Chapter Sixteen — Hallowridge Adventures
(Inara's pov)
The sun was warm, spilling gold over Hallowridge like it had been sprinkled from a storybook. I skipped down the cobblestone streets with Elias beside me, our hands brushing occasionally, and every time it happened, I felt my chest flutter.
"Bet you can't beat me to the bookstore," he challenged, sprinting a few steps ahead.
"Hey!" I called, chasing after him, hair flying behind me. "Unfair advantage — you're taller!"
He turned, grinning, slowing just enough to let me catch up. "All part of my strategy."
I laughed, feeling lighter than I had in weeks. This was our first full-day adventure together as a couple, and I was determined to enjoy every second.
We ducked into Turner's Book Nook, the bell above the door jingling. The air smelled of old pages and chocolate — their signature café counter sat in the corner, tempting us with brownies and hot cocoa.
"Okay," Elias said, arms crossed dramatically, "mission: find the weirdest, most random book in the store. Go!"
I grinned, sprinting off down the aisles, fingers brushing spines of leather-bound novels and quirky paperbacks. He appeared a moment later, holding a ridiculously thick encyclopedia about world's strangest birds.
"Look!" he said proudly. "This one even has a chapter about pigeons with mohawks."
I snorted, flipping through a small book titled Romantic Misadventures in the Rain. "Oh, perfect. We need research for… our story."
He rolled his eyes. "Yeah, of course. Research."
After collecting our treasures — including a chocolate brownie each because "research requires sustenance" — we wandered to the park, finding a quiet bench by the pond. The ducks waddled lazily across the water, and a soft breeze ruffled my hair.
"Do you ever think about the future?" I asked suddenly, nibbling on my brownie.
Elias looked at me, thoughtful. "All the time. But mostly… about making sure I don't mess up the present. This — today — it's perfect. We should notice it."
I smiled, leaning against him lightly. "Notice it, huh? I think about that a lot too."
He nudged me gently. "Good. Because this story we're in? I like it. I like us. And maybe I like thinking it's going to last… even when I know we can't control everything."
I blinked at him, heart tightening. "Yeah… I get that. But for now, let's just… enjoy this."
We spent the next hour feeding ducks (accidentally spilling some crumbs), making ridiculous jokes about which one would be king of the pond, and inventing backstories for every passerby. Every laugh, every playful shove, every shared grin made my chest feel impossibly full.
At one point, he held out his hand. "Dance with me?"
"Here?" I asked, glancing around at the quiet park.
"Why not?" he said, smiling. "Slow burn, remember? We make our own rules."
I laughed and took his hand. We swayed awkwardly at first, stepping on each other's toes, then found a rhythm. The sun peeked through the clouds, casting a warm glow over us. The world shrank to that small circle of us, laughing and twirling, until we collapsed on the grass, breathless.
"You're impossible," I said, trying to catch my breath.
"And you love it," he replied, nudging my shoulder.
I laughed, reaching out to squeeze his hand. "Yeah. I really do."
"And I love you," he whispered softly, brushing a damp strand of hair from my face.
I felt my chest swell, warmth spreading through me. "I love you too," I said, voice quiet but steady.
By the time we walked back toward our streets, the sky was painted in soft purples and pinks. We shared an ice cream cone, laughing as Elias made ridiculous faces when he tried to take the last bite.
"I don't know how we got this lucky," I said, leaning against him, sugar on my lips.
"Luck?" he teased. "Nope. Hard work. Dedication. And me being ridiculously charming."
I rolled my eyes, laughing. "Yeah, that too."
We paused at my gate, hands still intertwined, reluctant to let go of the perfect day.
"Tomorrow?" he asked, voice soft.
"Tomorrow," I said, smiling. "More adventures."
And as I walked inside, Naomi rushing to hug me, I realized something: the world outside could be unpredictable, messy, even fleeting.
But right now? Right now, everything was exactly as it should be.
And I was in love with every second of it.
End of Chapter Sixteen