Slowly falling for you

mist curled along the pavement, softening the sharp edges of the city. Antonella tightened Jason's borr

rb. Not flashy, not ostentatious. Practical. Understated. It suite

g the small of her back as she slipped inside. The touch was light, a

they sat there, the heater humming softly, neither speaking. Antonella s

hould have felt unbearable-this s

ehow, i

iet between the

ason asked, h

o face. Home meant the dress she had picked out for the engagement party,

w," she admitted,

ask questions she wasn't ready to answer. Instead, he simply pulle

ffered. "Real coffee. Not that

ime, light and unexpected. "You're re

rin tugging at his mou

ntonella found herself stealing glances at him, trying to piece together the puzzle

y the creeping vines that framed its windows. Jason pulled in without hesitatio

his tone teasing but layered with somethin

nodded. "Y

and vanilla. Tiny twinkle lights were strung across the ceiling, casting a soft golde

s. He ordered two coffees-strong and black-along with a couple of pastries s

ffee, picking at buttery croissants, sharing occas

a who finally b

tions," she said, wrapping h

is gaze steady. "Figured you've had en

tightened u

she meant it with every bru

hint of a smile. "Besides, I figur

o rejoin the real world. And for the first time in a long, long

o

was starting to buzz to life around them-horns honking, people hu

d Antonella hesitated at the cu

me now," she said, her voic

unreadable. "Or," he said slowly, "I can take

him, her heart thuddin

most afraid of how muc

rivate smile that made some

'll

quieter, winding through patches of green and stretches of open sky. Antonella rolled down the window, letting

kless. It f

first real choice sh

ering trees. At the end of the drive, a small lake shimmered

t move to get out. He turned to h

ink," he said quietly. "Or whe

the trees reflected so perfectly o

tiful," sh

hing, but the look in his eyes

e ticking softly as it cooled, neithe

d full of noise. But here, in this small pocket of sti

Jason reached ove

fingers together. He

it-solid and

eyes, a single tear s

me, she wasn't holding herself

as holdin

aybe... she didn't