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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As I stood there on the porch, the anticipation in my chest grew with every passing second.
I could almost hear her on the other side, feel her presence as she moved closer.
Then, the door slowly creaked open, and my breath caught in my throat.
The soft light framed her like a picture, making her look even more breathtaking than I could have imagined. Her hair cascaded down her back, long and silky, catching the light in a way that made it seem almost ethereal.
Her eyes-those big, expressive eyes-widened in shock as they met mine. She hadn't expected me to be here, not tonight.
The surprise was written all over her face, but so was something else: a flicker of disbelief, and just beneath that, the unmistakable glow of happiness.
For a moment, neither of us moved. We were locked in place, caught in the quiet magic of the night. I drank in the sight of her, every detail, every nuance.
She was wearing a dress that suited her perfectly, something soft and delicate, with the color that complemented the warmth of her skin.
She looked like a dream standing there, and for a second, I wondered if this was just another one of the many dreams I'd had of her.
But it wasn't. This was real. She was real. A smile tugged at the corner of my lips as I took a step forward, closing the small distance between us.
Her eyes followed me, still wide with shock, her lips parting slightly as if she wanted to say something but couldn't find the words.
Finally, she managed to speak. "You came?" Her voice was soft, barely above a whisper, but I heard the emotion in it-the mix of surprise, relief, and something deeper, something that mirrored what I felt inside.
I smiled, a warmth spreading through me as I reached out to gently take her hand. "I couldn't miss your birthday, could I?" I asked, my voice low. Her hand was soft and warm in mine.
I took another step closer, until I was standing right in front of her, close enough to feel the heat radiating from her. I could see the way her breath hitched slightly, the way her cheeks flushed with color.
"You're really here," she murmured, as if still trying to convince herself that this was real.
"I'm really here," I assured her, my voice tender. "And I'm not going anywhere."
She laughed softly, a sound that was music to my ears, and then she did something that made my heart skip a beat.
She leaned forward and rested her forehead against my chest, her arms slipping around my waist in a gentle embrace.
"Rose," I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. "I couldn't stay away, not today."
I wrapped my arms around her, holding her close, feeling the steady beat of her heart against mine. For a moment, we just stood there, wrapped in each other's warmth, the world around us fading away until there was nothing left but us.
