CLANDESTINE | HS |

TWENTY FIVE

Logan

Time moves slower at the lake.

I'm sure of it.

As I lay in Harry's arms, both of us in one of the dark stained adirondack chairs, we watch as the sunset turns the sky into a show of golden peaches and sunburnt pinks.

Everything feels so right.

"I can't believe you brought this sweater." Pressing his lips to my temple, I can feel his smile against my skin.

Warm hands slide under the worn material, fingertips dancing across my ribs and making me laugh. "It's comfortable!"

"You know I have comfortable sweaters, right?" Sarcasm drips off his rosy lips. "All you have to do is ask me."

Turning just enough to look up at him, I roll my eyes. "Yeah but then what would I do with this one?"

Gripping my waist, Harry presses his lips to my neck, his laugh low. "Throw it away. Donate it. Burn it."

"Hmm, I don't know... Seems so final." I tease.

Groaning, he buries his head into my neck. "What's it gonna take for you to get rid of it, huh?"

"I dunno, guess you'll just have to marry me to find out—" The words come tumbling out of my mouth before I can stop them, floating in the air between us. "I didn't—"

"Is that what it's gonna take?" Perfect green eyes find mine, his low accent cutting through the panic burrowing inside of my chest. "A ring on your finger to get rid of this ugly sweater?"

I swallow thickly, looking away from him, unable to concentrate under his gaze. "I didn't mean to say that, I'm sorry."

"Why?" Reaching up, Harry cups my jaw, turning my face back to his. "Hey, talk to me."

"I don't want to say the wrong thing." Barely above a whisper, the words are full of truth.

As I look at him, I let my eyes travel over his features.

The ones I've memorized, the ones I know that I'm in love with. The softness of those eyes, the ones that always look at me like I'm the only person he's ever seen. The fullness of his lips, the ones that say my name like the world's best symphony.

Harry looks up at me, his thumb draws back and forth over the apple of my cheek. A motion so simple but so reverent.

Life moves around us as we stay still.

Behind us, music carries across the water from a boat going by. Birds sing to each other from across the trees.

Back and forth.

"You're so beautiful, Lo." His thumb moves so slowly, as if he's trying to memorize me. "So fucking beautiful."

Closing the gap between us, I press my lips to his.

This isn't a kiss that is full of fire, instead it's easy and slow.

"I'm glad you picked me." I say against his lips, smiling at the way he pulls me even closer to him. "So glad."

Harry nips my bottom lip before pulling back. "Picked you? Logan, there was no such thing as 'picking you'. It's just been you. There's not another person that compares to you."

"Harry—"

"No, let me tell you, please." Pressing another kiss to my lips, Harry rests his forehead against mine. "Ever since I saw you that day— You've been on my mind. When this started it wasn't supposed to go past one night. It was a glitch, something we were supposed to get out of our system."