the fire between us

chapter 35

The next day arrived with a peaceful stillness, the kind that made everything feel serene and perfect. After the excitement of last night, we all took it slow, spending the day lounging by the beach, soaking in the warm sun. The waves crashed softly, and the salty breeze played with our hair as we drifted in and out of conversation, content in each other's company.

Nora and I eventually found ourselves sitting on the sand, just as the sun began its slow descent. The sky was painted in hues of pink, orange, and gold, casting a magical glow over the ocean. It was one of those moments that felt almost too perfect to be real.

Nora glanced at me, the smile from last night still lingering on her face. "I still can't believe I'm engaged," she said, looking down at the ring on her finger, the diamonds sparkling in the fading light.

I smiled at her, feeling a warmth spread through me. "I can't believe Marcus kept the secret so well. He really did surprise you."

She nodded, her eyes distant for a moment as she looked out at the horizon. "I always knew he loved me, but... I didn't expect it like this." She turned to me, her expression soft. "It feels like everything is finally falling into place, you know?"

I leaned back, propping myself up on my hands. "You deserve it, Nora. Every bit of happiness."

We sat there for a while, the sound of the waves filling the comfortable silence between us. The anticipation of the foam party lingered in the air, but for now, it was nice to just be here, to let the calm before the fun settle in.

Nora broke the silence first, nudging me gently. "Are you ready for tonight?"

I chuckled, raising an eyebrow. "I'm ready. But are you? Foam parties can get wild."

She laughed, her eyes twinkling with excitement. "I'm definitely ready. After last night, I feel like I could take on the world."

I grinned, feeling the energy between us start to build again. "Good, because tonight is going to be epic."

As the sun finally dipped below the horizon, Nora and I headed back to the beach house, the buzz of excitement growing between us. We were both ready to leave behind the calm of the day and dive into the fun night ahead.

Once we stepped inside, we kicked off our sandals by the door and made our way upstairs. The house was filled with that warm, familiar glow of cozy lights, and the sound of the boys chatting downstairs in the living room reminded us that they were waiting for us to get ready.

Nora grinned at me as we entered her room to get ready together. "Alright, foam party outfits. Let's make them count," she said, already sifting through her suitcase with an eager energy.

I laughed and nodded, moving over to the guest room to grab my own clothes. "This is going to be epic. I can feel it."

I returned a few moments later, a bundle of options in hand, and we started sorting through our outfits. Nora held up a playful, flowy dress against herself in the mirror, her eyes gleaming. "I think this is the one. Cute, comfortable, and perfect for dancing."

I nodded, holding up a brightly colored top and a pair of shorts. "Same vibe. Something I can move in, but still look good in all that foam."

The energy in the room was light and fun as we both tried on outfits, hyping each other up with every new combination. Finally, after a bit of playful deliberation, we settled on our looks—Nora in her flowy dress, and me in a cute top and shorts combo. The outfits were perfect for a night of carefree fun.

We moved over to the vanity, Nora grabbing a brush to run through her hair. "I'm thinking light makeup. I want to look good, but I'm not about to go full glam for a foam party."