The next morning, I awoke to the soft light filtering through the curtains, the sun casting a warm glow over the cabin. I stretched and rolled over, hoping to catch another glimpse of Martinus, but to my surprise, he wasn’t in the living room where I expected him to be. I felt a slight pang of disappointment but quickly shook it off. He probably went out for a morning run or something.
I got out of bed and made my way to the kitchen, the smell of coffee brewing wafting through the air. As I entered, I found Nora sitting at the table, sipping her coffee while scrolling through her phone.
“Morning, sleepyhead!” she chirped, looking up with a bright smile. “How did you sleep?”
“Morning! I slept pretty well, thanks,” I replied, pouring myself a cup of coffee. “Have you seen Martinus?”
Nora nodded, a playful grin forming on her lips. “He went for a run with Marcus. They left a little while ago.”
“Oh, okay!” I said, trying to hide my disappointment. I had hoped we could spend some time together this morning, just the two of us.
As I sipped my coffee, I joined her at the table. “What do you think the plan is for today?”
“I think we’re going to spend some time at the lake later,” she said. “Marcus and Emma have been talking about renting a kayak. It should be fun!”
“Sounds great!” I said, my excitement growing. “I’ve never been kayaking before.”
“You’ll love it! Just be prepared to get a little wet,” she laughed.
“Good to know!” I chuckled back.
As we chatted, Emma and Marcus and Martinus returned from their morning excursion, both of them looking exhilarated. “You guys missed out!” Emma exclaimed, flopping down into a chair beside Nora. “We ran a little trail and saw the most amazing view. You wouldn’t believe it!”
“What kind of view?” I asked, intrigued.
Marcus jumped in, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. “It was a cliff overlooking the lake. You could see the whole area—it was stunning. We should definitely all go there later!”
“Absolutely,” I said, feeling a sense of excitement building within me. I couldn’t wait to spend the day with everyone, and I was hoping that maybe I’d get a moment alone with Martinus too.
---
After breakfast, we all got ready for the day. I pulled on my swimsuit underneath a comfortable pair of shorts and a tank top, excited for the lake. As I finished getting ready, I caught a glimpse of Martinus coming back through the door, his hair tousled and a light sheen of sweat glistening on his skin. My heart skipped a beat at the sight of him.
“Hey, there you are!” I said, trying to sound casual as I walked towards him.
“Hey! Just got back from our run. It was nice out there,” he replied, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand. “You ready for some lake fun?”
“Definitely! I heard we might go kayaking?” I asked, trying to gauge his enthusiasm.
“Yeah, I’m in. It’ll be a good time,” he said, a smile lighting up his face. “Just remember to paddle hard; you’ll need to keep up with me!”
“Oh, really? Is that a challenge?” I teased, raising an eyebrow.
“Maybe,” he smirked. “I guess we’ll find out!”
---
A short while later, we all piled into the car, the excitement palpable as we made our way to the lake. The sun shone brightly in the sky, and I could feel the warmth on my skin, making everything feel vibrant and alive.
