Lianne sat frozen on her bed, clutching her phone like it was the only thing anchoring her to reality. Nathan's words echoed in her ears.
"Then from now on… you're mine."
Her heart pounded so hard she thought it might burst. She pressed the phone tighter against her ear, hardly believing what she had just heard.
"Nathan…" she whispered, her voice trembling. "You… you're not joking, right?"
On the other end, he chuckled softly, that familiar warm laugh she had only ever admired from afar. "Why would I joke about something like that?"
She buried her face in her pillow, trying to muffle the squeal that wanted to escape. "I just… I didn't think you'd take me seriously. I mean—I was drunk earlier, and I probably looked so stupid asking you that."
"You did look a little silly," he teased gently, "but you were honest. And I liked that."
Her stomach fluttered. "So… this means…?"
"This means," Nathan said, his voice steady and firm now, "that you're my girlfriend."
She could hardly breathe. Her lips parted in shock, but then the realization hit, and a wide smile spread across her face. "Oh my God…" she whispered. "I'm really your girlfriend?"
"Really," he confirmed. There was a pause, then his tone softened. "You know… I've noticed you for a long time, Lianne. You probably thought I didn't, but I did. I just never thought you'd be the one to make the first move."
Her heart skipped. She sat up, clutching her blanket. "I had the biggest crush on you, Nathan. I thought you'd never even look at me that way."
"I guess you were wrong." His voice was calm, but she could hear the smile in it. "And I'm glad you were brave enough to ask. Otherwise… we wouldn't be here right now."
For a moment, silence stretched between them—soft, comfortable silence, filled with the unspoken thrill of something new. The sea breeze outside her window carried the scent of salt and waves, as if the ocean itself was listening in.
"Hey, Lianne," Nathan said suddenly.
"Mm?"
"Tomorrow… let's meet. Just you and me. I'll take you somewhere special."
Her breath caught. "Where?"
"You'll see." He chuckled again, gentle and teasing. "Just trust me."
She smiled into the dark, hugging her pillow. "Okay. I trust you."
"Good," Nathan said softly. "Goodnight, Lianne."
Her chest warmed at the way he said her name. "Goodnight… boyfriend."
There was a beat of silence before he whispered back, almost shyly, "…Goodnight, girlfriend."
The call ended, but the smile on her face stayed until she drifted into sleep, her heart racing with the sweetness of a love that had just begun.