Summer Nights (Book 1)

Morning Mischief

Chapter 22

Diana's eyes fluttered open, the first rays of sunlight barely creeping through the camper's tiny windows. She shifted, intending to stretch, but her movement came to an abrupt halt. Something—someone—was pressed firmly against her. And not just any part of him. She stifled a laugh, biting her lip as she felt the unmistakable warmth of Yeon Jun's body spooning hers. The man really had no concept of personal space.

With a mischievous glint in her eye, she gave a subtle wiggle, pressing her backside into him a little more. A soft groan escaped his lips, and for a second, she thought he might still be asleep. But no, his voice, groggy and laced with annoyance, broke the silence.

"That's not funny."

She grinned, knowing exactly how much this would bother him. "Oh, it's hilarious."

His Korean curses mumbled under his breath sounded like poetry to her ears. Not that she could understand a word. She was still learning the basics—most of it insults courtesy of Yeon Jun himself.

"What was that?" she asked, pretending innocence.

"Nothing," he muttered, exasperation in his tone. "Just move."

"And why would I do that? I'm quite comfortable here," she said, her voice dripping with playful defiance.

He sighed, a long, suffering sound that suggested he was rethinking every decision he had made that had led him to this moment. But, instead of pushing her off, he let the silence stretch between them, his arm still draped over her.

When he finally spoke again, it was with that reluctant tone she was starting to find endearing. "About yesterday..."

Diana tensed. She knew where this conversation was heading, and frankly, she wasn't sure she was ready for it. "What about it?"

"Do you remember anything?"

Diana's mind raced, snippets of the night before flashing in her memory—hazy, fragmented images that didn't quite add up. She opted for the simplest answer. "I don't."

"Liar." His response was swift, and she could feel his eyes on her back, scrutinizing, waiting.

She sighed, giving in just a little. "Alright, I remember bits and pieces."

"And?" he pressed.

She bit her lip, the playful atmosphere dissolving as she chose her words carefully. "I'd rather we forget everything."

He didn't answer immediately, but she felt the shift. When she turned to face him, the brief disappointment she saw in his eyes was quickly masked, replaced with a casual indifference that she knew he wore like armor.

"You understand, right?"

His jaw tensed. She wished, in that moment, she could see inside his mind, to hear the thoughts he wasn't voicing. But all he did was nod, and it made her heart ache a little.

"Yeah. Sure."

Diana plastered on a smile, one that felt too bright, too forced. "Great! Dibs on the shower."

And just like that, she was up and off the bed, leaving him staring at the spot she'd just vacated. From the bathroom, her voice called out again.

"We're out of toothpaste!"

He sighed heavily, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'll go get some."

As he sat there, staring at the empty doorway, he muttered under his breath, "Forget about it... yeah, right."