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“You know how to plan a date.”
I grin. I’m nothing if not a planner.
We sip our cocoa and chat easily, the conversation flowing as naturally as the river before us. Our shoulders brush as we lie back and admire the stars.
I point out a few constellations and share stories Amber and I have made up about them.
Finley listens intently, her head resting on my shoulder. In the stillness of the moment, I'm amazed by how right this feels. How effortlessly she fits into my life.
She shifts her gaze, catching me staring, and smiles softly. “What?”
I reach out and tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “I was thinking about how lucky I am to be here with you.”
The moonlight dances in her eyes, and I'm captivated. Slowly, almost inevitably, we lean in.
Finley's breath catches. “Jake?—”
I lean closer. “Tell me if this isn't okay.”
She doesn't say a word. Instead, she closes the distance between us, pressing her lips to mine. The kiss starts soft and sweet but quickly deepens.
I cup her face, pulling her closer. She tastes like vanilla and cinnamon. I lose myself in her sweetness, in the perfect rightness of this moment.
We break apart, both breathing heavily. Finley rests her forehead against mine.
“That was—” She trails off, searching for the right word.
“Perfect,” I finish for her.
And it was. The whole night has been perfect. Everything feels right, from the laughter and banter at the bowling alley to this quiet moment under the stars. It is like it was always meant to be this way.
Finley and I begrudgingly gather up the blanket and thermos as the night winds down. We stroll back to my truck, our hands intertwined, enjoying the comfortable silence between us.
Finley spins around, her eyes twinkling mischievously. “I had a blast tonight.”
I pull her close, grinning from ear to ear. “Same here. It's been ages since I've had this much fun, Sugar.”
She giggles at the nickname, wrapping her arms around my waist.
“When's our next adventure?” I ask her. “How about dinner at my place? I'll whip up something tasty.”
Finley's face brightens. “That sounds amazing. And I could bring dessert! I've been experimenting with this new recipe.”
I chuckle, already daydreaming about the sweet treats she'll create. “You had me at dessert, Sugar.”
We share a lingering kiss, the promise of more good times hanging in the air. A buzz of excitement spirals through me, laden with possibilities that I haven't felt in forever.
I'm already counting down the days until our next date.
Who knows what the future has in store? I'm ready to dive in and find out, one sweet moment at a time.
Chapter 4
Finley
The aromas of fresh coffee and sizzling bacon greet me as I slide into the booth across from Scarlett at our favorite brunch spot downtown.
Scarlett takes a sip of her foamy latte, eyeing me over the rim of her mug with a knowing smile.
