The early morning sun streamed through the high windows of Nico’s workshop, casting long, golden rays across the room. Lily blinked awake, feeling the warmth on her face and the soft weight of Nico’s arm draped over her. For a moment, she didn’t move, letting the memories of last night wash over her—their passion, the intensity of being with him, the way everything felt so right.

Nico was still asleep beside her, his chest rising and falling steadily, his face relaxed in the quiet morning light. His hair was tousled, and a small, contented smile tugged at the corner of his lips. Lily couldn’t help but smile herself, feeling a wave of affection wash over her.

She carefully slipped out from under his arm, sitting up quietly so as not to wake him. Her dress was still in a heap on the floor, her shoes discarded nearby. She looked around the room and spotted Nico’s shirt, reaching for it and slipping it on. It was oversized and smelled faintly of him—grease, wood, and something undeniably Nico.

Lily padded across the workshop to where the large garage door was slightly cracked open, letting in a gentle breeze. She pushed it up higher and stepped outside. The cool morning air kissed her skin, bringing her back to reality. The world outside was calm, a stark contrast to the intensity of the night before.

As she leaned against the doorframe, taking in the peaceful morning, her mind drifted back to the prom. The surprise of being crowned queen, Samantha’s unexpected kindness, and how it all led to her being here, with Nico. She couldn’t help but think of how everything seemed to be falling into place—prom night, the crown, Nico.

But beneath the calm surface, Lily felt the stirrings of uncertainty. She wasn’t sure what came next. Last night felt like a dream, but now that the sun was rising and reality was creeping back in, she wondered what Nico was thinking. Was it just a one-time thing? Did it mean more to him, the way it did to her?

Lily’s thoughts were interrupted when she heard Nico stir behind her. She turned to see him sitting up on the couch, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand, his expression still sleepy but soft.

“Morning,” he murmured, his voice thick with sleep. His eyes landed on her wearing his shirt, and a slow grin spread across his face. “You look good in that.”

Lily felt her cheeks warm, but she smiled back at him. “Thanks.”

Nico stretched, his muscles flexing as he stood up and made his way over to her, wrapping his arms around her from behind. He pressed a soft kiss to her shoulder, and Lily leaned into him, savoring the feel of his warmth.

“I don’t want this to be a one-time thing,” Nico said softly, as if reading her thoughts. “I meant it when I said I love you.”

Lily’s heart skipped a beat. She turned in his arms, looking up into his eyes, searching for any hint of hesitation. But there was none—only sincerity and warmth.

“I love you too,” she whispered.

For a moment, they stood there in the doorway, the world outside forgotten once again as they held each other. Whatever came next, they would face it together.

Later that Day: Back to Reality

By mid-morning, Lily knew she had to go home. She reluctantly pulled away from Nico’s embrace, feeling the weight of reality settling back in. Prom was over, and life had to go on. They couldn’t stay in the safe bubble of the workshop forever.

“I should probably head home,” she said, her voice tinged with reluctance. “My dad will be wondering where I am.”

Nico nodded, though she could tell he wasn’t any more eager to leave the workshop than she was. “Yeah, I get it. Do you want me to drive you?”

Lily smiled. “That would be nice.”

They dressed quickly, exchanging soft smiles and stolen kisses as they did. Before long, they were in Nico’s truck, the rumble of the engine cutting through the quiet of the morning. The drive back to her house was peaceful, the tension from the night before replaced by a sense of calm. They didn’t need to say much—just being with him, knowing how he felt, was enough for Lily.

As they pulled up to her house, Nico killed the engine and turned to her, a playful smile tugging at his lips. “So… prom queen, huh?”

Lily laughed, rolling her eyes. “I still can’t believe that happened. I thought for sure Samantha was going to name herself queen.”

“Yeah, but she didn’t,” Nico said, his smile softening. “And you deserved it.”

Lily’s smile faded a little as she thought about Samantha. “I wonder why she did it,” she said quietly. “I mean, we’ve never really been close. It just seems… weird.”

“Maybe she saw something in you,” Nico suggested. “Maybe she realized how great you are.”

Lily wasn’t sure what to think, but she nodded, letting the thought linger in her mind. She leaned over and kissed Nico softly, savoring the moment before pulling back.

“I’ll see you later?” she asked, her voice hopeful.

“Definitely,” Nico replied, his smile reassuring.

Lily stepped out of the truck and made her way up the front steps, feeling Nico’s eyes on her the entire time. When she turned back to wave, he was still watching her, a small smile on his lips.

At Home: Uncertainty

The house was quiet when she stepped inside. Her dad was probably at work, as usual. She let out a sigh of relief—she wasn’t ready to explain why she hadn’t come home after prom.

Lily headed upstairs to her room, her mind swirling with thoughts of the night before and the future. As she sat on her bed, still wearing Nico’s shirt, she couldn’t help but feel like things were shifting. The prom, the crown, Nico… it was all so overwhelming.

But as she lay back on her bed, staring up at the ceiling, one thought remained clear: she was falling deeper for Nico, and despite the uncertainties ahead, she knew one thing for sure—she didn’t regret a single moment of it.