Zoey's eyes sparkled as she spotted an animal hat stand, with hats that had movable ears when pressed. Clapping her hands in delight, she headed straight for the shop, picking out two hats while Harriet chuckled at her excitement.
"I should pay for those," Harriet offered, reaching for her wallet, but Zoey gently stopped her, holding her hand.
"Nope! My treat," Zoey said, smiling as she handed over the money. She selected a bunny hat for herself and a fox hat for Harriet. "Alright, bend down a little," she instructed, motioning for Harriet to lean down. Harriet obliged, and Zoey removed her cap, replacing it with the fox hat. "Thereâperfect!" Zoey said with a grin, hooking Harriet's cap onto her belt loop for safekeeping.
Harriet picked up the bunny hat and placed it gently on Zoey's head. "You're the cute one," she replied, playfully pressing the bunny ears to make them wiggle. "So, where to next?"
"Shall we try the photobooth?" Zoey suggested, glancing up at Harriet. "What do you think?"
Harriet tilted her head, pressing the button on her hat to wiggle the fox ears. "Well, I suppose Mr. Fox here loves the idea," she replied, smiling as she took Zoey's hand and led her toward the photobooth.
Zoey couldn't help but smile at Harriet's playful mood. At least she's not stressed about her suspension, she thought, feeling a little better about having asked Riley for the day off to surprise Harriet. After all, she felt partly responsible for Harriet's week-long suspension and wanted to make it up to her.
Inside the photobooth, they grabbed props, laughing as they struck silly poses and a few serious ones. "So, what should our last pose be?" Zoey asked, setting up the screen for the final shot. She looked to Harriet, waiting for her suggestion.
"I've got an idea," Harriet said, a playful smile on her face. "You just press the capture button."
Zoey tilted her head in curiosity, pressing the button as the countdown began. "So, what's the poseâ?" She was cut off when Harriet gently cupped her chin and leaned in, surprising Zoey with a kiss just as the camera flashed. Zoey's heart skipped as Harriet pulled back, still smiling softly.
"Let's check the results," Harriet said, looking at Zoey with a glimmer of warmth in her eyes.
Zoey picked up the printed photos, her cheeks flushed as she examined the last frame. "It's... cute," she mumbled, glancing shyly at Harriet.
"As it should be," Harriet replied, clearly pleased.
Zoey split the photos, handing one set to Harriet. "Here, you keep these, and I'll take the others."
Harriet looked down at the photos, her smile softening as she took them. "You know," she murmured, scratching her nape shyly, "it's actually my first time doing something like this... with someone special."
Zoey chuckled at Harriet's admission, her heart melting. "You really are a kid at heart."
"Maybe so," Harriet admitted, grinning sheepishly. "But for these, I don't mind."
Harriet plopped down on the bench, blinking and rubbing her eyes gently. She leaned back, stretching her arms along the top of the bench. Zoey watched her as she closed her eyes, a faint crease of tiredness on her face.
"Are you alright?" Zoey asked, sitting beside her and studying her with a touch of concern.
Harriet gave a small nod, "Yeah, I'm fine. My eyes just hurt a bitâtoo much sun exposure," she murmured, squinting against the light.
Zoey chuckled softly, "Right, your hazel eyes... they're more sensitive to bright light," she murmured, leaning back beside her. Harriet reached over, wrapping an arm around Zoey's waist and pulling her a little closer.
Zoey leaned into the embrace, resting her head on Harriet's shoulder with a warm smile. "Guess I'll just have to be your shade, then," she teased, settling in comfortably.
"That, I don't mind at all," Harriet murmured with a laugh, resting her head on top of Zoey's. "Let's just stay like this a little while. I need to give my eyes a break," she mumbled, closing them gently.
"Sure, take your time," Zoey replied, lightly pinching Harriet's fingertips resting on her waist. She smiled, feeling the steady rhythm of Harriet's soft breathing against her skin.
After a while, Harriet cleared her throat and glanced down at Zoey. "Where do you want to eat?" she asked, sitting up but keeping her hand on Zoey's waist.
Zoey chuckled, "Do you want real food or are you okay with some amusement park snacks?" She knew Harriet usually steered clear of anything overly processed, except on special occasions.
"I'm good with whatever you prefer," Harriet replied, glancing at Zoey with a slight smile.
"Well, I could go for either," Zoey said, laughing. "Maybe we can just decide once we check out the menu."
"Right," Harriet nodded, slipping on her sunglasses. "Let's go?" she said, standing up and offering her hand. Zoey clicked her tongue playfully and smiled, happily taking Harriet's hand as they headed off together.
Zoey shook her head, smiling as she noticed a few people discreetly snapping photos of Harriet, who was casually resting her chin on her palm, still sporting the fox hat and sunglasses. They had decided on a nearby hotdog stand by the attractions, and Harriet waved with a grin when she caught Zoey's glance.
Zoey waved back, insisting on paying for the food despite Harriet's playful attempts to take over. Tray in hand, Zoey walked carefully back to their table, only for Harriet to remove her sunglasses and jog over. "Here, let me help with that. Go ahead and sit down," Harriet said with a smile, taking the tray from her.
Once they were settled, Harriet placed Zoey's food in front of her and, with a playful grin, sat beside her instead of across the table. Zoey chuckled as she noticed a few women still stealing glances and snapping pictures of Harriet, who looked every bit like a celebrity.
Harriet, now sitting beside Zoey, took off her hat and quickly tied her hair into a messy half-bun, some strands falling loose. Zoey found herself gulping, caught off-guard by how Harriet looked both effortlessly handsome and beautiful. After securing her hair, Harriet put her hat back on and smiled at Zoey.
"Shall we dig in?" Harriet asked, but before Zoey could respond, a blonde woman approached.
"Excuse me?" the blonde woman asked, her eyes on Harriet. "Could I get a picture with you?"
Harriet looked at Zoey, furrowing her brows slightly, then cleared her throat and turned to the blonde with a polite smile. "I'd love to, but I'm taking a little break to enjoy my meal with my girlfriend," she said, her voice warm but firm. "Got to have my priorities straight," she added, glancing back at Zoey with a gentle smile.
The woman gave a quick, apologetic nod and left them alone.
"A bit harsh, don't you think?" Zoey teased, sipping her boba.
Harriet tilted her head. "Why? Do you want me posing for photos with other women instead?" she replied, taking a playful bite of her hotdog on a stick.
Zoey shrugged, chuckling. Harriet just shook her head. "I'm not into taking pictures with strangers. Besides, I'd rather spend all my time with you," she said with a soft, sweet smile.
Zoey felt a blush rise to her cheeks. "So cheesy," she mumbled, picking up chips and holding it out for Harriet to take a bite. "Now, eat up, Doctor."