Beneath the Surface

Chapter 48: When Everything Clicked

Chapter 48 - When Everything Clicked

Jake's Point of View

The music thrummed through the room, a steady beat that seemed to vibrate through my chest. Laughter and conversation buzzed around me, the kind of chaotic energy that came with parties like this. It was the kind of noise that usually made me want to escape, but tonight, my focus kept circling back to Valerie.

She stood near the kitchen island, her dark hair catching the golden glow of the overhead light, the faint blush on her cheeks making her eyes seem brighter than usual. She was mid-laugh, her voice carrying over the noise as she tossed a piece of popcorn at Viktoria. It arced through the air, and Viktoria made an exaggerated attempt to catch it in her mouth—missing entirely, of course.

"Wow, you're worse than Mason at this," Valerie teased, her laughter unrestrained and easy.

"Excuse me!" Viktoria placed a hand on her hip, pretending to look offended. "Mason doesn't even try. I'm at least putting in the effort."

"You're putting in the effort to embarrass yourself, maybe." Valerie tossed another piece, which bounced off Viktoria's forehead this time, sending them both into fits of laughter.

Watching her like this, I couldn't help but stare. It wasn't just her smile—it was the way she carried herself tonight. Like a weight had finally lifted from her shoulders, even if only for a little while.

She was beautiful. Not just in the way everyone noticed—the kind of beauty that turned heads when she walked into a room. She was beautiful because, for the first time in what felt like forever, she looked free.

I started making my way toward her, weaving through Mason's friends, who were sprawled across the living room in various states of drunken storytelling. Viktoria was still laughing as I approached, but her attention shifted when Connor appeared, draping an arm around her shoulders.

"There you are," Connor said with a grin. "I thought I lost you to the popcorn wars."

"You did," Viktoria replied, tilting her head up to kiss him quickly. "But I'm willing to come back to civilization—for now."

Valerie chuckled as Viktoria leaned into Connor, already forgetting about the popcorn battle. The moment felt perfect for me to step in, and I didn't hesitate.

"Having fun?" I asked, sliding an arm around Valerie's waist as she turned toward me.

Her smile softened when she saw me, and she tilted her head up slightly. "More than I thought I would, actually."

"I can tell," I said, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. "You've been smiling so much I might have to document it for proof later."

She rolled her eyes, but her cheeks flushed slightly. "Don't ruin it by making it weird."

"Never." I pressed a kiss to her temple, letting the moment linger for just a beat longer than usual. She leaned into me, and for a moment, it felt like we were in our own little bubble, the noise and chaos of the party fading into the background.

"You deserve this, Val," I said softly. "You deserve to feel happy again."

Her smile faltered, just slightly, like she couldn't let herself fully believe my words. She took a sip from her cup, as if buying herself a moment to gather her thoughts. "Yeah. It's still hard to believe it's over, you know? That Aaron's actually going to prison."

I nodded, tightening my hold on her. "It's over. He can't hurt you—or anyone else—again."

She let out a shaky breath, her head resting against my shoulder. Her voice was quieter now, almost lost beneath the music. "I don't know how to thank you," she said.