The Wrong Groom | 2gether X Tale of a Thousand Stars AU

Chapter 06

Sarawat's POV

It was past 9 pm. We were still about forty minutes away from Dad's cabin.

Pear was asleep on the backseat. Tine was looking out of the window, lost in thought. He hadn't spoken in a while and I could see he didn't want to talk, so I let him be.

My legs were starting to cramp up from the constant pressure on the clutch and the brake as I navigated the steep mountain roads.

I pulled over at a familiar spot where the road curved out wider and the hillside extended out slightly.

"What happened?" said Tine, snapping his head towards me.

"Nothing. I just need a quick walk to stretch my legs" I said gently. I could see Tine was rattled because of our sudden departure.

He nodded and let out a shaky breath.

I got out of the car and breathed in the frigid mountain air. I loved the chill it sent into my lungs. It was fresh and invigorating.

The road was completely dark. We were the only vehicle for miles. I walked out towards the fence at the edge of the curve.

The valley lay before us, black and silent. Pinpricks of light twinkled far away in the distance. The waning moon bathed everything in pale blue. I could see a silver ribbon cutting through the valley, the river snaking in provocative curves.

I looked up and the stars shone brightly down at me. I felt a sense of calm enveloping me, as it always did at this spot.

"It's so peaceful here" breathed Tine beside me.

I nodded. We stood side by side, neither of us feeling the need to break the silence immediately.

"What's bothering you?" I asked softly after a while.

Tine sighed.

"I feel like I'm putting you and Pear at risk for no reason at all except my own selfishness" he replied, his voice breaking slightly.

I turned to face him. He looked downcast, his eyes filled with regret, his mouth turned down at the corners.

"I want to give Chief and Tian a chance at being together. Buy them some time and opportunities. Buy myself some time too while we're at it, before I'm shipped off to the butt end of the Earth.

But I didn't realize it would get this complicated and I'd end up making you both fugitives from the law" he remarked mournfully.

"Tine...."

He shook his head and looked away.

I couldn't help myself. I held his pouting, sorrowful face in both my hands.

"You're here because of me in the first place, remember? You're not forcing us to do anything we didn't sign up for" I said softly.

The silvery moonlight overhead lit up his features beautifully. He looked wild and exotic and soft and sensual all at once.

His eyes shone a little brighter than normal. I could see the shadows from his lashes falling delicately on his cheeks, a shining spot on the tip of his nose, his lips gleaming moist and plump.

I ran a thumb across them, watching with fascination as the pillowy petals yielded under my touch and bounced back immediately in its wake.

My breath hitched in my chest, unwilling to break the moment with even the slightest change.

But I knew if I didn't back away right then, I'd end up doing something stupid.

I removed my hands from his face with great reluctance and prepared myself to take a step away from him.