“What’s that?” Teddy draped his arm over my shoulder.
“Simply existing,” I said, a soft sigh escaping my lips. “It’s easy to get caught up in work and forget to just... live.”
Teddy nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face. “I know what you mean. Sometimes, we need a little reminder to slow down and appreciate the beauty around us.”
We continued to stroll along the lakeshore, hand in hand, taking in the breathtaking view of the water and the lush greenery that framed it. The park was alive with the sounds of laughter and families enjoying their Sunday afternoons, but it all seemed to fade into the background as we focused on each other.
As we reached a small dock on the far side of the lake, Teddy led me out to the edge where we sat down, our feet dangling above the water. The gentle breeze brushing against our faces seemed to mirror the warmth in my heart. I couldn’t help but lean into Teddy, my head resting against his shoulder, as we simply enjoyed the warm spring afternoon. From here, it was easy to forget there was anyone else in the park.
“I could stay like this forever,” I murmured, feeling a sense of contentment that had eluded me for far too long.
“Me too,” he murmured, his arm squeezing me with tenderness, drawing me tightly against him.
Teddy tilted my chin up and kissed me softly, his lips tasting of love and promises to come. I closed my eyes and kissed him back, giving myself over completely to this perfect moment.
Teddy pulled me onto his lap, deepening the kiss, as the world around us fell away. His body felt strong yet comforting against mine as his fingers traced gentle circles against the small of my back. When we finally parted, we rested our foreheads together, gazing into each other’s eyes.
“God, you have no clue how much I want you,” Teddy whispered. “It’s never been like this before...”
I braced myself for a comparison to Patrick, his ex, that never came. He was so good about that. He seemed to have put his past relationship in a box tucked into the back of his mind.
“I’m glad to hear it,” I said with a smile. “Because anytime you’re near, I want you, too.”
We leaned in again, our kisses more playful now as my heart swelled with joy. I tangled my fingers through Teddy’s hair and sighed contently, thinking how perfectly our lips seemed to fit together, as if we were two halves of a whole, finally joined at last.
We sat there for what felt like hours, lost in each other’s company and the tranquility of the lake. As the sky began to change colors, signaling the approaching evening, I felt a renewed sense of hope and determination.
“Thank you for today,” I said softly, turning to look at him, our eyes meeting in a tender gaze. “I think I needed this more than I realized.”
He smiled warmly, his fingers gently brushing a stray strand of hair away from my face. “Why don’t we head back? If you want, we could still make trivia night at the Tap? Waylon said he and Jasper were going to try to make it out tonight, and he was pretty sure Michael found a sitter so he can come too.”
“Sounds perfect,” I agreed, excited to continue our day and enjoy a laid-back evening with Teddy and friends, both new and old.
As we entered the Tap, the lively atmosphere and friendly faces made us feel right at home. We gathered around a table, ordered some drinks, and prepared ourselves for a night of laughter and friendly competition.
Our hands intertwined beneath the table, I felt a growing connection between Teddy and me, fueled by the day’s adventures and the honest conversations we’d shared.
“Look at you two!” Jasper exclaimed, raising his glass in a toast. “To Shiloh and Teddy, may you find all the love and happiness you deserve.”
I rolled my eyes and glared at him. I’d warned him more than once to not make a big deal about Teddy and me being together.
As the night progressed, we chatted and laughed with our friends, sharing stories and enjoying each other’s company. It was crazy to look around and realize these weren’t just people I knew, they were actual friends. Teddy was helping strengthen my bonds with people in town and I couldn’t have been happier about the sense of home I felt with this group.
Throughout the evening, Teddy and I traded goofy glances, our hands occasionally brushing against one another. It felt liberating to be so open about our feelings.
At one point, Billy leaned in and whispered to us, “I’m really happy for you guys. Shiloh, you’re going to have your hands full with this one.”
“Eh, he’s easy to keep happy,” I teased. “Give him some meat and he’s content.”
A few guys around the table nearly choked on their drinks. Not my intention but it was amusing. The host of the trivia competition announced that it was time to begin, abruptly taking the focus off Teddy and me.
The dim lighting in the pub created a comfortable atmosphere, laughter and playful banter drifting from table to table. Teddy and I exchanged secret smiles, our eyes meeting across the room, a magnetic pull drawing us closer with every stolen glance.
Eventually, the trivia competition wrapped up, and our friends called it a night. As they excused themselves, Teddy suggested, “Why don’t we head back to my place?” I nodded, unable to resist the urge to spend more time alone with him.
The warmth of Teddy’s home enveloped us as we entered the living room, sinking into the couch side by side. I hadn’t known when I’d give Teddy the compass when I bought it, but this felt like the perfect time. I dug into my front pocket, dangling it in front of him.
“I wanted you to have this,” I said, my voice soft as I handed it to him. I swallowed hard, determined I wasn’t going to get emotional. “It was touching how you talked about your grandpa when you held it, and I had to get it. Maybe it can be a reminder of today.”
