Just The Girl

Chapter 9

D A H L I A

The May air caressed my cheeks like a soft kiss, gentle and warm, as I reached out my hand, letting the breeze dance through my fingertips. My other hand was wrapped securely in Jace's, our fingers laced together in a way that felt so natural, as if they were meant to be that way all along. The warmth from his touch spread through me, grounding me in this moment. Everything felt just right.

"Thanks for picking me up from school, Jace," I said, glancing over at him. His face was illuminated by the soft, golden light of the setting sun, making his features even more striking.

He smiled, a playful but genuine look in his eyes. "No worries, my Lia. I love picking you up."

His voice was soothing, and the way he said "my Lia" always made my heart skip a beat. He brought our joined hands to his lips and gave my fingers a warm, tender kiss, sending a flutter of warmth through me that even the soft May breeze couldn't match.

And this—this was our life now.

A quiet, comfortable rhythm we had found together. Jace would pick me up from school on his way home from work, just like today. He always arrived with that same smile, with the same ease, as though it was the best part of his day. It had become our little ritual. He would drop me off at my house, where we'd spend a few moments lingering by the door, talking about our days or simply enjoying each other's company before he'd head home himself.

I glanced at him again, appreciating the simple joy of this moment. The sky was beginning to deepen into shades of pink and orange, and the world seemed so peaceful, as if everything outside of this bubble of time didn't matter. It was just me and Jace, walking side by side, our footsteps in sync, the world around us quiet.

"Do you ever think about how different things were just a few months ago?" I asked suddenly, the thought coming out of nowhere.

Jace looked over at me, a curious smile playing on his lips. "Yeah, I do. A lot, actually."

"I mean, it feels like everything changed so quickly, but also... so naturally?" I continued, trying to find the words to explain the feeling. "Like, this—us—feels like it was always supposed to happen, you know?"

He squeezed my hand a little tighter, his expression softening. "I know exactly what you mean. It feels right. Like this was always where we were meant to end up."

His words settled over me like a warm blanket, comforting and true. There was something about the way Jace made me feel—safe, understood, like I didn't have to pretend to be anything other than who I was. And in return, I felt the same ease in his presence, like I was holding a part of him that no one else could quite reach.

As we reached my house, I felt the familiar bittersweetness of our evening coming to an end. Jace slowed down, lingering by the gate, just like he always did. Neither of us ever rushed this moment. We stood there for a while, our hands still entwined, the world growing quieter as the sun dipped lower behind us.

"Thanks again for picking me up," I said softly, not really wanting to let go just yet.

He smiled, that easy, comforting smile that I had come to cherish so much. "Anytime, Lia. You know I'll always be here."

There was a pause, the kind that didn't need to be filled with words. We simply stood there, bathed in the soft light of the fading day, neither of us wanting to break the moment. Finally, Jace leaned in, brushing a gentle kiss against my forehead, his lips lingering there for a second longer than usual.

"Goodnight, Lia," he whispered, his breath warm against my skin.

"Goodnight, Jace," I whispered back, feeling the warmth of his kiss long after he had pulled away.

He gave me one last smile before turning to head to his car, the soft crunch of gravel beneath his feet fading into the distance. I watched him drive off until his car disappeared around the corner, a quiet smile on my face, already looking forward to tomorrow when we would do it all over again.

And this was our life now. Simple, steady, and full of these little moments that made everything else seem just a little bit easier.