the fire between us

chapter 27

A few days later, the morning was crisp, with a slight chill in the air as the sun peeked through the clouds. Inside Martinus's room, I was helping him pack for his trip to Oslo. His suitcase lay open on the bed, clothes neatly folded and waiting to be tucked away. The usual playful banter between us had quieted, replaced by a more subdued atmosphere as the reality of his upcoming departure settled in.

I handed him a shirt, glancing at him as he tucked it into his bag. "You excited about Oslo?"

Martinus nodded, though his smile didn't quite reach his eyes. "Yeah, the interviews will be cool, but..." He trailed off, his gaze softening as he looked at me. I could tell there was something more on his mind.

I was folding a sweater when he suddenly called my name, his voice lower, more serious. "Y/n?"

I looked up from the sweater, my hands stilling as I met his gaze. "Yes?"

He stepped closer, his hand gently cupping my cheek, his thumb brushing against my skin. "Please come," he said softly, his eyes searching mine, full of quiet intensity. "I want you there."

I felt my heart skip a beat, his touch warm and comforting, but I shook my head gently. "No, Nora and I need some girl time. Besides, it'll be good for you and Marcus to have the trip together."

He sighed, nodding slowly, his eyes lingering on mine like he wasn't quite ready to accept my answer. "Martinus, five minutes!" Marcus called from downstairs, his voice breaking the moment.

Martinus gave me a warm kiss, his lips lingering on mine as if he wanted to memorize the feel of me before he had to leave. He then took my hand, squeezing it softly. "I'll miss you," he whispered.

I smiled, squeezing his hand back. "I'll miss you too. But it's just a couple of days. Have fun, okay?"

With one last look, he grabbed his bag, and together we headed downstairs where Marcus was waiting, ready to hit the road.

"You ready?" Marcus asked as we reached the front door, his voice light but with a hint of impatience. He adjusted the strap of his bag over his shoulder, glancing at his brother.

Martinus nodded, though his gaze shifted back to me. "Yeah, I'm ready." He paused, his eyes flickering with a mix of emotions before he asked again, "You guys sure you don't wanna come?"

Marcus turned to look at me and Nora, waiting for our answer. We exchanged a quick glance, both of us smiling. "Yes, we're sure," Nora chimed in, nudging me playfully.

I nodded in agreement. "We'll see you in a few days," I added, trying to keep my tone light, even though a small part of me wanted to change my mind and go with them.

Martinus smiled softly at me, a look that told me he understood. "Okay," he said, his voice gentle. "Have fun with your girl time."

"You too, have a safe trip," I replied, giving him one last squeeze of his hand.

As soon as the boys were gone, Nora and I headed back inside, the house feeling quieter now. We made our way to the couch, settling in with a sense of ease that comes from knowing there's no rush, no agenda—just the two of us.

Nora stretched out, resting her feet on the coffee table. "It's been way too long since it's just been us, hasn't it?" she said, her voice warm with nostalgia.

I smiled, sinking deeper into the cushions. "Yeah, it really has. Feels like we're always caught up in something—school, the guys, everything."

Nora nodded in agreement, her expression softening. "I miss this. It's like... life keeps moving so fast, and sometimes I forget how good it feels to just slow down and talk."