"God," I mutter, grimacing as a brutal headache pounds in my temples. I shove my tangled hair out of my face and sit up, rubbing the lingering blur from my eyes. 

When things finally come into focus, I spot Elijah sitting by the window with a steaming cup of coffee, watching me with far too much amusement.

"Fun fact," he says, barely holding back a grin. "You can burst a blood vessel doing that."

"Fun fact," I deadpan, still blinking away the haze, "I'm about three seconds away from strangling you."

He takes a slow, exaggerated sip of his coffee. "Hey, I'm just looking out for my big sister. Someone's gotta make sure you're still breathing in the morning."

I squint at him, eyebrows knitting together. "How long have you been sitting there, exactly?"

"Since we rolled in at two. By the way, you snore. And it's loud. Like a bear with allergies."

I just stare at him, annoyance mingling with disbelief.

Elijah finally cracks a laugh, holding up a hand. "Alright, I'm kidding. Mostly. But I did stick around just to make sure you didn't throw up, choke, and, you know...die."

"Wow," I say, scoffing, "nothing says brotherly love quite like vomit patrol."

"Oh, absolutely," he replies, nodding with mock seriousness. "The pay's terrible, but the entertainment? Unmatched."

I drop back onto the bed with a huff, closing my eyes, hoping he'll get the hint and leave. But when I open them a moment later, Elijah is still there—except now he's kicked his feet up on my dresser and looks even more settled in, scrolling his phone without a care in the world.

I sigh. "Are you seriously planning to hang out in here?"

Without looking up, he shrugs. "Hey, I'm just here for moral support. You look like you're one alarm away from sleeping forever."

I glare at him, grabbing another pillow. "Elijah, I don't need moral support. I need silence."

"Oh, I get it." He nods, pretending to look sympathetic. "You need your beauty sleep. But let's be real, sis. Some miracles even sleep can't fix."

That does it. I hurl the pillow at him, and it smacks him square in the chest. He laughs, holding up his hands in surrender.

"Okay, okay, I'm leaving," he says, still chuckling as he stands and heads for the door. "Just remember, I'm the best brother you'll ever have"

With a playful laugh, he closes the door, leaving me shaking my head, half-annoyed, half-smiling.

••☆••

I settle into the passenger seat of Daylen's car, watching the world blur by as he takes us who knows where. He's kept the destination a secret all evening, saying he wanted it to be a surprise. 

The thrill of the unknown has me smiling, and I can feel my own excitement in the way my fingers tap lightly against my knee. 

Every now and then, I catch him sneaking glances at me—quick, curious glances, with this soft, almost confused smile on his lips.

I turn to him, eyebrow raised. "What?" I ask, feeling a little puzzled myself.

He chuckles, his gaze shifting back to the road. "I don't know. It's just... you look different tonight. Happier, somehow."

To be fair, I am happier than I've been in years. It's been a month since having Elijah back in my life has filled this gap I didn't even realize was still there. His usual mischievous, annoying self makes me feel grounded, like I've found a piece of myself I'd forgotten. It's familiar, comforting—like a small bit of home.

"Is that a bad thing?" I ask, a playful smirk tugging at my lips.

"Not at all." He shakes his head, smiling wider. "It's just... I've never seen you like this before. It's a new look. A good look," he pauses, glancing over at me, "and I love it."

The warmth in his voice makes my cheeks flush, and I turn to the window, smiling to myself, letting the excitement bubble up as we drive on to wherever this night is about to take us.

As we continue driving, I watch the changing scenery, trying to piece together clues about where we might be headed. 

The city lights gradually give way to the open stretch of a quieter road, the bustle replaced by shadows of trees swaying under the moonlight. Each mile only builds the suspense, my heart fluttering with a mix of anticipation and curiosity.

I glance over at Daylen, noticing how relaxed he seems as he drives, one hand casually resting on the wheel, the other tapping out a rhythm on his thigh. He catches me looking, smirking knowingly.

"Still trying to guess?" he asks, a hint of amusement in his voice.

"Maybe," I reply with a teasing smile. "You know I don't like surprises."

"Oh, I know," he says, chuckling softly. "But this one... this one's worth the wait, trust me."

Eventually, the road opens up, and I catch sight of something that makes my heart skip a beat. Just ahead, framed by twinkling fairy lights strung along the path, sits an old, beautifully restored vineyard estate. 

The grand, rustic structure is surrounded by rows upon rows of grapevines, their silhouettes casting intricate shadows under the moon's glow. 

A warm light spills from the main building, where tables are set up outside under the stars, flickering candles casting a romantic ambiance over the whole area.

"Wow..." I whisper, barely able to contain the awe in my voice.

Daylen pulls up and parks, turning to me with a soft smile. "Surprise," he says, his voice warm with pride. "Thought I'd give you a bit of Italy tonight."

I can't help but grin, my heart racing with excitement. "Daylen, this is... incredible."

He steps out of the car and comes around to open my door, offering his hand to help me out. The touch of his hand sends a small thrill through me, and I squeeze his fingers as I step onto the cobblestone path. We walk toward the candlelit tables, each step filling me with a strange mix of excitement and nervousness.

The host leads us to a table set a bit further back from the rest, partially secluded by a trellis wrapped in fragrant vines. 

The night air is warm, carrying a faint floral scent that mingles with the rich aroma of wine coming from the nearby cellar. Daylen pulls out my chair, and I sink into it, looking around, trying to absorb every detail.

"So," he says as he takes his seat across from me, "I know you said you missed traveling, so... I figured this might bring a little piece of it to you."

I smile, meeting his gaze across the candlelit table. "I don't think I've ever seen anything like this," I admit, reaching for the glass of wine he pours for me. "It's beautiful. Thank you."

We toast, our glasses clinking softly, and I take a sip, savoring the taste. The wine is smooth, with a hint of sweetness that lingers on my tongue, and I close my eyes, enjoying the moment.

Our conversation flows effortlessly as the courses arrive, each dish better than the last. He makes me laugh with his stories, his eyes lighting up whenever I catch his gaze. 

We talk about everything and nothing—our childhood memories, the places we'd both like to visit one day, and the little quirks we notice in the people around us.

Halfway through dessert, he leans forward, his eyes dancing with mischief. "So," he says, his voice dropping to a low murmur, "if you could pick any place in the world to be right now, where would it be?"

I tilt my head, pretending to consider the question, though I already know my answer. "Right here," I say softly, feeling the words settle between us. "With you."

For a moment, he's silent, his gaze steady on mine. I can feel my cheeks flush under the intensity of his stare, and he reaches across the table, covering my hand with his. 

The warmth of his touch sends a jolt up my arm, and I lace my fingers through his, the simple act feeling more intimate than I'd expected.

"Come with me," he whispers, his voice husky.

He stands, pulling me to my feet, and we walk through the vineyard, his hand never leaving mine. 

The rows of grapevines seem endless under the starlit sky, and we walk in silence, the night wrapped around us like a shared secret. Finally, we reach a small clearing with a blanket spread out on the grass, a cozy spot under an archway wrapped in ivy and fairy lights.

"Thought we'd end the night with a bit of stargazing," he says, gesturing for me to sit.

I settle onto the blanket, leaning back as he joins me, his arm slipping around my shoulders. The stars above us are impossibly bright, scattered across the sky like tiny diamonds, and I feel a sudden warmth spread through me, as if everything in this moment is exactly as it's meant to be.

I turn to look at him, my eyes meeting his, and I realize just how close we are, his face inches from mine. 

The quiet between us stretches, the air thick with an unspoken tension. He reaches up, brushing a strand of hair from my face, his fingers lingering on my cheek. 

My heart races, each beat echoing louder in my chest, and I can feel the intensity of his gaze, his eyes darkening as he leans in.

Our lips meet, soft and tentative at first, but the spark between us ignites almost instantly. His hand slips to the back of my neck, pulling me closer, deepening the kiss until I'm breathless. 

I slide my hands up his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart under my fingertips, and he presses me back onto the blanket, his weight warm and comforting against me.

The world around us fades, leaving only the feel of his touch, the heat of his kiss, and the soft rustle of leaves in the breeze. 

His hands trace gentle lines along my sides, sending shivers down my spine, and I arch into him, my fingers tangling in his hair. Each kiss, each touch, only pulls me deeper, and I lose myself in the warmth of his embrace, the stars above us blurring into one as we sink into the night.

Time slips away, each moment melting into the next, until we're lying side by side, our breaths mingling in the cool night air. He pulls me close, his fingers drawing soft circles on my back, and I rest my head on his chest, feeling the steady rise and fall beneath me.

"Thank you," I murmur, my voice barely a whisper.

He tightens his arm around me, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. "For what?"

"For this. For tonight." I close my eyes, letting the warmth of his embrace lull me into a quiet contentment. "For making me feel... happy."

He doesn't answer right away, but I can feel the soft smile against my hair, and he pulls me even closer, his hand running soothingly up and down my back.

"As long as I'm around," he says softly, "I'll make sure you feel that way, always."

We lay together in silence for a while, the cool night breeze whispering in our ears, our skin pressed warmly against each other.

Just as I began drifting into thought, Daylen was suddenly between my legs, hovering over me, his gaze dark and intent.

"What are you doing?" I asked, my voice laced with curiosity as my heart raced, my chest heaving.

He let out a knowing chuckle, lowering himself without breaking eye contact, and gently parted my legs with a look that was almost devouring.

"I've missed you," he murmured, easing my dress lower, tracing his finger along the hem of my underwear.

My breath caught as he began placing soft, teasing kisses along my inner thighs, leaving me speechless.

"Wait," I whispered, but he continued. "What if someone sees us?"

"Then they'll get a really good show."

I recently started working so I'll nearly have time to write 😣

But I hope you enjoyed. ❤

Any thoughts?