Between The Lines

Chapter 112: Stargazing

Third Person:

They dashed through the darkened garden, Rebecca's laughter ringing out into the cool night air. Her heels clicked against the stone path, but Lane was pulling her along, faster and faster, weaving through the trees and hedges like they were teenagers sneaking out past curfew. She hadn't had this much fun in ages—maybe ever—and it felt like all the stress and pressure she had been carrying melted away, leaving her giddy and breathless.

When they finally stopped, gasping for breath, Rebecca leaned against a tree, her chest heaving as she tried to control her giggles. "I... I can't... breathe!" she managed to say between fits of laughter, clutching her sides. Her cheeks hurt from smiling so much, and the way Lane was looking at her—like he couldn't believe how happy she looked—made her heart race even more.

Lane wasn't much better off. He was bent over, hands on his knees, laughing softly as he tried to catch his breath. His hair was tousled from running, and his suit jacket hung loosely from his shoulders. But he didn't seem to care. "You... are... crazy," he said, shaking his head, though his grin never faltered. "How are you still giggling? I'm dying."

Rebecca shrugged with a playful glint in her eyes as she sat down on the grass, brushing her hair back and letting out another giggle. "Guess I'm just better at this than you," she teased, tilting her head up to the night sky.

Lane dropped down beside her, still breathless, shaking his head in disbelief. "Better at running, sure. But I swear you've got an endless supply of energy." He loosened his tie, leaning back on his hands and looking over at her, the moonlight reflecting in his eyes.

She glanced at him, the soft glow highlighting the smile tugging at her lips. "What can I say? I'm just built different." She nudged his knee with hers, a soft laugh escaping her again.

Lane chuckled, his breath finally steadying as he watched her, his suit a little disheveled, but he didn't care. "Yeah, built to run me into the ground."

They sat in a comfortable silence for a moment, the distant sounds of the party fading into the background. Rebecca pulled her knees up, wrapping her arms around them as she stared out at the quiet garden in front of them. The pond glistened under the moonlight, a serene reflection of the night sky above them.

"Y'know," she began, her voice softer now, "I haven't had this much fun in... I don't even know how long." She turned her head to look at Lane, her eyes a little more serious now, though the smile still lingered. "No expectations, no pressure... just this. It's kinda perfect, don't you think?"

Lane's gaze softened, his heart tugging a little at the honesty in her words. "Yeah... it is," he admitted quietly, his eyes never leaving hers. "You deserve nights like this more often, Rebecca. You deserve a break from everything."

She dropped her head to her knees, smiling. "I wish it could always be like this."

Lane shifted slightly, moving closer until their shoulders brushed. "It can be, you know," he said, his voice low, the hint of something deeper in his tone. "At least... when you're with me."

Rebecca turned her head, catching Lane's gaze, her pulse quickening at the intensity of it. She didn't know what to say, her thoughts tangling as she tried to make sense of everything. Instead, she let out a quiet breath, her lips parting slightly before she dropped her eyes.

She knew it couldn't be like this, not always. They were living in a bubble tonight—just the two of them, away from the world. But reality was lurking outside, with all the complications and unspoken rules that came with it.

"It can't, though," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the soft rustling of the leaves. "You know that."

Lane's expression faltered for a moment, the tension between them growing heavier. He reached out slowly, his fingers brushing her hand where it rested on her knee. "But it could... if we wanted it to."