His heart thudded, practically yelling at him to quit stalling. Finally he shook off the jitters and ambled over, hands shoved in his jeans pockets. He stopped a few feet away, flashing a grin.
Hey there, fellow outdoor enthusiast, he said, his voice warm but a little shaky. Emily glanced up, startled but curious. Don’t mean to crash your duck party or anything, Jake went on, scratching the back of his neck.
I just had to say, you look so at peace out here, like you’re vibing with the whole Rocky Mountains spring deal. Couldn’t not come say hi? Emily blinked, then broke into a shy smile, her cheeks flushing just a bit. Oh, thanks, guess I’m basically one with the ducks now, huh? She quipped, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
Jake laughed, relieved she didn’t shut him down. Oh, yeah, you’re their queen for sure, ruling with goldfish and all, he teased. That got a bigger laugh from her, and just like that, the ice was gone.
They started chatting, about the park, the ducks, how Denver’s springs always felt like a reset after a long winter. The air between them buzzed with something light and electric, a spark neither saw coming but both quietly rooted for. Emily and Jake hit it off like they’d known each other forever.
After that first chat by the reservoir, they ended up wandering Cherry Creek State Park together, trading stories over the crunch of gravel under their Nikes. Jake spilled about his gig at a local craft brewery, how he geeked out over tweaking new beer recipes, especially after the Broncos won a game. Emily dished about teaching third grade at a nearby elementary school, always dodging glitter bombs and kid tantrums.
They cracked up over dumb stuff, like Jake’s epic fumble when he dumped an IPA batch on his boss’s boots and swapped shy glances that sent their pulses racing. By the time the sun sank, splashing the sky with orange, they were goners. Weeks morphed into months, and that park moment ignited something solid.
They’d hit up a greasy spoon diner off Colfax Avenue for burgers and fries, catch late-night flicks at the AMC in Aurora, or just chill at Jake’s apartment with his latest bruise and a Rockies game on mute. Emily dug how Jake had this quiet swagger, like he knew his path but didn’t flex it. Jake was obsessed with how Emily’s smile could brighten a room, even when she was griping about a kid eating glue sticks.
It was effortless fun, and felt like the real deal was kicking off. One night, six months in, Jake dropped a bombshell while peeling the label off his beer on her couch. «‘Hey, Em,’ he said, voice catching a bit, «‘how’d you feel about meeting my folks? They’re itching to meet the girl who’s got me cheesing like a goofball.’ Emily choked mid-sip of her IPA, eyes popping.
«‘Your parents? Like seriously?’ She half-laughed, half-freaked. She’d never hit this milestone before. Meeting the family was big-league territory.
«‘Yeah,’ Jake grinned. «‘They’re cool. Well, mostly.
Mum’s got some strong takes, but Dad’s a total softy. Emily spent the next day spiralling. «‘What do you wear to meet your boyfriend’s parents? Do I bring something? Am I gonna trip over my words?’ She landed on a navy sundress from Target, cute, not flashy, swiped on mascara, snagged a cheesecake from King Soopers.
Jake scooped her up after his shift, and they cruised to his folks’ house in Littleton, a tidy suburb south of Denver. Her hands were clammy the whole ride, gripping the dessert box like it’d save her. «‘You’re golden,’ Jake said, squeezing her knee at a light.
«‘They’ll adore you.’ They pulled up, and Jake’s dad, Nick Thompson, swung the door open with a huge grin. «‘Well, hey there, Emily. Get in here,’ he boomed, waving her in like she was already one of them.
«‘Jake’s been yapping about his park girl non-stop. Good to finally meet you.’ Emily blushed, handing over the cheesecake. «‘Hope it’s not all embarrassing,’ she quipped.
Then Jake’s mum, Linda, slinked into the hall, and the air turned frosty. She raked Emily with a slow, venomous stare, lips tight, arms crossed. «‘So this is her,’ she muttered, dripping disdain like Emily had just crawled out of a dumpster.