Eternally Yours

Chapter 17 - An Unexpected Return

It was around nine in the morning, and despite summer not yet having ended, the temperature had dropped significantly. The sun was hidden behind the gray clouds that filled the sky, announcing the impending rain.

I love wearing dresses, going to the beach, and feeling the scent of the sea waves mixed with the smell of sunscreen while eating ice cream. But winter has always been my favorite season. Staying at home in warm and comfortable oversized clothes, knee-high socks, my hair tied up in a messy bun or ponytail, a cup of coffee or latte in hand while reading a book or watching a movie wrapped in a blanket on the couch is one of the things that makes me the happiest.

With earphones in, wearing a beige sweatshirt and black leggings to combat the cold weather, I sang loudly and danced to the sound of Ava Max's "Kings & Queens" while cleaning the house and using the vacuum cleaner as a microphone.

Only after the music ended and I had put the vacuum cleaner away in the pantry did I return to the living room with a bucket full of cleaning supplies and a cloth over my shoulder. That's when I noticed the front door was open, letting in the cool breeze. I raised my head and took a step back, dropping the bucket to the floor when I saw Luke leaning against the door frame, looking at me with a smile on his face.

"Can you please stop scaring me?" I asked, annoyed, after removing my earphones and picking up the spilled cleaning supplies. "How long have you been here?"

Luke remained leaning against the door frame, wearing light ripped jeans, a white sweatshirt, and a denim jacket. With his hands behind his back, the smile on his face had turned into a muffled laugh.

"Pretty much since the beginning of the song. Great performance by the way!" He replied, shaking his head and laughing louder. "I knocked on the door and rang the bell, but since you didn't come to answer, I used the key."

I put the bucket on the floor along with the cloth on my shoulder and walked over to him in small steps. Standing on tiptoes, I brought my lips close to his and gave him a light kiss. The smile returned to his face, and I could see the sparkle in his eyes, brightening his face and filling my heart with joy.

He entered, closing the door behind him, and grabbed me by the waist with his right hand while keeping his left hand behind his back. With a mischievous smile, he tilted his head forward and once again brought our lips close, giving me a longer and more intense kiss than before. When we separated to catch our breath, Luke left small kisses on my lips and then released me, allowing me to see that he had something hidden behind his back.

"You're beautiful." he said with a smile on his face while gently kissing me again.

"I'm wearing the most random clothes I have." I said, rolling my eyes at his comment and pointing to my hair as part of the equation.

"And yet you're still beautiful." his lips brushed mine again, and a smile formed on my face, accompanying his, while my cheeks turned an interesting shade of pink.

"What do you have there?" I asked, changing the subject as I tried to peek, and he kept evading, continuing to hide whatever he had in his hand.

But before I could see what it was, the doorbell rang, and the loud sound echoed through the living room.

Who could it be? Nick just left, and I'm not expecting any deliveries.

I tilted my head to the side and raised an eyebrow, like dogs do when they're confused. The only thing left to do would've been to stretch an ear if it were possible. I heard the thick raindrops falling on the street and the roof of the house, making the rain seem even stronger, and I hurried to open the door.