56. "Wine tasting"

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Temperance pov

The next morning, Y/n and i wake up tangled in each other's arms again, sunlight streaming through the curtains. It's peaceful, but the moment feels fragile, as if if could shatter at any second. I brush a strand of hair away from her face and watch her eyes flutter open. She smiles, and i can't help but lean down to kiss her.

"Good morning," she whispers against my lips.

"Morning," i reply, feeling that familiar warmth spread through my chest. But beneath it, there's something else- a quiet, nagging fear i can't shake. The reason i think we're both somewhat aware of to why we've spend the past few days in each others company, every second.

We lie there for a moment longer, but eventually, we have to get up. Today, we're supposed to go to a wine tasting that Angela and Hodgins had booked, but they couldn't make it, so they offered the tickets to us. It seems like a simple enough outing, and what are the chances of us running into someone we know at a place like that.

As we get dressed, it's clear we're still having trouble keeping our hands to ourselves. Every time i try to focus om something - finding a shirt, brushing my hair - she's there, teasing, brushing her fingers against me, making it impossible to concentrate. It's playful, almost light-hearted, but there's this tension beneath it, like we're both trying to savour every second.

I'm standing in front of the mirror, trying to tie my hair back when i feel her arms snake around my waist from behind. She presses a kiss to the back of my neck, sending shivers down my spine.

"You're distracting me," i say, but there's no real annoyance in my voice. If anything, i'm enjoying it far more than i should.

"Am i?" she asks innocently, her lips curving into a smile as she continues to plant soft kisses along my shoulder. "I'm just helping you relax."

"Somehow, i don't think this is helping," i rely, but i turn around to face her, wrapping my arms around her neck and pulling her in for a kiss. It's slow, lingering, and for a moment, i lose myself in the feel of her lips, her warmth, the comfort of her presence.

When we finally pull apart, she grins at me. "Okay, okay, i'll stop. But only because we have wine waiting for us."

"You Garica's are impossible when it comes to wine," i say, but there's no denying the smile on my face.

***

The wine tasting is held at a beautiful vineyard just outside the city, and as we arrive, i'm struck by how peaceful it is- the rolling hills of grapevines, the warm sunlight, the faint sound of laughter in the distance. It should be the perfect day, and yet, i can't shake the growing sense of anxiety that's been building inside me since this morning.

Y/n seems completely at ease, though, and it helps settle me as we walk hand-in-hand towards the tasting room. The staff is welcoming, leading us through the selection of wines, and for a while, it's just the two of us, sipping wine and enjoying the quiet company.

But then, as we move to another part of the tasting area, i stop two familiar faces- Morgan and Penelope, of all people, standing by the bar. My heart skips a beat, and i feel my pulse quicken.

Y/n doesn't notice them at first, but as we get closer, Morgan glances our way, his eyes widening. He elbows Penelope, and she looks over too, her expression softening when she sees us.

"Well, well, well," Morgan says, grinning from ear to ear as we approach. "What do we have here?"

Penelope's eyes flick between her sister and me, taking in how we're standing close, our hands interlocked. "Are we seeing what i think we're seeing?" she asks her voice teasing but gentle.

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