They stepped out into the backyard together and the soft grass brushed against their shoes as the breeze carried the scent of flowers and damp earth.
The pool glowed a deep blue under the afternoon sky.
Brandon slowed his pace, his hand still lightly holding Charlotte's, as if guiding her gently through this new space.
He cast her a brief glance and led her along the stone path that curved around the garden toward the pool.
There Eira was lounging comfortably in one of the long poolside chairs.
She lay with one arm draped behind her head, legs stretched out, her fingers scrolling across the screen of her mobile phone without much thought.
Brandon's smile softened as he stopped beside Charlotte, "She's Eira… My girlfriend."
Charlotte glanced at Eira and gave a faint nod "Mhm."
Eira, who had been lazily scrolling through her phone, felt their footsteps on the stone path and instinctively looked up.
