Funny how one little word can make my face heat up like a firefly. I'm not sure how streamers can be considered all that romantic, but I guess a picnic in the park is. A birthday picnic with my boyfriend.

He reaches for my hand and I curl our fingers together easily, giving him a tight squeeze. "I hope so," I tell him with a quiet laugh. "I definitely really like you." In fact, I'm pretty positive I more than like Jack, that I've more than liked him for nearly a year now.

I'm pretty sure I'm in love with him, but that doesn't feel like the best thing to share right now. Not when I'm not really sure if Jack feels the same. I'm not about to corner him or make him feel put on the spot on his birthday.

So instead I push up to my toes to give him another quick kiss on the cheek and then drag him the two steps over to sit down on the blanket. "You should at least try the poutine before it gets cold," I tell him, lowering to my knees to pull out the little thermal lunch box holding the containers of fries, gravy, and cheese curds. "I make no promises for it bein' any good, but I went with a trusted a recipe, I promise. If you don't like it, you absolutely don't have to finish it."