After a long day at work, Tom lay on his bed and massaged his temples. The exam period grew closer, while his students listened less and less. To top it off, he'd spent his lunch with Shawn, Emma, Mitch and Maria, and even if the latter weren't dating, the way they caught each other's gaze left Tom questioning how he missed that attraction for an entire month. It was glaringly obvious she was into the guy, which made him feel worthless.

Worst of all, sooner than later, he would also have to break it to the one person he enjoyed spending time with in Thailand the most that he was leaving. Prae was the glue that held him together after Maria's rejection, yet he couldn't do another year of this heartache. Although it wasn't as bad as Mackenzie's betrayal, Maria's actions still stung.

A firm set of knocks echoed on his front door. Was it Becca trying to entice him with drinks again? It was nice to have company, but he wasn't sure he had the energy, and she often vented about Mitch since the guy had burned them both. Tom's moods never improved after that topic came up. Although after seeing him break down in Kanchanaburi, Tom's disdain for the man was a little misplaced. Losing a sister would destroy anyone, and from what Mitch had said at lunch, it sounded like he was getting help. He'd stopped acting like a cocky, competitive jerk as well.

The knocks echoed again with less certainty. Not Becca. After opening the door, Tom's eyes widened.

Prae stood with a quivering lip, hands clasped. He invited her in and shut the door, but she didn't remove her shoes.

"Prae, what's wrong?"

"You're leaving, and you didn't tell me!" Her voice hadn't wavered with that much emotion since that jerk had hurt her over the New Year.

A pain drove into his gut. He thought he would have more time to tell her. He wasn't sure how she found out, but that wasn't important.

"I was on the fence, but with everything that happened last month..."

Tears fell down her cheeks. "Are you going back to Canada?"

He was eighty percent positive he would, but he could only say, "I don't know."

She chewed her lip. "You can't let one awful experience ruin Thailand for you."

"It wasn't just one." Rejection after rejection and watching his friends face the same gave him little hope. He hadn't dared to give a relationship with Prae a shot because his heart was still healing.

"I thought... never mind" She gazed down the empty hallway and sighed.

"What did you think?"

"It's silly."

"I'm sure it's not."

She took a trembling breath. "I thought once you knew I liked you, you'd want to stay. Go out together after you'd gotten over Maria."

His stomach somersaulted. More than anything, he considered it, but his fear won out in the end. "It wasn't an easy decision, but given my track record with women, you'd move on in a couple of months, and I wouldn't survive at work. It's bad enough facing Maria and Mitch every day. If I faced that and a failed relationship with you... it would be impossible to stay."

"I'm not Maria or your ex-fiancée. I only have feelings for you." Her eyes sparkled with unshed tears.

"For now." He smiled gently. "You're a beautiful person, Prae, as much, if not more, inside than out, which is a high compliment because you're stunning. It won't take you long to find someone else." Two months ago, she was heartbroken over a childhood sweetheart. What if that man changed his mind? He was more desirable than Tom. They had a history together, and he was more handsome.

"These aren't feelings that fade that easily. Please Tom, if you haven't decided yet about where to spend the next school year, let me take you on a date. I'll plan everything, and maybe you'll see how much you mean to me. If it's awful, I won't bother you about it again, I promise."

Her hesitation, her fingers tapping on her leg, her eyes, almost afraid to meet his, showed him how hard this was to ask. She put herself out there so many times. "Okay."

"Thank you." She leaned up and pecked him on the cheek. "Don't worry. I'll tell you where we're going and what to bring if that helps."

Tom stopped himself from touching his cheek which still burned with the warmth of her. "That memory of my anxiety doesn't make you want to run?"

"It makes me want to dissolve it for you in any way I can. Are you free Saturday morning?"

A woman this amazing wouldn't tolerate him for long, but if she wanted to try, he would. "I am."

"Good, you'll only need yourself, and we'll be outside."

He smiled. Despite his racing heart, she knew how to put him at ease. "I can't wait."

***

Tom met Prae at her apartment Saturday morning since she said she was running a little behind schedule and had texted him that well before their meeting time.

The whole place smelled like a restaurant, and he came inside to help her pack a few things into containers: a beef salad, chicken satays, and fish cakes. She even had a thermos for soup. She must have been up all night.

"Tom Yum Talay for you, Tom." She giggled to herself as she poured the red seafood soup into the thermos. "I hope that is okay." She wiped her hands on her apron.

"I can't believe you've gone to all this trouble."

Prae just smiled. "It's no trouble. It's far nicer to cook when there's someone to share it with."

"You're spoiling me, not that I'm complaining." They were having a picnic in the park, and he'd imagined a couple of sandwiches, a fruit, and a granola bar, but this was extravagant. He offered to clean up while Prae went to change. He packed it all in the backpack she had asked him to bring and rinsed the dishes in the sink.

When she returned, she was in a beautiful peach dress with pink flowers and green leaves. It had a narrow v-neckline, showing off a slight bit of her cleavage, and the material flowed just past her knees. Tasteful, but still very attractive. His heartbeat, drowning out all other sounds, seemed to agree.

"You look incredible."

Prae blushed and smiled, her brown eyes lighting up. "Thank you. You are very handsome." She patted the t-shirt that Emma had helped him pick out, more fitted than what he typically wore, but that made his arms stand out.

"Thanks, that's kind of you to say."

"It's the truth." She dug in the fridge for a bag of mangosteen and placed it in her large purse. "It seems like we have everything. Ready to explore the park?"

Tom grinned. "As ready as I'll ever be."

Together, they walked downstairs and hopped in a cab. She pointed out all her favourite places as they passed them, insisting they needed to try different desserts, shops, and restaurants before he left. He'd need months at the rate of her recommendations, but she gave them with so much enthusiasm, he agreed to each one.

"Do you miss home?" Prae asked with a forlorn gaze.

"I miss my family, our barbeques, playing with my nieces and nephews, downhill skiing, and hiking in the mountains."

"That all sounds wonderful."

"You'd like it. Like a colder Chiang Mai region with snow in the winters."

"Perhaps someday I'll visit." Something in her smile told him she didn't believe her words.

It was odd to consider someone he talked to almost daily to be on the other side of the world. It didn't bother him much with Becca or his other colleagues, but Prae was different.

"I would love that. Are you missing your family, or did you get a good fill of your brother over the holidays?"

Prae laughed. "Yes, he can be a lot, although I still love him. I'll be visiting them over the March break."

"You'll have to say hi for me."

"Of course." Prae smoothed the material of her dress. She pressed her lips together, looked at him then back at her hands. "I remember all the kind, wonderful words you told me after Sakda left. They kept from breaking down, many times."

"How was I so oblivious? If only I'd stayed with you a little longer in that kitchen."

"With Maria in your heart, there was no room for me."

He admired the way she expressed it so calmly, even though it was a heart-wrenching emotion. After months of listening to him blather on about Maria and that doomed relationship, Prae could sidestep that rejection and had faith that a connection was possible between them, despite Tom's fears. If she believed a heart only accepted one person at a time, and he was that man for her without hesitation, he'd been living a miserable existence for weeks for no good reason. That stopped today.

Tom reached out for her hand. "There's room now."

Prae threaded their fingers together and leaned her head on his chest, chasing away the chill of the taxi's air conditioning. "Your heart is racing."

"Because of you."

She smiled shyly and snuggled back into his chest. Dates were never this easy or relaxed with Maria. Prae just existed in the space they shared, and it felt right. No hoops to jump through or pushing his comfort zone.

"Thanks for encouraging me to do this. I get stuck in my head and worry."

"Thank you for agreeing to it. This is better than anything else this year."

"I second that, and I haven't even tried your amazing picnic yet."

Prae's cheeks reddened, and he leaned down to kiss her there. When she tensed, his stomach plummeted until he noticed her eyes on the taxi driver. The man was giving her the stink eye, so Tom gave her a bit more distance, and she relaxed.

Once they arrived at the park, he grabbed her hand, and she lead them to a secluded area of the forest, where birdsong and rustling leaves blocked all other noises. She laid out a blanket and unpacked the food from his bag. Everything had a delicious aroma, while Prae sat with a nervous smile on her face. He still couldn't believe she'd done this just for him. No one had ever strived this hard to charm him and make him happy. Not a single ex.

He was dense for not renewing his contract or going out with her earlier.

He wrapped his arms around Prae and whispered in her ear, "You're amazing. This is perfect. You are perfect. I promise you, I will take you out and make you feel as cherished as you make me feel soon."

Her lip trembled and her eyes watered, but differently from earlier this week. "Tom."

He stopped himself from leaning in to kiss her. Instead, he inched forward and asked, "Is this okay?"

She nodded, and they drew closer until their noses brushed together. Her breath tickled his lips, but he kept his distance, brushing her nose again and pressing his forehead to hers. "And this?"

Her exhalation as she murmured, "yes," was like a feather kiss. He waited, each second reminding him of how much this woman had supported him, built him up, and fought for his affection. He should have asked her out the moment she admitted she liked him.

Her lips brushed against his, and he matched her hesitance, his excitement growing as her confidence and intensity did. He placed his hand at the base of her skull and drew her closer. His chest danced with warmth as their mouths moved in sync like they were one.

When they broke apart, Prae ran a hand over the side of his face, making him shudder. "That was real, right?" she asked.

His reply escaped as a whisper. "Yeah."

She sighed and leaned into his shoulder. "It's a silly question, but I've imagined it so many times..."

"With me?"

Prae giggled, and said, "Of course," as if it were the most obvious response.

There wasn't a chance he could leave Bangkok this spring, not with his heart working overtime in his chest. Not with dreams of whisking Prae around the continent, to beaches, parks, restaurants, and anywhere that would make her smile. Not with a promise of his dream future under his fingertips. "I best look for a job in Bangkok."

Prae's jaw dropped and her eyes lit up. "Really? You haven't even tried the picnic."

Tom chuckled and brushed his lips against hers again. "I don't need food to decide that you're the right person for me."

Prae sniffled. "I'm happy I chose waterproof mascara."

"And I'm happy you chose me."

"It was the easiest choice I've ever made."

He kissed her again and again, despite the snacks cooling, his nagging fear it was late in the season to find employment, and the improbability that an amazing woman like Prae would care so deeply about him. If that could be true, he'd figure out the rest.

***

Thanks for reading. I miscounted, and there are now 3 more chapters to go. I forgot I had one more of Tom's chapters after this one. Up next will be Mitch and him facing some of the harm he's caused while he gets ready for the upcoming school year. I'm hoping to post it tomorrow or on Friday.