SUNBURN | JOHN B ROUTLEDGE

032

Gabriella walked down the darkened path towards home, the sky above a deep, velvety blue sprinkled with stars. The cool night air wrapped around her, a comforting contrast to the day's warmth. As she approached the familiar grounds of the chateau, she noticed a shadow gently swaying in the hammock. John B, lying back and seemingly lost in the cosmos.

She made her way over, her footsteps soft against the grass, and called out softly, "Is there room for one more?" John B looked up, his face illuminated by the faint starlight, and gave a slight, inviting nod. Gabriella settled beside him, the hammock creaking softly under their combined weight. They lay close, their faces mere inches apart, the night creating a cocoon around them.

The quiet of the evening was punctuated only by their whispered words. Gabriella cleared her throat, breaking the stillness. "We're gonna find it, you know," she said, her voice filled with a quiet confidence. "I feel it."

John B's eyes remained fixed on the stars, a distant look in them. "When I was younger," he began, "my dad used to tell me about the stars. He said if one ever shined brighter than the rest, it was a sign you were destined for something great." He pointed at one particular star that shined brighter than the rest, "I think that's what he was talking about."

Gabriella's fingers gently combed through his hair, her touch tender and soothing. "You are destined for greatness," she whispered, her voice a blend of reassurance and affection. "You just don't know how special you are."

Their gazes met, locking in a moment of silent understanding. The connection between them felt tangible, the air between them charged with an unspoken bond. Gabriella took a deep breath, her heart racing slightly. "Hey, John B?" she began, her voice barely more than a whisper.

"Yeah?" he replied, his breath warm against her skin.

"I need to tell you something," Gabriella continued, her tone serious. "My step-dad and Ward are connected. They were, I'm not sure if they still are, business partners in real estate." She was scared, she didn't want to be looked at differently by the boy who made her stomach flutter.

John B's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Your dad? Who is your dad?"

Gabriella swallowed, feeling a mix of relief and anxiety as she said, "Dean Evans."

John B's eyes widened, a look of disbelief crossing his face. "Dean Evans? I love his movies! Everyone on the island does but no one has said anything about him having a kid."

Gabriella's breath got caught. She was aware of his father's fame, his movies, how rich he was but none of that compared to the King of the Island.

Gabriella nodded, the pain of her past evident in her eyes. "There were times he was a good dad, but when he was bad, he was really bad."

John B, trying to lighten the mood, teased, "So you're loaded, huh?"

Gabriella chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Something like that." She wanted to tell him about Ward, she wanted to more than anything but she couldn't. The words just couldn't come out. She needed to know more before.

He looked at her, a hint of curiosity mixed with concern. "Do you miss that rich life? Want to be like the Kooks?"

Before she could answer, Gabriella leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek. Her lips brushed against his skin in a soft, fleeting touch. "Not if it means being without you," she whispered, her voice filled with sincerity.

John B's breath caught in his throat, his heart swelling with a mix of emotions. As John B lay there in the hammock with Gabriella, the world seemed to melt away, leaving just the two of them in their private universe. The stars above flickered gently, casting a serene glow that danced in Gabriella's eyes, making them shine like distant constellations. Her presence was magnetic, drawing him in with an irresistible pull he hadn't felt before.

His heart raced, each beat echoing louder in his ears as he glanced at her face, inches away from his. The warmth of her breath mingled with his, their proximity both electrifying and comforting. He wanted to kiss her, to bridge the gap between them with a touch that had been hanging in the air for what felt like an eternity. The desire was almost tangible, a physical ache that gnawed at him.

But as he lay there, the urge to close the distance and feel her lips against his grew stronger. He hesitated, uncertainty clouding his thoughts. He had never felt this way about anyone before, so deeply, so vulnerably exposed. The newness of these feelings frightened him, making him question whether he was ready to take that leap. His past relationships had been straightforward, with clear boundaries and expectations. This was different. This was raw and intense, and it scared him more than he wanted to admit.

John B's fingers twitched, yearning to reach out and touch her cheek, to hold her face in his hands. He could see the small, hopeful glimmer in her eyes, a silent invitation that made his resolve waver. The more he looked at her, the more he realized that his feelings for her were unlike anything he'd ever experienced. He swallowed hard, struggling to control the torrent of emotions swirling inside him. He wanted to be brave, to act on his feelings and let her know just how much she meant to him. But the fear of what might happen next held him back.

Every part of him wanted to take that step, to make the moment more than just a shared gaze beneath the stars. He wanted to make that moment theirs. But he couldn't. John B stayed where he was, his lips remaining just a whisper away from Gabriella's.

So there they were. Just lying there, their closeness becoming a comforting presence against the backdrop of the night sky, it felt like the world had narrowed to just the two of them. His fingers grazed hers, a delicate brush of warmth that sent a shiver up his spine. The contact was fleeting but electric, a spark that seemed to ignite something deep within him. His hand, trembling ever so slightly, closed around hers. The simple act of holding her hand felt monumental, as if he were stepping into a new realm. The warmth of her skin against his was both grounding and electrifying, a physical connection that made his heart race even faster.

The future was uncertain, but in that moment, they had each other, and that seemed to be enough.