The cheerful buzz of the LEGO shop surrounded you, a kaleidoscope of bright boxes stacked high on every shelf. Elijah’s eyes lit up like a kid in a candy store as he darted from display to display, muttering things like, “This one’s a classic,” and, “We could totally build this together.”

You followed at a more measured pace, smiling at his enthusiasm. He picked up a box featuring a medieval castle and turned to you, his grin so wide it was almost contagious. “What do you think? Castle or spaceship?”

“Castle,” you said without hesitation, imagining the two of you working on the intricate turrets and drawbridge late into the night.

“Good choice,” Elijah said, tossing it into the basket already brimming with smaller kits and random LEGO figurines.

As he wandered to the next aisle, you found yourself distracted by a little LEGO set featuring a coffee shop. The miniature details were adorable, and you could already picture it sitting on the shelf in your apartment.

“You want that one?” Elijah’s voice startled you from your thoughts. He’d doubled back, noticing the way you were eyeing the set.

“I don’t know…” you said, glancing at the price tag. “It’s cute, but—”

“Done,” he interrupted, plucking the box off the shelf and adding it to the basket. “Date night rules: no overthinking. Just fun.”

You rolled your eyes playfully but couldn’t help smiling. Elijah had a way of making everything seem light and easy, like you could just let go and enjoy the moment.

By the time you reached the checkout, the two of you had amassed an almost absurd amount of LEGO kits, from the castle to a random set of animals, and even a LEGO bonsai tree Elijah insisted would “add class” to his desk. The cashier raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by the haul.

Back in the car, Elijah popped open one of the smaller boxes, spilling LEGO pieces onto the console. “Can’t wait till we get home,” he explained, snapping a couple of bricks together.