To Renna Rose Lancaster, Aadam Callahan was her first taste of magic-the boy who made her world feel livelier, brighter, like anything was possible. Together they crafted a bond that felt unbreakable-a universe where dreams were shared under starlit...
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The air around us practically crackles as we weave through the mass of people outside. I can’t help it—my hand grips his tighter, holding on like he might slip away in all this chaos. No way am I letting that happen. Not now, not ever.
I kept sneaking glances up at him, watching as he scanned the room, his gaze sharp, catching every familiar face with that easy nod of his.
I can hardly believe this is real. Just a few weeks ago, I was daydreaming about him, and now, here we are, practically glued together as a couple, and the warmth of his affection feels electric. It’s like something out of one of my novels, but a hundred times better.
Colored lights flash across every surface, glinting off mirrors, faces, drinks—everything. And the noise! It’s like someone turned the volume of life up to maximum.
As we reach Cameron and the rest of the group, Cameron’s face breaks into a wide, over-the-top grin.
He waves his arms like he’s in some medieval court and yells out, “Oi, everyone! Look who’s finally here! Aadam and his lady!” He gives a mock cheer, pumping his fists, and a few people laugh and clap along with him.
I try to duck behind Aadam, but he just laughs, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and pulling me close. “Sweetheart, if you’re hiding, you’re doing a terrible job of it,” he teases, looking down at me with a smirk that’s equal parts playful and… something warmer.
“Oh, hush!” I mumble, giving him a light squeeze in return.
Cameron immediately wrapped an arm around my shoulder, breaking Aadam’s hold on me as he pulled me into the center of the group.
“Guess what, everybody!” he bellowed, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. “This, folks, is the Renna Special,” he declares, lifting a lid to reveal the cake I’d made, which I’d hoped would quietly be served without much fuss.
But Cameron? He apparently has other ideas.Why is he always so over the top?
“This fine creation was baked entirely by our very own, one-of-a-kind, Renna Rose Lancaster,” he continues, giving me a dramatic bow that has everyone chuckling. “A girl who has, for some unknown reason, decided to grace us with her culinary talents. And, if I may add, she’s done it all for Aadam here!”
My cheeks feel like they’re on fire. “Cameron!” I squeak, but he just laughs, tightening his hold around me.
The room erupted into cheers and laughter, echoing his enthusiastic announcement.
Why is he doing this? Oh no, everyone’s looking!
The murmurs of “That’s so sweet” and “Look at her, she’s adorable” echoed around us. People actually cheered, and I shrank into myself, wanting to disappear under the floor.
