Dancing with a stranger

Chapter|19 ✨

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Kian and I had been hiding out at the lake house for a while now. Today, he went to the small town over to take me to my appointment and pick up some groceries. While we were there, I spotted a payphone and quickly called Grace, just to make sure she wasn't worried sick. Hearing her voice put a small weight off my chest.

The doctor confirmed what I already suspected—I was six weeks along. The smile that lit up Kian's face when he heard it made my heart ache in the best way. Seeing him like that, so happy and proud, made everything feel real.

After the appointment, we stopped at the grocery store. He walked each aisle with me, asking what I wanted or if I had cravings. I told him I didn't need much, and he carefully placed the items in the cart, smiling as if even the simplest task was exciting.

When I talked to Grace again, she squealed over the phone. I had to hold it away from my ear just to avoid going deaf. She'd never seen my father so fired up, she said, ranting and demanding to know where I was. Even Steele and his father didn't know how to respond—they claimed I was making fools of their families and their names. But for me, I couldn't care less. Without Steele in my life, a sense of freedom settled over me, a relief I hadn't known I needed.

Returning to the house, we put the groceries away. Kian decided to cook pasta and chicken—I'd been craving it—and I watched him in awe. I sat at the table, munching on pickles and some peanut butter ice cream, my hormones making every movement of his seem unbearably hot. He cooked with ease, gently stirring, tasting, humming under his breath. My father never took care of me like this; never cooked, never made me feel... wanted.

The pasta was perfect. I devoured it, and afterward, we settled on the patio overlooking the lake. I let my mind wander, thinking about life, imagining raising kids here. I realized I was in no rush to get married; no rush at all.

It started to rain lightly. I stood, wrapping my cardigan tighter around me, and grabbed Kian's hand. Pulling him up, I pressed him close. We started dancing, the soft twinkle of fairy lights around us adding a dreamlike glow. He hummed Perfect by Ed Sheeran, his voice low, rich, and intimate. I looked up into his eyes and smiled; he smiled back.

The gentle rhythm of Kian's humming filled the air as we swayed, rain droplets mixing with the warmth of his hand in mine. For a moment, the world felt far away, and my heart felt lighter than it had in days. His eyes held a quiet understanding, something unspoken yet entirely clear—he'd been everything I didn't know I needed, and now, here, it felt like maybe this is where I was supposed to be.

The soft glow of fairy lights reflected in his eyes as he whispered under his breath, "Baby, I'm dancing in the dark, with you between my arms..."

I closed my eyes, letting the words, the melody, the moment wash over me. But reality crept back—thoughts of my father, the storm brewing over my pregnancy, the life I'd been running from.

"I'm not ready to go back," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the rain.

Kian stopped humming, looking at me with soft, steady eyes. His thumb brushed against my hand. "You don't have to go back. Not yet. Not if you don't want to."

"But... everything? My father, the business... Steele...?" I couldn't stop the questions from tumbling out. The weight of it all pressed on my chest. "What does this mean for us?"

Kian's expression softened. He pulled me closer, holding me tight against his chest. Just us, the rain, the lake, and the quiet night. "It means we're not running anymore," he said softly, voice steady yet full of something deeper. "It means we're making our own path. Together."

I leaned into him, eyes closed, letting the rain wash away my worries. For the first time in so long, I felt lighter, even knowing the world outside wouldn't pause for us.

But tonight... tonight was just ours. The rain, the lights, the song, and the warmth of Kian's arms made me believe, maybe for the first time, that I wasn't alone anymore.