Chapter 49
The following morning, Lila woke up with the sun streaming through the windows, casting a golden glow over everything. For a moment, she just lay there, taking it all in. The soft sound of the waves crashing against the shore outside, the smell of salt and warmth in the air, and the feel of Alex's arm draped protectively over her waist.
She looked down at her hand, the simple, beautiful ring catching the light. It felt almost surreal. She was engaged. She was going to marry Alex. A rush of excitement surged through her as she gently turned in his arms to face him.
Alex was still asleep, his face relaxed, a small smile playing on his lips. She loved watching him like this, peaceful and unguarded, the man she had fallen in love with. He had proposed to her under the stars, and the memory was etched into her heart forever.
Unable to resist, she leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. Alex stirred, his eyes slowly fluttering open, and when he saw her, his smile widened.
"Morning, fiancée," he said, his voice still thick with sleep, but his eyes shining with love.
Lila giggled, her heart flipping at the word. "Morning, fiancé," she replied, snuggling closer to him, feeling the warmth of his body against hers.
For a while, they stayed like that, wrapped up in each other, basking in the joy of the moment. It felt like the world outside didn't exist, that it was just the two of them in this bubble of love and happiness.
"What should we do today?" Alex asked, his fingers absentmindedly tracing patterns on her back.
Lila thought for a moment, then grinned. "Let's get lost," she said, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "No plans, no maps. Let's just drive and see where we end up."
Alex raised an eyebrow, a playful smile tugging at his lips. "You want to get lost with me?"
"Always," Lila said, her voice full of certainty. "I want to get lost with you forever."
Alex chuckled and kissed her forehead. "Then let's do it."
They packed up quickly, leaving the little beachside bungalow behind, but not without a sense of excitement for what lay ahead. They had no destination in mind, just the thrill of being together, of facing the unknown hand in hand.
As they drove down winding roads, through small towns and past open fields, Lila felt freer than she ever had. The engagement ring on her finger sparkled in the sunlight, a constant reminder of the promise they had made to each other. It wasn't just about the wedding or the marriage—it was about the life they would build, the memories they would create, the adventures they would share.
They stopped at roadside stands to buy fresh fruit, laughed at quirky signs advertising "the best pie in the world," and pulled over to admire breathtaking views whenever they felt like it. Each stop was spontaneous, each moment an adventure.
At one point, they found themselves on a narrow road that led to a hidden lake, its waters shimmering like a sapphire under the midday sun. They parked the car and wandered down to the shore, the sand warm beneath their feet. There wasn't another soul in sight.
Lila kicked off her shoes and dipped her toes into the cool water, smiling at the contrast of the temperature against the heat of the day. "It's perfect," she said, turning to Alex with a grin.
Alex was already pulling off his shirt, his eyes gleaming with playful mischief. "Race you in?"
Lila laughed and took off running, her feet splashing through the shallow water as Alex chased after her. She let out a shriek as he caught her by the waist, lifting her off the ground and spinning her around before they both fell into the lake, laughing like kids.
The water was cool and refreshing as they swam together, their laughter echoing across the lake. It felt like they were in their own private world, far away from everything else.
After a while, they floated on their backs, gazing up at the clear blue sky. Lila reached out and took Alex's hand, squeezing it gently as they floated in silence, content just to be together.
"This is what life should feel like," Lila said softly, her voice carrying across the water. "Simple, full of love, full of moments like this."
Alex turned his head to look at her, his expression soft. "I want to give you a life full of those moments," he said. "I want us to keep finding these little pockets of happiness, no matter where we are."
Lila smiled, her heart swelling with love. "We will," she said. "Because we have each other."
They swam back to shore as the sun began to dip lower in the sky, casting a golden glow over the lake. They dried off and sat on the warm sand, their arms around each other as they watched the sunset.
As the sky turned shades of pink and orange, Alex turned to Lila, his expression serious yet full of warmth. "You know, we're going to have a lot of these moments. But there's one I'm really looking forward to."
Lila tilted her head, curious. "What's that?"
Alex smiled softly, reaching for her hand, his fingers gently tracing the ring on her finger. "The day I get to see you walk down the aisle. The day we say our vows in front of everyone we love. That's going to be our greatest adventure yet."
Lila felt tears prick her eyes, her heart overflowing with emotion. She hadn't thought much about the wedding yet—it still felt like a dream—but hearing Alex talk about it made it all feel real. She could see it now: the moment they would stand in front of each other, promising to love each other for the rest of their lives.
"I can't wait for that day," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "But in the meantime, I'm going to enjoy every single moment with you."
Alex leaned in and kissed her, soft and slow, the sunset painting their world in gold. It was another perfect moment, another piece of their story, and they both knew there were so many more to come.
The road ahead was full of unknowns, but as long as they had each other, they would always find their way. And that was all that mattered.