She turns slowly in my arms until we’re face-to-face. Her palms settle flat against my chest, right over my heart. Those warm brown eyes look up at me, brimming with hope and a flicker of nerves.
“Six days feels like forever out here,” she says softly. “We’ve got time to figure things out.”
I search her face, taking in every freckle, every small shift in her expression. “You really think so?”
“I want to,” she curls her fingers lightly into my shirt. “Ireallywant to.”
My mouth opens to respond when a crew member approaches with a polite smile, interrupting the moment. “Excuse me, Mr. Reyes and Ms. Harlow. Your picnic is readywhenever you are. We’ve set everything up on the forward deck under the canopy.”
“Thank you,” Sienna says warmly. “We’ll head over now.”
We make our way to the forward deck, where the crew has prepared everything. The spread is almost too beautiful to disturb, with an overflowing charcuterie board of fresh fruit, cheeses, bread, olives, and flaky pastries. Chocolate-dipped strawberries sit beside a chilled bottle of rosé, and Sienna eyes them instantly.
I hold onto Sienna’s hand as she lowers herself onto the checkered throw, then settle beside her, close enough that our thighs press together. She thanks me with a genuine smile, those dimples flashing, and my chest squeezes tight.
We eat slowly and unhurriedly, as if the rest of the world has faded away. The conversation stays light and teasing, playful and strangely domestic. At some point, I pick up a strawberry, dip it slowly into the bowl of melted chocolate, and then lean across the small space between us.
“Here,” I whisper, holding it to her lips.
Sienna’s eyes lock on mine as she pushes forward and takes a bite. A tiny smear of chocolate lands on the corner of her lower lip. Without thinking, I reach over and swipe my thumb across it. Instead of wiping it away, I bring my thumb to my mouth and slowly suck the chocolate off, never breaking eye contact.
Her breath catches. A deep flush creeps up her neck and across her cheeks. She lets out a soft, surprised laugh that makes something in my stomach flip.
“This is the second time you’ve fed me today,” she comments, her eyes shimmering.
“I already told you that I like taking care of people.” That is my only response.
“Hmm.” She hums, smearing a chunk of pineapple in chocolate before bringing it to her lips and deliberately sucking it slowly, as if she knows it’s teasing me.
The sun continues its slow descent, turning the ocean into liquid fire around us, but I barely notice. All I can focus on is her, the sound of her laughter, and the way she keeps glancing at me like she’s memorizing this moment too.
We keep eating and talking and laughing hysterically until the sun finally slips below the horizon and the sky deepens into twilight.
It’s not until a crew member announces that we’re beginning our return to the resort a couple of hours later that we finally stand. We’ve finished the first bottle of rosé and made solid progress on the second. The wine has left everything feeling pleasantly warm and fuzzy around the edges.
I stand behind Sienna at the railing, loosely wrapping my arms around her waist. She leans back into my chest without hesitation, her head resting against me as the first stars blink into existence overhead.
“This is perfect,” she whispers, her voice full of wonder.
“You’re perfect,” I murmur against her hair, my hand covering hers so my thumb brushes over the ring again.
She turns slowly in my arms until her back is against the railing and she’s looking up at me. That playful smirk I love sparks in her eyes. “What’s the dumbest thing you’ve done to win a bet?”
I think for a second. “Sophomore year. Ethan bet me I couldn’t eat a whole ghost pepper in under thirty seconds. I won… and paid for it for the next two very miserable hours.”
She bursts out laughing. “You’re such an idiot.”
“Agreed,” I admit, smiling down at her. “Your turn.”
She bites her lip, thinking. “I once streaked across campus because Aria didn’t believe I’d do it. Security chased me for threeblocks, and I hid in a dumpster for an hour until she rescued me.”
I laugh so hard I have to grip the railing for support. “You’re insane.”
“Certified,” she says proudly, grinning. “But I got a month of free pizza, so it was totally worth it.”
We keep trading silly stories as more stars fill the sky above us. Each ridiculous tale makes her laugh harder and lean into me a little more, until everything between us feels warm, easy, and dangerously right. Eventually, the laughter fades into a comfortable silence. She rests her head on my chest, listening to my heartbeat as I rub slow, soothing circles on her back.
“Spending the last four days with you doing this ridiculous bingo card,” she pauses, her lips curving against my chest. “Has honestly been the best days I’ve had in a long time.”
