𝐃𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐱 | 18 +

𝐓 𝐇 𝐈 𝐑 𝐓 𝐘 - 𝐓 𝐖 𝐎

Carter

As I stared at Juliet, a small smile crept across my face. The sun was shining brightly, illuminating her features, making her look even more radiant than usual. "So, what are we doing at a putt-putt place?" I asked, tilting my head slightly as I watched her set up at the first hole.

Juliet shrugged, a playful glint in her eyes. "I wanted to take your mind off things. And what better way than putt-putt?" she replied, her voice light and teasing.

I snorted, rolling my eyes dramatically. "Oh, please. I'm going to kick your ass."

She smirked, crossing her arms and leaning back against the wooden railing. "You're feeling pretty confident for someone who hasn't played in ages. I'm a pro at this."

I laughed, shaking my head. "Sure you are. We'll see about that." I grabbed my golf stick and followed her to the first hole. The vibrant colors of the course surrounded us, brightly painted obstacles, whimsical decorations, and the cheerful sounds of laughter from other players.

After we paid for our golf sticks and balls, we stepped up to the first hole, which featured a tiny windmill that spun lazily as if taunting us. Juliet went first, her stance confident as she lined up her shot. With a swift motion, she swung the stick and sent the ball rolling smoothly toward the windmill. It hit the edge, ricocheted back, and landed just a few inches away.

"Nice try!" I called out, suppressing a grin.

She shot me a playful glare. "You're not supposed to be on my side!"

I shrugged, stepping up to take my shot. "Just stating the facts. It was a great shot." With my own swing, I sent the ball right into the hole, the satisfying plunk echoing in the air. "And that's how it's done."

Juliet clapped her hands in mock applause, her laughter bright and infectious. "Okay, okay! You're doing better than I thought!"

I turned to her, a smirk spreading across my face. "I told you so."

We continued through the course, each hole presenting its own unique challenge. I watched Juliet carefully as she focused on each shot, her brows furrowed in concentration, a little tongue peeking out between her lips. It was adorable, and I couldn't help but feel a swell of affection for her.

As we played, the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a warm glow over everything. The gentle breeze carried the sounds of laughter and joy from families enjoying their time together, but it felt like it was just the two of us in our own little world.

At one point, as Juliet prepared to take another shot, she glanced over at me, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Just so you know, I plan on winning this whole thing. No mercy!"

I raised an eyebrow, crossing my arms in defiance. "You think you can take me down that easily? I've got skills."

"Skills?" she echoed with a chuckle. "We'll see about that."

After we completed the first few holes, I started to notice the tension from the previous days slipping away. With every swing, every laugh, I felt lighter, like I was slowly shedding the weight I'd been carrying around. Juliet's presence was comforting, her laughter infectious, and for the first time in a long time, I found myself genuinely enjoying the moment.

We were neck-and-neck, each hole bringing us closer to the end. Juliet would tease me whenever I missed a shot, and I'd retaliate with playful banter of my own. I couldn't help but admire how effortlessly we fell into this rhythm, as if we'd been doing this for years.

As we reached the last hole, a giant clown with a painted grin watched over us, the final challenge looming before us. I glanced at Juliet, who was standing beside me, her determination clear.

"Ready to lose?" I taunted, gripping my golf stick tightly.

She narrowed her eyes playfully. "You wish. Let's do this."

We took our shots, both of us focusing intently on the clown's gaping mouth. The balls rolled toward it, and we both held our breath. Mine made it in first, but just barely.

"Yes!" I exclaimed, pumping my fist in the air.

But Juliet's ball followed quickly after mine, hitting the edge of the clown's mouth and bouncing right back out. I couldn't contain my laughter.

Juliet shot me a faux angry glare. "Okay, okay! You got this round. But I'll get you next time!"

As we walked away from the course, I felt a warm glow inside me. The carefree afternoon had done wonders for my mood, and it was all thanks to Juliet. I turned to her, my heart swelling with affection. "Thank you for today. I really needed this."

Juliet smiled, her eyes softening as she met my gaze. "I'm glad. You deserve to have fun, Carter. Especially after everything."

I stepped closer, a warm feeling spreading through me as I took her hand. "Let's make it a regular thing, yeah?"

She grinned, her enthusiasm infectious. "Absolutely! Next time, I'll show you how a pro really plays."

As we walked back to the car, fingers intertwined, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was the luckiest person in the world. No matter how dark my past was, moments like this with Juliet made everything feel possible again. And I was ready to embrace whatever came next, as long as she was by my side.

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~ R