The sun was shining brightly as Alessia stepped out of her house, squinting against the light. Theo’s car was parked in the driveway, and he was leaning against it, looking effortlessly handsome in a light blue button-up rolled at the sleeves and khaki shorts. He gave her a lopsided grin as she approached.
“You’re late,” he teased.
“You’re early,” she shot back, smirking.
Theo held up a basket filled to the brim with supplies. “You’re lucky I’m a patient man. Ready for the best picnic of your life?”
Alessia rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide her smile. “I doubt it’s that good, but let’s see what you’ve got.”
“Confidence,” Theo said, opening the car door for her. “I like that. But I also like proving people wrong.”
When they arrived at the picnic site, Alessia immediately understood why Theo had hyped it up so much. They were in a quiet, secluded park with sprawling green fields, shaded by tall trees swaying gently in the breeze. A sparkling lake sat nearby, its surface glimmering under the sunlight. In the middle of it all was a neatly set-up picnic area with a checkered blanket, foldable chairs, and a small BBQ grill already smoking.
Zane and Pamela were already there, lounging in the chairs and waving enthusiastically. Zane had on sunglasses and a baseball cap, looking relaxed and smug as usual. Pamela, in her stylish summer dress and oversized sunhat, was busy sipping lemonade from a fancy tumbler.
“About time you showed up,” Zane called as Theo and Alessia approached. “What’d you do, stop for a photoshoot?”
Pamela nudged him. “Stop being a troll. You’re just jealous because Theo actually planned something nice for once.”
Zane snorted. “I could plan something nice if I wanted to.”
“Oh, please,” Pamela quipped, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Your idea of a picnic would be ordering pizza and calling it a day.”
Zane grinned. “And it’d still be better than Theo’s attempt at a BBQ.”
Theo raised an eyebrow as he set the basket down. “Careful, Zane. Keep talking, and I might ‘accidentally’ burn your food.”
As Theo got to work at the grill, Alessia settled on the blanket beside Pamela. The two women watched as Theo and Zane bickered over charcoal placement and grilling techniques.
“You’re putting the coals in the wrong spot,” Zane said, peering over Theo’s shoulder.
Theo waved him off. “The grill is fine. Stop hovering.”
Zane crossed his arms. “I’m just saying, you need better heat distribution. Let the expert handle this.”
Theo turned to him, spatula in hand. “Expert? You once tried to grill burgers and ended up with hockey pucks.”
“That was one time!” Zane protested. “And the grill was faulty.”
Pamela leaned over to Alessia, whispering loudly enough for everyone to hear, “This is why we never let boys handle the cooking. Too much testosterone, not enough common sense.”
Theo pointed the spatula at her. “I heard that.”
“And you were supposed to,” Pamela replied with a grin.
Despite the banter, the BBQ turned out to be amazing. Theo grilled perfectly seared steaks, juicy burgers, and plump sausages, while Pamela brought out side dishes from her cooler—potato salad, coleslaw, and a giant fruit platter. Zane, begrudgingly impressed, couldn’t help but pile his plate high.
“This steak is actually good,” Zane admitted, cutting into it. “I’m shocked.”
Theo smirked. “That’s because it was cooked by someone who knows what they’re doing.”
Zane rolled his eyes. “Don’t get cocky. You’ve got a lot to prove.”
Pamela laughed, spearing a slice of watermelon with her fork. “Zane, just admit defeat. Theo won this round.”
Zane threw up his hands in mock surrender. “Fine. But next time, I’m in charge.”
“Can’t wait to see what ‘pizza picnic’ looks like,” Alessia said dryly, earning a round of laughter.
After the meal, Theo pulled out a frisbee, and the group headed toward the open field. Zane immediately turned it into a competition, challenging Theo to see who could throw it farther.
“Bet you can’t hit that tree,” Zane said, pointing to a distant oak.
“You’re on,” Theo replied, winding up and sending the frisbee soaring through the air. It fell just short of the tree, and Zane smirked.
“Amateur,” Zane teased, taking his turn and overshooting the target entirely, the frisbee landing in the bushes.
“Smooth,” Alessia said, clapping slowly. “You’ve really mastered the art of overachieving.”
Pamela doubled over laughing. “I think the frisbee’s scared of you, Zane.”
Afterward, the group lounged back on the blanket, enjoying the warm sun and the occasional cool breeze. Theo handed Alessia a cold lemonade, his hand brushing against hers briefly.
“Having a good time?” he asked, his tone softer now.
Alessia smiled, taking a sip. “I am. I didn’t think I’d enjoy this as much as I do.”
“Well, I did say it’d be the best picnic of your life,” Theo replied, his lips curving into a teasing grin.
“Don’t let it go to your head,” she shot back, though her smile lingered.
As the sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the park, Zane stretched and yawned dramatically. “Alright, I’ll admit it. This was a solid picnic. But don’t expect me to say it again.”
“I’ll take what I can get,” Theo said with a laugh.
Pamela clapped her hands together. “We should do this more often. I mean, if Zane promises not to ruin the vibe.”
Zane pointed at her. “Watch it. You’ll miss me when I’m gone.”
“Doubtful,” Pamela quipped.
Alessia chuckled, shaking her head at their antics. As she helped Theo pack up the picnic supplies, she glanced at him and said quietly, “Thanks for this. It really was… perfect.”
Theo’s gaze softened, and he leaned in just enough for her to hear. “It’s easy to plan the perfect day when it’s with the perfect person.”