POV: Elena
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The morning light filtered through the tall windows of the lake house. Outside, the water sparkled like glass. Inside, Zayden sat beside me on the rug, barefoot, quietly flipping through a book of poetry he claimed he didn't like—but hadn't stopped reading for an hour.
"'Some people arrive and make such a beautiful impact, you can barely remember what life was like before them,'" he read aloud, then paused, glancing sideways. "Is that too cheesy?"
I smiled, my legs stretched out across his lap. "Completely. But say it again."
He rolled his eyes, but his voice softened. "You make it make sense."
My heart fluttered.
We spent the day like that. Peaceful. Uncomplicated. Cooking breakfast together and dancing like fools to an old playlist in the kitchen. I laughed so hard I nearly cried when he tried to do a spin and bumped into the fridge.
Later, we played cards on the deck, the sun warm on our skin, and he let me win… badly.
"You're really not good at pretending you're not letting me win," I said, nudging his leg with mine.
"I like seeing you happy," he said simply.
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Nightfall
POV: Zayden
She curled into me on the couch again, her head resting on my chest as we watched a movie neither of us paid attention to. I felt her heartbeat through her hoodie. I felt her trust.
When she lifted her head and looked at me, there was no doubt in her eyes this time.
"Zayden?"
"Yes?"
"I want to stay with you tonight."
I blinked. "You mean—"
She nodded, slowly. "I want to. Not because I'm trying to forget anything. But because I'm finally ready to feel something real."
I swallowed hard.
"Are you sure?" I asked, brushing my fingers gently along her jaw.
"I've never been more sure."
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Later That Night
The bedroom was filled with soft lamplight. She stood in front of me, in one of my T-shirts, her hair slightly messy from our earlier laughter. I'd never seen anything more breathtaking.
There was no rush. No pressure. Just us—two souls slowly healing, finding their way back to one another.
I kissed her forehead. Then her nose. Then her lips.
And when we fell into bed, it wasn't about lust. It was about closeness. Wholeness.
We held each other like the world outside didn't exist.
And for the first time… I think we both believed that maybe, just maybe, this could last.
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