Maria had always dreamed of moving her and Adrian out of their dingy, third-floor apartment, but this was a nightmare. They wouldn't get a spacious house in a better neighbourhood. They would be evicted.

If she landed on her parents' doorstep to admit she couldn't pay rent while working two jobs, they would launch another assault on her relationship with 'The Music Boy'. Even though Adrian's family would take them in with open arms, Maria refused. She was an adult with a university degree, not a freeloader. After a few more shifts, she'd earn the cash. Unfortunately, their landlord wouldn't believe her like he had last month, considering they still owed him that rent money too. 

As she traversed the riverside park, she shook away her unease, tugged her hair out of its ponytail and tousled it the way Adrian liked. The warm summer breeze aired out the sweaty t-shirt she hadn't changed. If she'd stopped at the apartment, she'd have less time with him. Their time together was as rare as a snowless winter in the Canadian prairies lately.

She climbed the hill overlooking the pond, busy with children feeding geese and families posing for portraits. Her other half sat staring off in the distance. She ran over and tackled him in a hug. He recovered with a laugh and laid her in the grass, covering her face and neck in butterfly kisses that took her breath away like when they'd started dating three years ago. She ran her hand along his stubble-lined cheek and inhaled his patchouli scent.

"I missed you," she breathed.

"I miss you a little too," he said with a grin.

Maria laughed. "Only a little?"

"A little more than the world needs to ban plastic." It was a high compliment from her eco-warrior boyfriend. He captured her lips again and pulled her closer until the space between them disappeared. She warmed, wishing they weren't in such a public place.

He pulled away and stroked her cheek with calloused fingers. "You are my everything, Ria."

She looked into his electric blue eyes and bit her lip.  His love was more intense than any of his songs about their relationship captured, though she swooned every time he played them. Knowing they were the centre of each other's universes filled her heart to the brim, but the raw moments were her favourites. He had held her through tears as she shared painful childhood memories. Ones her family had paid doctors they could hardly afford to heal. "Pain makes us real," he'd said. "I've never loved you more."  

In the park, he nuzzled his head in the crook of her neck, and she beamed. 

"You're my stars and moon, without you..."

"I'd be lost and entombed in darkness," Adrian whispered in her ear. "I love it when you quote my music."

His closeness was such a relief after their recent fight. 

"I'm glad the past two weeks are behind us," she said. Their money struggles and her work schedule threatened to break them, but they were too strong. Her stomach churned. They'd be smooth sailing after making up a few hundred missing dollars by the end of the weekend.

"I told you we'll be fine. You trust me, don't you?" He sat up, and she nodded.

Adrian reached into his button-covered messenger bag. "I got something for you." His smile radiated with joy and hope.

She flinched unintentionally. Two weeks ago he'd purchased an eight-hundred dollar guitar for himself with the money she'd saved to pay rent in the joint account. He meant well, investing in his career, but he had no financial sense.

He squeezed her hand. "Not with our money, like I promised. My mom lent me some."

Maria breathed out a sigh of relief. "What is it?"

He pulled out a reusable shopping bag containing a red dress with a scooping neckline that made it look sexy enough for a night of salsa dancing. Adrian was usually uncomfortable with her wearing something so revealing.

She pecked him on the cheek. "I love it. Perfect for dancing."

"I'll give you a tambourine, and you can dance on stage tonight."

"Oh, yeah?" She raised an eyebrow and set down the gift. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she drew him closer. "I thought I was distracting during your shows."

His warm hands found her waist. "Help me get it out of my system."

"Gladly." She kissed him, heart racing as they clutched at each other as if a tornado would tear them apart.

With a grin, Adrian pulled away and reached in his pocket. "I found one more thing for you."

Her heart pulsed against her rib cage until his phone appeared, and he opened a webpage.

"It's a contest where you post about cooking every day, and the winner flies to Paris to meet a fancy chef. After the first round, there's a three-hundred-dollar prize for the ones selected to move on. They'll pay you for something you're already amazing at, Ria!"

The cash tempted Maria, and Paris would be incredible! But how skilled would the winner have to be? Her experience was preparing meals for her and Adrian, helping Felipe at the restaurant, and cooking with her mom. "Like I'd ever qualify for round two."

"Are you kidding?" Adrian propped himself up on his elbows and straightened his fedora. "You create the coolest things, and you have these cute anecdotes for each one. Even though this sounds sexist, and I'd cook for you more if you didn't enjoy it, I love watching you in the kitchen. Your determination, your joy and frustration, and how it transforms into an incredible dish. What's the harm? You only need short social media posts each day. I can help pick the recipes and get ingredients."

Her days were already supercharged, but it could be fun, and Adrian was right: sometimes cooking was the only good part of her day, the part she could control. Why not try it?

"It's a trip for two to Paris," he whispered in her ear.

Maria had never left North America, but her cousin's travel pictures of Thailand featured incredible beaches, parties and food. She could blaze her own culinary trail: crunchy baguettes, soft cheese, and white wine while cozying up to Adrian under the Eiffel tower. She took the phone from him to sign-up. The website banner showed different dishes and desserts plated with such care that her creations paled in comparison. Inspiration to challenge herself like she always did. As she keyed in her information, visions of her and Adrian strolling arm in arm past ancient castles and through the Louvre made her beam.

"Paris?" Handing back the phone, Maria waggled her eyebrows.

"That's my girl." He drew her into another tender kiss.

After she pulled away, she snuggled into his chest. Her eyes closed as she inhaled his musky-earthy aroma again, and she contemplated which recipe to make first. Did they expect Canadian classics or could she cook the Pinoy favourites she grew up with?

"I'm excited you're coming to our show tonight," he whispered in her ear.

"There's nowhere else I'd rather be." Puffy clouds passed through the perfectly blue sky. "Weren't Kelsey and Will meeting us here?"

"I ditched them so I could do this." He planted a kiss on her lips again that was far too short. "As much as I wanted before Will gets on my case about rehearsing."

"You guys always sound amazing."

"It's because I sing for you."

After spending a little more time cuddling, Maria said, "We should find them. I haven't seen Kels in ages, and I have to run in a few hours."

Adrian frowned. "Do you need to work again?"

"This was our compromise, a quick shift during the dinner rush so we're closer to making rent, and I'll be there in time for your show."

He pouted, bringing out the freckles on his pale cheeks. "Doesn't mean I have to like it."

Despite his efforts to keep her in his embrace, she stood and pulled him up. Hand in hand, they walked to Kelsey and Will, who was vaping with a guitar at his side.

Kelsey jumped up to hug Maria. "Ria! I've hardly seen you all summer, and I'm back at uni in a week!"

"Work has been crazy." Maria bit her tongue about how Adrian running out of money in June shifted the burden of paying for rent, food, and the expenses, that seemed to increase despite thrifting, to her. Anytime she'd suggested he find another job, he'd get upset she didn't believe in his music career. She did, but careers took time to build. Rent had a deadline, the first they'd already missed and the second closing in. But bringing it up had almost ended their relationship, so she had to keep her frustration to herself.

"I can't imagine having two jobs. My summer one is enough."

"To have your life." Maria laughed, but her tired muscles ached with envy. To have parents who accepted anyone she dated regardless of whether they were ambitious. To not have to fight to study what she wanted in university without hearing about her family's sacrifice to move to Canada and the uselessness of psychology. To have enough family wealth to work when you felt like it and not be fifteen grand in student debt with dreams of getting a masters and doctorate in psychology.

Kelsey snorted. "You have a man who worships you. That's difficult to find."

Adrian's grip tightened around Maria's hand, and he leaned in to kiss her shoulder. She pressed her head into his chest. With all the late serving shifts, then early morning cleaning ones, Adrian was always asleep, and she'd missed days like today.

"You're coming tonight, right?" Kelsey looked between him and Maria.

"Right after my shift. I'm done at eight and will be there before the set starts."

Kelsey smiled with her lips pressed together. "Glad to hear it. We missed you at the last one."

"Adulting sucks," Maria said, eliciting laughs from her friends.

Will coughed and glared in her direction. "You think bailing on our shows is a joke."

Maria tensed.  "No, I..."

Adrian squeezed her waist. "Ria's got her priorities straight now, don't you, babe?"

With everyone's eyes on her, Maria nodded, earning her a kiss on the cheek. She tried to relax in Adrian's arms. Maybe she'd earn enough with her short shift tonight to cover the missing rent.

"I think we could bring her up on stage for Plastic Hearts. Add a little tambourine." Adrian grinned at Maria. The look in his eyes made her blush. 

Will scowled as he had around her for years. "Tonight's important, Adrian not some damned folk concert in the park."

Adrian's grip on her hips tightened until she stroked his hands. "Are you questioning my judgement? Whose lyrics and melody got that talent scout's attention?"

"I'm questioning what part of your body you're thinking with. We all work hard and we've got a real shot at getting discovered. Don't mess with what's worked for us lately."

"We'll discuss this later," Adrian said. 

Will turned back to vaping.  

"Need a ride tonight?" Kelsey asked Maria.

"Yeah, that'd be great. Thanks, Kels." Between her paying off debt and Adrian's eco-conscience, they relied on buses and ride-sharing.

"It'll give us time to catch up. I have so many stories to tell you!" 

With Kelsey's job lifeguarding and the oddball dates she found herself on, their hangouts were never dull. Maria had no idea where her bestie found these guys, though they were entertaining to hear about. "I can't wait to hear them."

Adrian inhaled sharply and his nails dug into Maria's waist until she winced. She threaded her fingers through his and leaned into his tight chest. "You'll do great tonight. You always do." She turned to kiss him on the cheek.

He stayed quiet as Kelsey turned and sat beside Will.