Page 63 of Lucky In Love
I add another log to the fire, feeling its warmth spread through the room. “Nature’s got its own way of showing us our place,” I reply, watching the light play across her face. Her expression—a mixture of concern and fascination—is captivating.
The evening stretches on, filled with the kind of quiet that speaks louder than words. Lissy’s curiosity about my past, my family, my life outside the cabin, leads me down memory lane.
Sharing stories I've rarely told, I find a surprising ease in opening up to her. Her interest, genuine and unwavering, transforms the cabin from a mere shelter into something more.
Night deepens around us, the fire's glow the only barrier against the darkness. In a moment of unguarded honesty, I confess, “I’m glad you’re here.” It's a simple statement, but it carries the weight of my newfound feelings.
Lissy turns to me, the firelight reflecting in her eyes, a soft smile playing on her lips. “Me too,” she responds. In that instant, the storm outside, the tumultuous world beyond our wooden walls, fades into insignificance. All that exists is the profound connection we've discovered here, in the heart of the storm, in the warmth of the fire's embrace.
Chapter 5
Lissy
The crackling of the fire gently pulls me from sleep. I open my eyes to find Erik tending to the flames, his movements a calming, methodical dance. “Morning,” I murmur, my voice still heavy with sleep. “Need any help?”
He glances over, a soft smile on his face. “I’ve got the fire, but maybe you can help with breakfast?”
The storm rages on outside, but its fury feels distant, muted by the warmth and light within our shelter. As Erik flips through a worn cookbook, his laughter fills the space, a sound that resonates with a newfound familiarity. “How about pancakes with a side of... well, more pancakes?” he suggests, his eyes twinkling with humor.
I laugh, the sound unfamiliar yet welcome in this secluded space. “As long as you’re cooking, I’m eating.”
Thankful that there were some pantry staples stocked in airtight containers in the cupboards, I measure out the ingredients noted in the book.
Our conversations meander, from lighthearted banter to deeper, more revealing exchanges. I catch Erik’s gaze on me, warm and inquisitive, as if he’s truly seeing me for the first time. “What’s the one place you’ve always wanted to visit?” he asks, stirring a pot on the fire.
I think for a moment, the question catching me off guard. “Iceland,” I reply, “to see the Northern Lights.” His interest feels genuine, encouraging me to share more of my dreams, ones I’ve seldom voiced.
“Norway would be good too.”
As the day fades into evening, Erik pulls out an old deck of cards. “Ready to lose at poker?” he challenges with a playful grin.
“You wish,” I retort, shuffling the deck. The game is filled with laughter and playful jabs. Erik’s competitive side surfaces, but it's all in good fun. “You're not half bad at this,” he concedes as I win a hand.
Later, as shadows stretch across the cabin, Erik picks up an old book from the shelf. “How about a story?” he suggests. His voice, deep and steady, fills the cabin as he reads. I close my eyes, letting the sound of his narration blend with the crackling of the fire, a perfect symphony in our secluded world.
When he finishes, a comfortable silence settles between us. The firelight plays across his face, softening his features. I see a tenderness in him, a vulnerability he rarely shows. “Thank you for today,” I whisper, the words barely more than a breath.
He turns to me, his smile gentle in the fire’s glow. “No, thank you for being here. It’s been... more than I expected,” he admits, his voice low.
As we sit there, the storm outside now just a backdrop to our own story, a sense of peace envelops me. His presence, once a source of mild irritation, has become a source of comfort, of unexpected joy. “Today was perfect,” I say, the truth of my words hanging in the warm air.
Chapter 6
Erik
The storm continues its relentless siege on the cabin, but inside, a different tempest stirs between Lissy and me. I catch her stealing glances, her eyes darting away when our gazes meet. The air is charged with an unspoken intensity, a current that neither of us can seem to break. "Maybe we should check the weather again," I suggest, hoping to ease the palpable tension.
Huddled together around the old radio, our attempt to tune into the outside world is met with static and uncertainty. I reach to turn the crank, and make sure we have enough power to listen for a bit longer. As our hands brush in the process, a shock of awareness courses through me.
I see Lissy's reaction, a subtle pause, her breath catching. "Seems like we're not going anywhere soon," I say, trying to keep my voice steady, but the undercurrents of our situation make it difficult.
We sink into a silence that's heavy with unspoken thoughts. The firelight dances across Lissy's face, accentuating her features in a way that makes my heart skip a beat. There's so much I want to say, so many words on the tip of my tongue, but I find myself speechless, allowing the fire's gentle crackle to fill the void.
I catch myself watching her, captivated by her every move, each gesture revealing more of her true self. "You're not as stuck up as you pretend," I tease, a smile playing on my lips.
Her eyes meet mine, a flicker of mock annoyance quickly giving way to amusement. "And you're barely more than just the jock everyone thinks you are," she retorts. Our laughter echoes through the cabin, a light-hearted reprieve from the tension that has been building.
Our conversations delve into territories usually reserved for those closest to us. Lissy shares her hopes, her fears, the pressures of living a life in the public eye. I listen intently, seeing her in a new light, not just as the social media personality or the girl I've known from our friend group, but as someone complex and real. "It's not just about the likes and followers," she confides, her voice laden with sincerity. "Sometimes, it’s overwhelming." I nod, understanding more than she might realize. In our secluded bubble, the chaos of the outside world seems distant, irrelevant.