AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Dig in, everyone,” Max said with a grin, grabbing a slice of pepperoni and mushroom. “We earned this.”
“Cheers to banishing evil spirits!” Fiona added, lifting a slice of her own.
Laughter filled the air as they toasted to their success, sharing stories from the harrowing ordeal they had just survived. Layla glanced over at Max and Fiona, noting the easy camaraderie between them. It was obvious that they cared for each other deeply. It was obviously the kind of love that connected soulmates.
“Hey,” Jake whispered, catching her eye. “You okay?”
“Better than okay,” Layla replied, leaning in to press a tender kiss against his lips.
As the pizza disappeared slice by slice, their laughter grew louder, banishing any lingering shadows from their hearts. The threat was over. They’d conquered it together.
Chapter Eighteen
Layla, her eyes stilladjusting to the morning light, gazed at Jake as he slept soundly beside her. The warmth of his body and the scent of smoky ashes that lingered on his skin brought a smile to her face.
“Jake,” she whispered, leaning closer to him and gently pressing her lips against his. His eyelids fluttered open, revealing those piercing blue eyes that always seemed to see right through her. “Good morning.”
“Morning, beautiful,” he murmured, pulling her closer for another tender kiss. “What’s got you up so early?”
“Something...different,” Layla replied, feeling the weight of their recent supernatural encounters and wanting to put some distance between them and the spirits for a while. “I think we should do something away from here, just the two of us. We deserve a break, don’t you think?”
Jake considered her suggestion, his strong arms encircling her waist. “You’re right,” he agreed. “We’ve been through a lot lately. Let’s take a day off and have some fun.”
“Perfect,” she smiled, thrilled by the idea of spending uninterrupted time with Jake.
As they strolled hand-in-hand along the San Antonio River Walk, the sunlight dappled through the leaves above them, casting playful shadows on their faces. The vibrant colors of the buildings, the gentle murmur of conversations around them, and the serene flow of the river all contributed to the idyllic atmosphere they both craved.
As they continued walking, they found themselves at a quieter, more secluded spot, away from the hustle and bustle of the tourist crowds. Here, the river flowed more calmly, creating a soothing background noise.
Jake turned to Layla, his eyes softening as he gazed at her. Without a word, he pulled her close and kissed her deeply. “It’s nice to know it’s okay to do that whenever I want. I just wish we were somewhere a little more private.” He looked at the people swarming the tourist attraction. “Or a lot more private.”
She shook her head. “There’s plenty of time for that when we get home. We need to enjoy just being here. Hey, do you want to take the boat tour? I took it once, with Bella and Fiona actually. It was a ton of fun, and we learned a lot about the River Walk and its history.
Jake smiled, still holding Layla close. “Sure, sounds like a great idea.” As they approached the ticket booth, Jake slipped his hand down to Layla’s lower back, pulling her even closer as they waited in line. He couldn’t help but smile, knowing that they had the whole day ahead of them to explore and enjoy each other’s company.
As they boarded the boat and took their seats, Layla leaned in close to Jake, resting her head on his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around her, feeling her warmth against him. As the tour began, they listened intently to the guide’s stories about the history of the River Walk and the city of San Antonio.
