laughter of kids chirps in the background, the promise of ice cream in the air. I couldn’t have picked a more perfect day.

And oddly, I had to con Scottie into coming out with me today. Her idea of a perfect Saturday was to lie around her apartment naked and order food in. And I agree. That is the perfect Saturday. But I have one thing I need to do with her, and once we do that, then we can go back to the apartment and do what she wants to do.

To get her out here, I told her I wanted to go on a jog through Central Park. It’s lame and I’m sure not what she wants to do on a Saturday, but I was telling her I was cramping a bit, and I thought it would help limber me up.

She asked if we could take a shower together when we got back to her place, and that was an automatic yes for me.

What are we really doing though?

Well, finishing out the bucket list of course.

We turn the corner toward the Central Park Boathouse, and I tug her toward the rentals.

“Wait.” She stops and turns toward me. “Are we really going for a jog?”

I smirk and nod toward the paddleboats. “What do you think?”

“Eep!” She pulls me into a hug and kisses me on the jaw. “Thank you.”

“Anything for you, Pips.”

We walk over to the boathouse rental and rent out a paddleboat, Scottie beaming the entire time. She’s so fucking adorable. The way she accepts and displays her joy for the world to see, it’s so goddamn cute.

I pay for the rental, and we are escorted to the boat, where we carefully get in, me first and then Scottie. We’re given a bit of a push, and then together, we start peddling.

“This is so…ridiculous,” she says on a laugh as we move around the lake.

“Ridiculous?” I ask. “I thought it was supposed to be romantic.”

“You’re not holding my hand. How is that romantic?”

“Ahh, you’re right.” I pick up her hand and entwine our fingers. “That better?”

“Much.”