جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 60

Sunlight drifted softly across the bedroom, warm and golden, slipping through the sheer curtains like the morning itself was trying not to wake them too quickly. It stretched over the sheets, over their tangled legs, over the matching smiles that lingered on their faces long before either of them opened their eyes. It was their first morning as an engaged couple. And somehow, everything felt different. Not louder. Not overwhelming. Just… deeper. Brielle stirred first. Not fully awake just shifting, stretching slightly, her toes brushing against Jaxon’s shin beneath the covers. She inhaled slowly, still half-asleep, sinking deeper into the heat of him. His arm was wrapped around her waist, not loose, but firm, like his unconscious mind refused to let her drift even an inch away. She smiled before her eyes even opened. “Good morning, fiancée,” Jaxon murmured, voice rough with sleep, close to her ear. She felt it like a warm shiver down her spine. “You’re awake?” she whispered

The little bell over the café door jingled as Brielle and Jaxon stepped inside, hand in hand, glowing so brightly they practically illuminated the room themselves. Engagement did something to them softened their edges, deepened their stares, magnified every touch. Even the way they stood close now felt different, rooted. Permanent. “Table for two?” the hostess asked even though she already knew. “For life,” Jaxon said under his breath, leaning in to kiss Brielle’s temple as they followed her to a booth. Brielle felt her heart flutter, still not used to the way he casually dropped statements like that, still not prepared for how deeply she felt them. The booth felt too small for the amount of joy swelling between them. She slid in, and he slid right beside her instead of across, looping an arm around her waist like she belonged tucked against him. “You’re sitting next to me?” she teased. He smirked. “Engaged couples sit together. Across is for siblings. Or enemies.” She nudged hi

The drive back from his parents’ house was quiet, but not the kind of quiet that felt empty. It was the full, melting, breath-soft kind of silence that came after hours of being wrapped in love, celebration, and the buzzing excitement of a future unfolding in front of them. Brielle sat sideways in the passenger seat, her legs curled slightly toward Jaxon as she watched him drive. The glow from the dashboard traced his profile in gold—his jaw, his cheekbones, the little smile he kept trying to hide every time he thought she wasn’t looking. She was looking. She always looked now. Jaxon reached across the space between them and found her hand without taking his eyes off the road. His thumb began sweeping gentle circles over her ring finger over the brand new ring that still made her breath catch every time it sparkled. “Still real,” he murmured quietly, almost to himself. “Still really there.” She smiled. “Did you think you imagined proposing to me at your parents’ lake?” “Kind of

Brielle had barely stepped back inside Jaxon’s house when she felt his hand slide gently into hers, guiding her deeper into the warm glow of the living room. The breakfast with her mom had gone beautifully—full of laughter, teasing, and far too many questions about wedding colors but now that the door had clicked shut behind them, everything quieted. The world outside faded. It was just them again. Just the two people who had somehow gone from enemies to a couple planning forever. Jaxon lifted her left hand and kissed the ring on her finger, slow and reverent, as if the gesture alone steadied him. “I still can’t believe you said yes,” he murmured. Brielle smiled softly. “I can’t believe you asked.” “I’ve been wanting to for years,” he said. “I just didn’t know if I’d ever get another shot.” She cupped his jaw, brushing her thumb along the faint stubble. “You did. And look where we are now.” His hands slid to her waist, pulling her close not heated, not rushed, just a quiet, gr

The late afternoon sun dipped lazily between the rooftops of Willow Creek as Brielle and Jaxon walked hand in hand through the town square. It wasn’t anything special they were doing just strolling, enjoying the warmth, the smell of bakeries closing for the day, and the peace that came with being engaged to the person who once drove her crazy in the worst way and now drove her crazy in the best. Jaxon squeezed her hand lightly. “You’re smiling,” he said. “Am I not allowed?” she teased. “Oh, you absolutely are. I’m just trying to figure out if it’s because of me.” She bumped his shoulder. “It’s always because of you.” His grin wide, open, completely in love still made her knees weak. Seven years apart, years wasted, years spent pretending feelings didn’t exist, and now… this. Simple. Good. Right. They reached the fountain at the edge of the square, its water sparkling orange and gold under the sinking sun. “This spot looks different now,” Brielle murmured. “How so?” he asked.