As Marcus pulled the car up to the cabin, the tension in my chest tightened. The place was secluded, surrounded by thick trees and a stunning lake view just a short walk away. It was a place meant for relaxation, but all I could think about was how close Martinus was sitting next to me.
"Home for the weekend!" Marcus announced, grinning as he turned off the engine. Nora smiled at him and immediately jumped out of the car, stretching her arms. Emma followed, already giddy about the mini vacation.
Martinus and I were the last to get out. Our shoulders brushed as we climbed out of the backseat, and I could feel the electricity between us again, the weight of unspoken words hanging in the air. His eyes met mine for a split second before I quickly looked away, my heart racing.
The cabin was cozy, with a wide porch and large windows overlooking the forest. As we all started unloading the bags, Marcus and Nora were already talking about their plans for hiking the next day, while Emma mentioned taking a kayak out onto the lake. It sounded like the perfect distraction, but I couldn’t shake the awareness of Martinus.
Once inside, we all picked out our rooms. Nora and Marcus immediately took the main bedroom, leaving Emma with the smaller one beside it. That left Martinus and me to share the loft, which had two twin beds. I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks as I realized we’d be sharing such close quarters for the weekend.
"You okay with the loft?" Martinus asked, his tone casual, but there was an edge to it—like he knew exactly what I was thinking.
"Yeah, it’s fine," I replied quickly, hoping my voice didn’t betray the nerves swirling inside me.
As everyone settled in, the tension between Martinus and me continued to simmer just below the surface. It felt like a fragile thread, one that could snap at any moment. I wasn’t sure if I was ready for what would happen when it finally did.
---
That evening, after a day of settling in, we gathered on the porch, watching the sunset over the lake. Marcus was manning the grill, chatting animatedly with Nora, while Emma had her feet propped up on the porch railing, scrolling through her phone.
Martinus sat beside me, his knee brushing against mine every so often, and each touch sent a jolt through me. I tried to act normal, to laugh at Marcus’ jokes and join in on the conversation, but it was hard to focus when Martinus was so close.
At some point, Nora caught my eye, and I could see the hint of a knowing smile on her lips. It was subtle, but it was there. Did she know? Did she sense the tension between us?
"Hey, Y/N," she said, leaning over. "How about a walk down to the lake? I could use some fresh air before dinner."
I blinked, caught off guard by the sudden invitation, but I nodded. "Sure."
Nora shot Marcus a quick look, and he grinned, clearly in on whatever she had planned. As we stood up, Martinus shifted beside me, his eyes following us.
"You guys go ahead," Marcus said, waving us off. "We’ll handle dinner."
As Nora and I started down the path toward the lake, the sun casting a golden glow over everything, she linked her arm with mine.
"Okay, spill," she said, her tone playful but direct. "What’s going on with you and Martinus?"
I felt my heart skip a beat, my mind racing for a way to explain everything without sounding completely crazy. "Nothing," I said quickly, but it was weak, and I knew she wouldn’t buy it.
"Y/N," she said with a laugh. "Come on. I’ve seen the way you two look at each other. There’s definitely something."
I sighed, realizing there was no point in denying it. "It’s complicated, Nora. We’ve never really gotten along… and now… I don’t know. Something’s changed."
Nora raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued. "Changed how?"
I bit my lip, debating how much to tell her. "We kissed," I admitted quietly, glancing around to make sure no one was listening. "A few days ago."
Nora stopped in her tracks, her eyes widening. "Wait, what? You kissed Martinus and didn’t tell me immediately?!"
I couldn’t help but smile at her dramatic reaction. "I’m still trying to figure it out. I didn’t even think it was real at first."
She grinned, nudging me playfully. "Of course it’s real! I’ve seen the way he looks at you lately. Trust me, it’s not in your head."
"But it’s scary," I confessed, feeling the weight of it all press down on me. "We’ve always been at each other’s throats. What if this ruins everything?"
Nora’s expression softened as she gave me a reassuring smile. "Or what if it doesn’t? What if it turns into something amazing?"
I looked out at the lake, the water shimmering under the fading light. As much as I wanted to believe her, the fear of what could go wrong still loomed over me.
---
By the time Nora and I returned to the cabin, dinner was ready, and everyone was seated around the table, laughing and chatting as if everything was perfectly normal. I slid into the seat across from Martinus, and for the first time in what felt like forever, we made eye contact without immediately looking away.
It was a small moment, but it was enough to make my pulse quicken.
As the evening wore on, we all moved back out to the porch, the fire pit crackling as the night air grew cooler. The stars were out, bright and clear against the dark sky, and for a little while, it was easy to forget about the tension between Martinus and me. We laughed, told stories, and enjoyed each other’s company, the group dynamic keeping everything light.
But as the night wore on, and one by one everyone else started heading inside, it was just Martinus and me left on the porch. The fire had burned down to embers, and the cool air sent a shiver through me.
"Cold?" Martinus asked, his voice soft in the quiet night.
"A little," I admitted, hugging my arms around myself.
Without saying anything, he shrugged off his jacket and handed it to me. I hesitated for a moment before taking it, the warmth of the fabric a welcome comfort against the chill.
"Thanks," I murmured, pulling it around my shoulders. His scent clung to the jacket, and I tried not to focus on how good it smelled.
We sat in silence for a few minutes, the tension between us growing with every second. I could feel the weight of his gaze on me, and eventually, I couldn’t take it anymore.
"Martinus," I began, my voice barely above a whisper, "what are we doing?"
He didn’t answer right away, his eyes fixed on the fire. When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet but certain. "I don’t know. But I don’t want to stop."
His words sent a shiver down my spine, not from the cold, but from the raw honesty in them. I turned to face him, the firelight flickering across his face.
"I’m scared," I admitted, my voice trembling slightly.
"I know," he said softly, meeting my gaze. "I am too."
For a moment, neither of us moved, the space between us shrinking with every heartbeat. Then, slowly, carefully, he reached for my hand, his fingers brushing against mine.
"I don’t know where this is going," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "But I want to find out. With you."
My breath caught in my throat, the fear and excitement warring inside me. But as I looked into his eyes, I knew there was no going back now.
I nodded, my voice barely audible. "Me too."
And just like that, the fragile thread between us finally snapped, and the space between us disappeared.
