"Shut up," Alex says dramatically, giving him a playfully exasperated look before turning her attention back to the stream. She could stand there all day watching the water crash over the rocks and little icicles form and melt, but she knows he has to get back to work, and if there's more to see she wants to see it all.

Somewhat reluctantly, she leaves the little bridge behind, heading deeper through the trees into the park. Maybe it's this place, which makes everything outside it seem very far away, maybe it's the fact that she can still feel the warmth of his arm around her waist, maybe she just ate too much chocolate or drank too much coffee. Whatever it is, even though she knows anything romantic between them would be a huge mistake, she likes him a lot, and here and now she wants to make sure he knows that.

"I'm really glad I met you." She turns to face him as she says it, stopping in the middle of the path. It's a little stilted - it's not a sentiment she's used to expressing - but it's entirely sincere.