Griffen's Point of ViewSteam rises gently from the lasagna as I take my first bite. The melted cheese stretches a little from the fork before I manage to catch it, and the moment it hits my tongue, everything else fades away for a few seconds.Rich. Savory. Perfectly seasoned. It’s warm and comforting in a way that catches me off guard.I look across the table at Aria, her eyes watching me intensely with a mix of curiosity and quiet nerves. I don’t even try to hide my reaction.“Okay,” I say, shaking my head with a grin. “This is honestly the best lasagna that I have ever tasted.”She ducks her head slightly, that small, shy smile of hers tugging at the corner of her lips. “Thank you,” she murmurs softly, her cheeks flushed with a soft pink hue.We keep eating, and I’m already reaching for a second helping before I’ve finished the first. Aria laughs at that, teasing me about not even waiting for her to offer seconds. I counter with a dramatic defense about how good it is, and it just
Aria's Point of View The cabin is quiet except for the low murmur of the television playing across from us. I’m curled into one corner of the couch, legs tucked under me, a throw blanket draped over my lap. The movie on the screen flickers with movement and sound, but I’m barely following the plot. My attention keeps drifting, out the window, where the golden light of late afternoon fades into the long shadows of dusk… and to the space between me and Griffen. We’re close, so close that I can feel the warmth radiating from his side, but we aren’t touching. There’s an odd tension in that little gap. Not uncomfortable exactly… just aware. My fingers fidget with the blanket, and I steal glances at him from the corner of my eye. He’s watching the screen, jaw relaxed, one arm resting along the back of the couch. It would take almost nothing to lean into him. Then he shifts, clears his throat, and says, “I should probably start making us some dinner.” Before he can rise, I reach out
Aria's Point of ViewThe truck rumbles to a stop in front of the cabin, tires crunching over the gravel. I’m already reaching for the door handle before Griffen can even shift the truck into park. There’s an energy humming in my chest, part excitement, part relief. We’re back. And with everything we need for a whole week of figuring this strange situation out.Griffen meets me at the back door of the truck, and without needing to say a word, we fall into a rhythm. We both grab as many bags as we can manage, plastic crinkling, paper rustling, arms loaded. I carry two food bags and one of the hygiene bags towards the cabin while Griffen balances a pile of clothing bags with practiced ease.Inside, the cool air of the cabin feels good against my skin, still slightly flushed from the sun. We make quick work of it. Food bags go to the kitchen, clothes and toiletries to the room where I slept last night. I drop the last bag on the bed and exhale deeply.Griffen steps into the doorway, brush
Griffen's Point of ViewThe truck rumbles quietly beneath us as we pull into the parking lot of the small town grocery store. The parking spaces are cracked with age, the painted lines faded, but it’s peaceful, quiet in a way the city never is. I ease the truck to a stop near the entrance and kill the engine. Aria’s already reaching for the door handle before I even unbuckle.We step out together, the warm afternoon sun brushing our skin. The breeze tugs lightly at her braid, and I catch myself staring for half a second before I shake it off and head towards the entrance.Just inside, I grab a shopping cart, its front wheel squeaks a little as I push it forward. Aria walks beside me, her steps light, almost casual. We move into the first aisle and start with the produce. I toss in some apples, a few bananas, and a bag of grapes, the rhythmic clunk of fruit hitting the plastic lined bottom of the cart breaking the silence between us.“Do you have a favorite fruit?” Aria asks suddenly,
Aria's Point of ViewThe baskets are full now, overflowing, really, with jeans, shirts, dresses, and two pairs of shoes each. I carry one and Griffen carries the other, and I can feel the weight in my arms as we make our way towards the last aisle we haven’t visited yet.The underwear aisle.We come to a stop in front of the section, and the moment we do, I hear Griffen suck in a sharp breath beside me. His posture stiffens, and he shifts his weight from one foot to the other like the ground just got a little too hot under his boots.I don’t look at him at first. I’m too busy pretending to browse, biting back a smirk. I can feel his discomfort like static in the air.Finally, I can’t help myself.I reach out and take a soft blue lace set from the rack, a delicate bra with thin straps and a matching pair of underwear, and turn towards him with feigned innocence. “What do you think of this one?”His reaction is immediate.A deep red blush creeps up his neck and spreads across his cheeks
Aria's Point of View The soft hum of overhead lights and the faint buzz of a radio playing an old pop song fill the little boutique as we step inside. The shop smells like lavender sachets and new fabric, and I immediately feel out of place in my wrinkled dress and tangled braid. But it’s quiet here, calm, and for now, that’s enough. Griffen grabs a wire basket from the stand near the entrance and waits patiently beside me as I take a slow look around. We drift towards a rack of jeans, and I start thumbing through them, tugging out a pair in a medium wash. I hold them up against myself for a moment, then glance at the tag. My size. Good enough. Without saying anything, I turn and drop them into the basket he’s holding. He doesn’t comment, just shifts the basket in his grip and follows me to the next rack. I find a plain white T-shirt with a soft neckline and a loose fit. It looks comfortable. That, too, goes into the basket. As we move towards a rack filled with summer dresses