The next day, Val told Adam to be ready to run during their date that night. When she arrived at Adam’s hotel, he met her outside wearing matching athletic shorts and a technical running t-shirt. He had low socks and nice running shoes on. His hair was in its normal tousled-but-not-too-messy state and he looked like a natural athlete.

As he saw her taking in his clothes, he pointed at the shirt. “My folks took me shopping. My mom insisted on buying me some things, so I got this fancy new running outfit and shoes.”

She nodded in approval.

“We’re going to see a very typical DC sight tonight. Then we can find somewhere casual to get some food,” said Val as he got into her SUV and she pulled away from the hotel.

“Sounds good,” said Adam. “I’m game.”

Val drove them to the waterfront near the Tidal Basin. It was mid-April so the cherry blossoms along the Tidal Basin were beginning to bloom. It was always a stunning sight and one that most DC-ers went out of their way to see each year. The path around the Tidal Basin was pretty busy, but Val had a plan.

Val snuck peeks at Adam as she parked the car. He seemed awe-struck as he admired the cherry blossoms. They were everywhere. The trees were exploding in blooms, many of which floated slowly down through the air. You could even smell the scent of the blossoms on the breeze.

Val got out and pointed away from the Tidal Basin. “This way,” she said. She started jogging along a path near the water but away from the Tidal Basin, and Adam fell in line beside her. He was a solid runner and seemed to have no trouble catching up with her. She bet that he was faster than she was.

“We’re headed down to Hain’s Point. It’s a park near the Tidal Basin that also has cherry blossoms but without so many people,” she said. “Should be a great night for it.”

Adam slowed his running to match her pace.

“Sorry, I’m not a faster runner. I run twice a week, but I don’t seem to get noticeably faster. You can run ahead if you want to. I don’t mind.”

“I would never run ahead,” said Adam. “Besides, that’s not the point. We’re here to run together, not set land speed records. I’m happy running right here beside you.”

Val was pleased with his answer. Somehow she didn’t feel that he was upset about holding back on his speed but that he was genuinely enjoying the slower pace with her.

“Feel free to do the talking. I’ll just keep running and breathing over here,” she said. So Adam carried the conversation, for the most part, telling her stories of his adventures, including a story about riding a wooden boat in Costa Rica through the rainforest.

“That reminds me of the first time I went food shopping in Rwanda,” he started a new story. “I had finally settled in an apartment and unpacked my stuff. I had a few snacks but needed real food, more than I could get at the corner store. “

Val watched him out of the corner of her eye as she ran. She had a small smile as she sensed this story would be quite the adventure.

“I ventured a few streets over to the large street market. They had stalls for pretty much anything you could think of: clothes, cooking pots, books, and lots of food. It was easy to get some fruits and vegetables. I recognized most of what was on display. I tried to haggle a bit, but I’m pretty sure those nice ladies running the booths got the best of me.”

Val grinned at his admission. He continued animatedly telling his tale.

“I was almost done. Fruit, check. Veggies, check. Staples like rice and oil, check. The only thing I was missing was some meat. I passed some eggs, but I really wanted some sort of meat. I figured I could find a chicken, but after walking around several stalls, I couldn’t see one. So I decided to just get the next thing I saw and go with it. When in Rome, right?

“The next stall with meat had goats. I knew this because there were whole goats hanging upside down, stripped of skin but with heads and hooves still on. Trying to appear calm, I asked the woman running the stall if I could buy a piece. There was no way I wanted a whole goat. After some hand motions, trying to understand each other, she cut me off a whole leg and wrapped it up.

“I paid for the leg and carried it all the way home wondering how the heck I was going to cook a whole leg. I hardly had a pot big enough for rice.”

Val tried to run while laughing at his tales. “What did you do with the leg?” she asked.

“I cut it up as best I could and cooked it in a pot with rice. My butchering job was terrible, and I don’t think I did a very good job cooking it, as it was really chewy.” He laughs and shakes his head at the memory. “After that, I had a coworker take me to the market until I got more familiar with it.”

As they neared the end of the route Val had laid out, Adam stopped short. “I just realized that I’ve never asked you what Val is short for?” asked Adam.

“Why do you ask?” said Val. She didn’t love her full name and felt more comfortable going by her nickname.

“I’ve only known you as Val, but I’m curious to know what it stands for. Maybe Valerie?” he guessed.

“Nope,” Val replied. “Valentina.”

“Valentina.” Adam tested the name. He smiled as he said it. “I love it. I’m going to call you Valentina from now on.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Why?”

“I think it suits you better. Val is what I would call my best friend’s little sister. Val is the lady that volunteers at the library. You are more than that; you are the lovely Valentina. My valentine, Valentina.”

Although she felt more like the library volunteer he described, she couldn’t argue with him. He had a knack for making her feel unique and valued, like a fine wine to be savored, not one to be tossed back with pizza.

“Ok. Valentina it is,” she acquiesced with a tiny smile.

After the run, they headed toward the car but didn’t get inside. They walked along the waterfront, looking at the restaurants. They came across one with outdoor seating that seemed casual enough for their post-run sweaty selves.

“Let’s get it to go,” said Adam. “We can head back to the park we just ran around and eat there. I don’t have a blanket, but we can pretend it’s a picnic.”

Val was surprised, but pleased, at Adam’s suggestion. How romantic to eat beneath the blooming trees. “I might have a blanket in my car; we can check on the way back.”

Adam ordered their meals, sure to pick a dessert that they could share and, once again, paid.

“I’m going to pick up the tab for our next date,” Valentina insisted.

“No way,” said Adam. “I may pretend to be a modern man, but I can be a little old-fashioned, too. I want to pay. Especially with you doing all the planning for these dates, the least I can do is pick up the cost.”

“If you insist. In what other ways are you old fashioned?” she asked with a smile.

“Besides paying for dinner? I like to open doors and I’ll give you my jacket when you’re cold, but you know that I don’t hesitate in going for a good-night kiss.” Val blushed at his statement. Adam grinned. “I’m not much for fussing, but I think that’s my modern side. I wear clothes that are comfortable and do the job. I carry an ancient backpack instead of a fancy suitcase. I hardly dress up, and I enjoy things like this more than a formal event any day.”

Valentina wasn’t much for fussiness either. She dressed for comfort, preferred books to people in a lot of situations, and didn’t pretend to be someone she wasn’t. She didn’t stand on tradition much, although she let herself get stuck in everyday routines. But that was changing. Her planned trip to Rwanda, time spent with this handsome stranger, and shaking up her wardrobe were helping her to break out of that.

Adam and Valentina found a ratty blanket in the back of her SUV that she had last used to cushion something she moved in her car. With the blanket and food in tow, they found a flat spot in the grass of Hain’s Point to eat their picnic. It made Valentina’s day that he had ordered a dessert for them, and she happily shared it with him as they enjoyed the scenery.

As they started to clean up the picnic to head back to the car, Adam leaned over toward Valentina. “You have some chocolate on your lip,” he said as he used his thumb to brush away the sauce. He licked the sauce off his thumb, and Valentina’s mouth went dry. “I want to be sure there isn’t more,” he said as he leaned in and kissed Valentina.

There was no hesitation in her kiss. She parted her lips, and they deepened their kiss. Adam stepped closer to her and put his hands on the small of her back. As he kissed her, he gently drew her closer to him until their bodies were touching. Valentina dropped the edge of the blanket that she was holding and put her hands on his arms. She slowly slid her hands up his strong arms. Adam took one hand and used it to hold the side of her head. He kissed her like he couldn’t get enough. She matched his kisses. Her warm mouth eagerly returned his advances, and his touch brought fire to her skin. He touched more of her, her hair, her skin.

As they parted, both breathless, Valentina smiled. Adam smiled back. “I’m finding it hard to tear myself away from you,” he said, “but I also don’t want to rush things. I want more of you, but only what you are willing to give.”

Valentina didn’t have a response. What was she willing to give? She wasn’t one to hop into bed with someone on the first—or second—date, but she felt like she had known Adam longer.

When Adam took her hand and led her back to her car, she slowed her pace because she didn’t want the night to end. Would he invite her up to his hotel room? He said he would wait for her, but how long was she willing to wait?