Because this won't be enough. However much time we have, it won't be enough. Not even close.
After, we lie tangled together under the quilt. The fire in the other room has burned down to embers, casting the bedroom in shadow and amber light. Snow falls harder outside the window, coating the glass in white. Lucy's head rests on my chest, her hair tickling my jaw. My fingers trace idle patterns on her bare shoulder—circles and loops and the outline of her collarbone.
Her breathing evens out. Slows. But she's not asleep yet.
"That was..." She trails off.
"Yeah."
She's quiet for a moment. Then: "What time is it?"
I reach for my phone on the nightstand. The screen lights up. "Just past two."
"We should probably go back soon. Before anyone wakes up."
"Probably." But neither of us moves.
The real world waits outside this cabin. Connor and his warnings. My career and her business. The deadline counting down. All the reasons this won't work.
But in here, for now, we're safe. Just us. Just this moment.
"Ryder?" Lucy's voice is soft.
"Yeah?"
"I don't regret this. Whatever happens, I want you to know that."
I press a kiss to her hair. "I don't regret it either."
It's the truth. Even knowing this might end in flames. Even knowing I'll probably hurt her. Even knowing our time is limited.
Right now, holding her, I don't regret a single choice that led us here.
"We should go," she finally says. "Before it gets too late."
We dress in silence. The magic of the last few hours settles into something quieter. More real. By the time we're in the truck driving back toward town, the world is still deep in sleep. No lights in windows. No cars on the road.
"I'll park down the street," I say. "We can sneak in through the back."
"Together?"
"Together." I glance at her. "Safer than you walking alone in the dark anyway."
I park two houses down with the headlights off. Kill the engine. We sit there for a moment in the quiet.
"Ready?" I ask.
She nods. Takes my hand. "Ready."
We slip out of the truck. Close the doors as quietly as possible. The house is dark when we approach. Not a single light on. Everyone asleep.
I use my key on the back door. The lock clicks. We both freeze. Listen. Nothing. No movement upstairs. No footsteps.
Inside, we pause in the mudroom. Lucy's hand is still in mine. In the darkness I can just make out her face. Her eyes wide. A small smile playing at her lips.
This is insane. We're sneaking into her father's house at three in the morning like teenagers.
I love it.
