Vincent leaned back in his chair, casually swirling the last bit of water in his glass. His eyes shifted to Eve, who was absentmindedly tracing the rim of her wine glass with her fingertip.
"You know," he began, his voice cutting through the comfortable silence between them, "I remember you mentioning that you love horseback riding."
Her eyes lit up, intrigued by where this was going. "I do, yes. It's one of those things that makes me feel free. Why?"
Vincent smirked, the kind of playful smile that always made her pulse quicken just a bit. "Well, since we're here, and the hills are perfect for it, I thought—why not go for a ride tomorrow? I know a great place nearby. I think it'd be the perfect way to spend another day."
Her heart did a little flip at his suggestion. Eve had come here to get away, to be alone with her thoughts. But here she was, spending more time with Vincent than she ever imagined, and now he was proposing yet another adventure.
Without hesitation, she found herself nodding. "Let's do it," she replied, her voice almost breathless with excitement. Another day with him? Yes, Eve was all in.
Vincent leaned forward slightly, his grin widening. "Great. Tomorrow, then. We'll make a day of it."
Eve was practically buzzing with anticipation. She wasn't sure when this solo trip had turned into an "Eve-and-Vincent" trip, but she didn't mind. The thought of spending more time with him made her heart race in a way she hadn't felt in years.
It was time for Vincent to leave. Eve wasn't ready for this. Not yet. She didn't want the day to end, didn't want to say goodbye to the easy laughter, the quiet moments, or the way he looked at her like she was someone worth spending time with.
Her heart ached just thinking about it, but she tried to brush it off. After all, it wasn't like they wouldn't see each other tomorrow. But still, the ache lingered.
Vincent stood, his expression softer now, as if he, too, didn't want the moment to end. "I should probably get going," he said, his voice lower, almost reluctant.
Eve forced a smile, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Yeah, you probably should."
They walked to the door together. When they reached the threshold, Eve paused. Her hand resting on the door handle as she turned to face him. She wanted to say something—anything that might keep him there just a little longer—but no words came.
Vincent leaned against the doorframe, slipping his sunglasses back on. His usual easy smile softened into something more tender. "See you tomorrow, Eve," he said, his voice quiet but filled with a promise.
Eve swallowed the lump forming in her throat, nodding. "See you tomorrow, Vincent."
There was no hug, no overly dramatic goodbye. It wasn't the time for that yet. They only exchanged a wave. He stepped out, his presence already missed as soon as he crossed the doorway.
Eve watched as he walked to his car. Vincent opened the door, looked back one last time. His eyes finding hers from behind the tinted lenses of his sunglasses. He gave her a small, lopsided grin—one that Eve knew she'd be thinking about long after he was gone.
Then, with a casual wave, Vincent slid into the driver's seat, started the engine, and began to pull away.
Eve stood in the doorway, watching the car disappear down the winding driveway. For a moment, she just stood there, the silence of the farmhouse settling around her like a blanket. It was strange, this feeling that had bloomed so unexpectedly.
She had spent so long alone, her heart hardened by the years of loneliness in her marriage. But here, with Vincent, something had shifted. It was the way he made her feel seen, heard, understood. The way he didn't demand anything from her, but somehow gave her exactly what she needed.
Eve let out a quiet sigh, leaning against the doorframe.
"Tomorrow," she whispered to herself, as if the word alone could carry her through the hours until she saw him again.
~~~~~~~
Vincent drove away, his hands gripping the steering wheel a little tighter than usual. He found himself glancing in the rearview mirror, watching the farmhouse shrink into the distance.
As he drove, he thought about her laugh, the way her eyes lit up when she talked about the things she loved. He thought about the quiet moments they had shared at lunch, the way she had looked at him when he said goodbye, like she didn't want him to leave any more than he wanted to go.
"Tomorrow," he muttered to himself, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. He was already counting down the hours.