The evening stars

I believe you

The next morning, Sophie woke up early, at 6 a.m., when the whole house was still wrapped in morning slumber. Silence reigned in the air, broken only by the gentle sound of the wind outside the window. She quickly got out of bed, feeling a slight thrill from the upcoming day. The outfit was chosen in advance: comfortable jeans, a top, and a brown suede jacket that was perfect for a stroll through the morning Italian countryside. She carefully gathered her hair into a ponytail, quickly washed her face, and looked out the window — the dawn was already beginning to break over the horizon, painting the sky in soft shades of pink and orange.

She didn't want to wander through the large house alone, and there was no time to search for the stable. Therefore, she decided to stop by to pick up Steven. Perhaps they would have gone out together, as they had planned the day before. Knocking on his door, Sophie heard the sound of water and realized that Stephen was in the bathroom.

— Alright, I'll wait, — she muttered to herself, looking around.

In the room, there was a light scent of his perfume, mixed with something homely and warm. On the shelves stood family photographs: pictures with parents, snapshots from trips, and even a few childhood photos of Stephen. The bed was still unmade, the sheets were carelessly crumpled, and on the table, right next to the laptop, lay scattered documents. The email on the screen was open — Stephen, apparently, had been busy with work matters since early morning.

Sophie involuntarily smiled. This person could be caring and attentive, but there was clearly a certain chaos in his life.

Suddenly, the sound of water ceased, and Stephen emerged from the bathroom, not caring to cover himself. Drops of water were trickling down his body, reflecting the morning light coming in through the window. He was completely naked.

— Oh my god! — Sophie exclaimed, turning away sharply, her face instantly flushed. — Why are you naked?!

Stephen laughed, his voice sounding both surprised and amusing at the same time.

— Why are you in my room? — He spoke, laughing continuously, as if the situation amused him.

— I came to pick you up so we could go to the stable together, as we agreed! — She stood with her back turned, feeling her cheeks burn. This day clearly did not start the way she expected.

Stephen, drying himself with a towel, continued to have fun:

— You could have gone downstairs and waited there.

— I won't walk around someone else's house alone! — Sophie replied with a hint of stubbornness. She felt awkward, but she tried to hide it behind her confidence.

Stephen fell silent for a moment, and then, changing his tone, said softly, almost tenderly:

— He is not a stranger to you, Sophie. In his voice, there was a warmth, as if he truly believed that this house could become her home too.

Sophie paused for a moment. Stephen's words made her feel something special again, something important. But then she remembered the situation and spoke up again:

— Can I turn around? Are you... um... dressed yet? — she asked, unable to bear the long pause and hoping that everything was already over.

— Yes, you can, — Stephen replied with an obvious playful tone.

Sophie turned around, but saw that Steven was still standing in front of her naked, simply smiling as he watched her reaction.

— What the hell, Steven! You said I could turn around! — She took a step forward, but this time she didn't turn away. Her blush returned, but now it came with a sense of mild annoyance.

Stephen continued to smile, clearly enjoying the moment.

— Well, yes. I said that you can turn around. And I still don't see a problem with that.

Sophie scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest, but her eyes met his gaze. It was a challenge, and she decided to take it on.

— And how do you like the view? — Stephen asked with a smirk, taking a slight step towards her.

Sophie stood, not taking her eyes off him, her lips slightly pressed together, but a smile was already beginning to appear at the corners.

— I'm completely fine with everything, — she replied, looking him straight in the eye.

At that moment, the tension between them literally filled the room. Stephen, still smiling, took another step forward, getting close enough to her that she could hear his breathing.

— I'm glad to hear that, — he finally said, his voice becoming a bit quieter, but there was something more in it than just a joke. Their eyes met, and something important hung in the air that was hard to put into words.

They both knew that this moment between them was more than just a chance encounter in a room. Sophie, sighing, turned to the door to leave, her smile still playing on her lips.

— Alright, let's get dressed already, or we'll definitely be late. — With these words, she left the room, leaving him alone.

Steven simply smiled after her, knowing that this morning moment was just the beginning of what awaited them ahead.

Stephen descended with a mug of hot coffee in his hands, his steps light yet confident. Smiling at Sophie, who was already standing by the door, he handed her the cup; the warm aroma of freshly brewed coffee instantly enveloped her, creating a cozy morning atmosphere.

— Let's go, Amore mio, — he said with a gentle smile.