As we step outside, the cold night air hits us, and John puts his arm around my waist. “Ready to head back?”
No, but I have to for Powerfluff’s sake, at least. “Yes.”
As we step outside, everything feels so different from when I arrived here. It’s so much more than my relationship with John, even though that’s the best part of today, but I feel as if a locked door has finally opened for me, and I never want to close it again.
John gestures toward a path. “Up for a walk? The path is lit, and it goes to the lake.”
I nod, words escaping me.
As we walk in comfortable silence, our breath mingles in the cold air, forming little puffs that dissolve under the moonlight. The strings of Christmas lights lining the path cast a magical glow. The lights reflect on the snow like scattered diamonds. That gives the setting a fairy-tale feel, one set in winter, and I’m here for it.
Our feet crunch on the snow-covered path. John’s arm brushes against mine, a gentle reminder that he’s with me. And every time it happens, a flutter of warmth fills my chest, cutting through the chill.
When we reach the lake, John holds my hand and leads me onto a small dock. The water is still, a perfect mirror for the starry sky above. The constellations twinkle at us, making it look like there are stars both above and below, as if we’re standing at the center of the universe.
“It’s breathtaking,” I whisper, afraid that speaking any louder might shatter the magic of the moment.
John doesn’t say anything. He stands next to me. The silence feels intimate, and his hand tightens around mine.
“I thought you’d like this,” he says. He looks at me, not the lake, and my pulse speeds up.
John comes closer, and my breath hitches.
His expression is thoughtful. “I’ve been thinking about everything that’s happened these past two days.”
I nod, my heart beginning to race. “Me too.”
He takes a deep breath, the cool air visible as he exhales. “We’ve talked about our feelings and brought up work, but I want to discuss something practical. How do you really feel about us working together now?”
The question catches me off guard. I wasn’t expecting the conversation to turn practical out here. I look out at the lake, gathering my thoughts. “Is this what you wanted to tell me?”
“Sort of. I just have some concerns.”
Concerns, huh? “I thought we discussed this already.”
John nods. “We did, but I want to make sure you’re comfortable and have no uncertainty about anything.”
I consider his words, touched by his care. He’s prioritizing me and my comfort. Somehow, that means more than any declaration of love ever could.
“What about company policy?” I ask. “Are we even allowed to date?”
John’s lips twitch into a half smile. “I’ve already checked—more than once, actually. There’s no policy against it, but we need to disclose the relationship to HR, and you can’t report directly to me anymore.”
“That sounds reasonable. But what about everyone at the office? Do we tell them?”
John rubs the back of his neck. “We should, for transparency’s sake. But we don’t have to right away. We can wait until we’re both ready.”
He’s saying all the right things, but the best part is his sincerity behind the words. I believe him. I take a step closer, my heart swelling. “Thank you for prioritizing my comfort. It means a lot.”
He lifts my hand to his mouth and kisses my knuckles, and a part of me melts. “We’re partners in this. I want us to figure it out together.”
“Partners,” I repeat, smiling softly. “Not just partners in crime.”
His gaze flicks to my lips. “I want to kiss you.”
My heart thunders in my chest, and instead of replying, I close the distance between us. Our lips meet in a soft, testingkiss, but it quickly deepens as we both lean into it, his arms wrapping around me. When we finally pull away, I rest my forehead against his, both of us breathing heavily, our noses brushing.
“Another wow,” he says.
