7:17 AM – Beach House, Ziannah's Room
The first light of Sunday crept over the horizon like a lover tracing skin. Ziannah stirred beneath the silk sheets, the warmth beside her already gone. She reached out instinctively, palm grazing only pillow. A note lay where Peter had been:
Coffee's brewing. Meet me on the shore.
Still bare, she pulled on a robe and padded to the patio. The air smelled like ocean and last night's afterglow. Her body still ached in all the right places, her lips swollen from kisses that felt too much like promises.
7:28 AM – Shoreline
Peter stood barefoot in the sand, shirtless, surfboard tucked under one arm. A thermos waited on a rock with two cups. When he saw her, his grin widened like sunrise.
"Good morning, trouble," he said, eyes sweeping down her robe-covered figure.
"You left before round three?" she teased, sipping her coffee.
"Needed waves to clear my head. You mess me up, Zi."
She licked her lips slowly. "Good."
8:03 AM – Ocean
Zih joined him in the water, both of them waist-deep, the morning tide cool and cleansing. He pulled her close, arms looping around her wet waist.
"You ever think about us, five years from now?" he asked.
She shrugged. "Sometimes. Usually naked. Sometimes with kids. Mostly with me on top."
Peter laughed, head falling back. "Jesus, woman."
"What? I'm being honest."
"Then marry me."
She froze.
"What?"
"Not now," he said quickly. "I mean one day. When we're done playing games. When you're ready."
Zih blinked. Her chest tightened—not with fear, but with something scarier: hope.
"You're serious?"
He nodded.
"Then don't fuck it up."
He kissed her hard. The water lapped at their bodies as the sun lit them gold.
11:11 AM – Kitchen, Beach House
The squad had arrived. Kyle and Mika brought in a bag of fresh fruits. Lita strutted in wearing last night's dress, still radiant. Mikey carried two pizza boxes like trophies.
"Where's the lovebirds?" Lita asked.
"Probably doing it on a seashell somewhere," Mika replied.
Ziannah and Peter emerged moments later, hand in hand, sun-kissed and smiling. The group burst into mock applause.
"Finally official?" Mikey asked.
Peter smirked. "Let's just say... we're not just playing anymore."
Zih leaned in, whispered, "But the games were fun."
Everyone cheered.
3:00 PM – Balcony Hangout
They lay on sunbeds. Laughter echoing, music soft. Drinks clinked. Phones captured blurry moments. Kyle played DJ. Lita did a tipsy catwalk. Peter kissed Zih's shoulder without thinking.
She noticed. Smiled. Kissed him back.
"This day's perfect," she whispered.
"You're perfect," he replied.
6:46 PM – Sunset Cliffside
Zih and Peter sat at the edge of the cliff, watching the sun drop into the sea. Her head rested on his shoulder.
"What if we ruin it?" she asked quietly.
Peter took her hand. "Then we rebuild it. Every time. Over and over."
She nodded. "You're really in this, aren't you?"
"All the way."
She kissed him slow. Not lust. Not play. Just love.
10:01 PM – Bedroom
They made love again, this time slower than ever. No rush. No fireworks. Just whispers, eye contact, and bare honesty. Each movement was a sentence. Each kiss, a vow.
Zih cried. Just a little. Just enough.
Peter held her tight. "You okay?"
"I think I love you too much," she whispered.
"Then we're even," he said, kissing her tears away.
3:33 AM – Rooftop Deck
They lay under the stars, no clothes, no secrets.
"If this ends," Zih said, "just promise me one thing."
"Anything."
"That you'll never pretend it wasn't real."
Peter kissed her hand. "Never. You're the realest thing that ever happened to me."
The tide crashed in the distance.
Their hearts, louder still.