A Gaze to Remember

Chapter 9 - A Kiss Goodnight

MONDAY 19 AUGUST 2024

It was a beautiful Monday, the kind of day that makes you feel alive. The sky was clear, the sun was warm, and the air was filled with the promise of something good. Reid and Vivienne were spending the day together, as they had done almost every day since they met. They wouldn't have it any other way.

In just a week, they had become so comfortable with each other, like they had known each other for much longer. Vivienne had grown to love having Reid around. He made her feel good about herself in ways she hadn't expected. He had a way of breaking down her walls, gently pushing her out of her comfort zone, making her see herself in a new light.

Reid was exactly what she needed at this moment in her life. She was on a journey to find herself, and he was right there beside her, helping her along the way. They didn't need to define what they were to each other or analyze their feelings too much. What mattered was that they had found each other and that they made each other happy.

And happiness, after all, is one of the most important things in life.

As they walked to the park, heading toward their usual spot, they made a quick stop at a small store to pick up a bottle of white wine. It had become their little tradition, something they did every time they went to the park. It was their thing—simple and sweet, a ritual that would forever remind them of these moments once their paths inevitably diverged.

Reid, always the one to push things just a little further, decided one bottle wasn't enough. He grabbed two off the shelf, flashing Vivienne a grin as he said, "One won't do." It was such a typical Reid thing to say that she couldn't help but laugh. His carefree attitude was something she had come to adore.

When they reached the park, they settled into their usual spot on the grass. This time, Reid decided to rest his head on Vivienne's belly, looking up at her with a playful smile. "Comfortable," he said, the word filled with warmth. She smiled back at him, loving his silly, light-hearted nature. Reid never seemed to take life too seriously, always finding joy in the simplest things.

He was just a young guy embracing his youth, but the fact that he chose to spend so much of it with Vivienne meant something—though neither of them could quite put into words what that something was. It was just another unspoken truth that hung between them, adding to the quiet understanding that made their connection so special.

"Do you think about the future a lot?" Vivienne asked, glancing down at Reid. He paused, looked up at her briefly, then shut his eyes again. "No, not really. I don't think it's that important," he replied. "Do you?" he asked in return.

Vivienne sighed before answering. "It's all I think about, really."

"Why?" Reid's voice was soft, his eyes still closed.

"Because it's scary," she said quietly.

"It doesn't have to be," he responded quickly, as if to reassure her. But Vivienne couldn't shake her fears. The future felt overwhelming. Here in Rome, everything seemed perfect, like a beautiful dream she never wanted to end. But what would happen when she returned to London? What would she do then, alone, without Reid to make her smile and feel better? The thought was almost too much to bear, so she chose to focus on the present, savoring every moment they had together while she could.

A few minutes passed in comfortable silence before Vivienne broke it. "Do you believe in fate?" she asked softly.

Reid looked a bit surprised by the question. He opened his eyes and thought about it for a moment. "No, not really," he finally said.

"Yeah, me neither," Vivienne said with a small smile. "But now I'm kind of starting to."

"Why is that?" Reid asked, looking up at her and meeting her gaze. He was captivated by her eyes. She thought they were just a plain shade of brown, but to him, they were golden and mesmerizing. They had become his favorite since the very first time they had locked eyes. He couldn't quite figure out if it was just her eyes or something more that drew him in.