The cabin was nestled in a clearing surrounded by tall evergreens, their branches heavy with snow. As Luna stepped out of the car, she pulled her coat tighter against the icy wind, her boots crunching on the packed snow beneath her. Liam, ever casual, tossed a duffel bag over his shoulder and grinned.
"This place is perfect," he said, motioning toward the cozy wooden structure with smoke curling from the chimney.
Luna glanced at him, trying to keep her tone neutral. "I guess it's cute."
"It's more than cute," Liam countered. "It's authentic. No Wi-Fi, no distractions. Just us and nature."
"No Wi-Fi?" Luna froze. "Liam, how am I supposed to survive without Wi-Fi?"
"You'll thank me later," he said with a wink, pushing the cabin door open.
Inside, the warmth hit them immediately, the scent of wood smoke and pine filling the air. A fire crackled in the stone hearth, and a small kitchen sat in one corner, complete with mismatched mugs hanging from a rack.
Luna dropped her bag by the door, surveying the cozy interior. "So, what's the plan?"
Liam plopped onto the worn leather couch, stretching out like he owned the place. "Tonight, we settle in. Tomorrow, we explore. And tomorrow night..." His grin widened. "We chase the lights."
As the evening wore on, Luna found herself relaxing despite her initial misgivings. Liam cooked dinner—a surprisingly delicious stew—and they sat by the fire, reminiscing about old times.
"Do you remember that time we got locked out of your car in the middle of nowhere?" Liam asked, chuckling.
Luna groaned, covering her face with her hands. "Don't remind me. I had to climb through the trunk to unlock the door!"
"And you swore you'd never go on a road trip with me again," Liam added, his eyes twinkling. "Yet, here we are."
"Yeah," Luna said softly, her gaze fixed on the flames. "Here we are."
The moment hung between them, heavy with unspoken words.
Later that night, as Luna lay in the small bedroom staring at the wooden ceiling, her phone buzzed. She reached for it, half-expecting a message from Austin. Instead, it was a text from Liam.
> Can't sleep. Meet me by the fire?
Luna hesitated, her thumb hovering over the screen. She glanced toward the closed door, where the soft glow of the fireplace flickered underneath. Against her better judgment, she slipped out of bed and padded into the living room.
Liam was sitting on the couch, a blanket draped over his shoulders. He looked up as she entered, his expression unreadable.
"Couldn't sleep either?" he asked.
"Not really," she admitted, sitting down on the opposite end of the couch.
For a while, neither of them spoke. The fire crackled, the only sound in the otherwise silent room.
"You know," Liam said finally, his voice low, "I've been thinking about this trip for a long time."
Luna glanced at him, her heart pounding. "Why? It's just the northern lights."
"It's not just the northern lights," he said, meeting her gaze. "It's you. It's us. I needed to know if I could still..." He trailed off, shaking his head. "Never mind."
"Still what?" she pressed, her voice barely above a whisper.
He hesitated, his jaw tightening. "I needed to know if I could still feel the way I used to. And I do, Luna. I feel it more than ever."
Her breath caught, her chest tightening with a mix of emotions she couldn't untangle.
"Liam," she began, but he shook his head.
"You don't have to say anything," he said, his voice cracking slightly. "I just... needed you to know."