Prolonged
Night Before the Cruise
The living room was quiet except for the soft hum of the movie playing on the TV. Samantha was asleep upstairs, her small chest rising and falling gently under the covers. Anna curled up beside Robbie on the couch, resting her head on his shoulder.
He brushed a loose strand of hair from her face and smiled.
“You’ve been asking about that project,” he said softly. “I left you something.”
Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.
Anna looked up, puzzled.
“Something?”
Robbie chuckled, tucking the blanket around her.
“A little surprise. But not here. Not now. It’s hidden, just for you. You’ll find it when the time is right brown eyes.”
Brown eyes huh. I haven’t heard you say that nickname in a while Anna tilted her head, a small smile tugging at her lips.
“You always make life feel like a treasure hunt.”
He pressed a kiss to her temple.
“That’s because our love is full of chapters,” he whispered. “Some quiet, some loud… but all ours. And you’re my favorite chapter.”
Anna let the words sink in. She rested her head back against him, feeling the warmth of his arms and the calm certainty that no matter what happened, he loved her fiercely.
After a few more minutes, they stood, stretching, and quietly tiptoed upstairs to Samantha room. They paused for a moment to watch her sleep, soft breaths rising and falling. Then Anna and Robbie slipped into their own bedroom, closing the door gently behind them.
As they lay down, tangled together under the covers, the stars outside their window cast a soft glow across the room. In that quiet, perfect moment, they slept — the house wrapped in peace, unaware of the storms that would come, holding only the certainty of their love.