“Yeah, probably,” I laugh. “But I’d die a happy man.”
“Okay, now… open.”
It takes my eyes a second to adjust to the soft light.
Then I see it — and my heart does that stupid, warm flip again.
She’s dragged the mattresses off the beds and laid them side by side on the floor. The bedding is all piled up, fluffy and uneven, like a nest made for us.
The big hotel TV glows with the opening credits of a movie, and she turned off the harsh ceiling lights, leaving just a golden lamp glowing in the corner.
The whole room looks like it has exhaled.
“Tilly…” I breathe out, smiling. “This is the most Tilly-ish thing ever.”
She grins, her eyes bright. “I know. Come on, I need you to meet Lara Jean. She’s literally me — but Korean and way more dramatic.”
I laugh and follow her down to the mattress fort. I set the snacks between us and slide under the blanket she tosses over my legs.
She looks so happy — hair messy from rushing around, cheeks flushed with pride.
The movie starts playing, and she leans forward, eyes wide with anticipation like she's never seen it before.
Five minutes in, she turns to me, serious. “Focus on the movie, please.”
I smirk. “What makes you think I wouldn’t?”
She doesn’t even look at me. “Because you always just stare at me nonstop.”
I burst out laughing. “What can I say, the view is beautiful.”
“Luca!” she throws a piece of popcorn at me. “I’m serious!”
The problem is, I can’t.
She’s sitting cross-legged, completely absorbed in the screen, her eyes reflecting the flickering light.
Now and then, she whispers the lines before the characters say them, grinning when she gets it right.
Her hand brushes mine, and neither of us pulls away.
When the big kiss scene comes on, she buries her face in her hands. “No, I can’t— I hate this part.”
I grin. “What? Why?”
“Because it’s too cute,” she mutters through her fingers, peeking at the screen anyway. “It’s embarrassing. And now you’re here. That’s even worse.”
I laugh softly. “I think it’s cute.”
She glances at me, her eyes wide and her cheeks painted a soft pink. “You can’t say things like that!”
“Why, because it makes you happy?” I tease.
She kicks me. “You just can’t.”
I pull her closer to me and rest my head on hers. “But what if I like talking to you in a way that makes you blush? Am I not allowed to tease my girlfriend?”
She tries to push away, but I don’t let her.
