I woke up the next morning with a smile that wouldn’t leave my face. Last night felt like a dream—a dream that had somehow turned into reality. I replayed the moments with Martinus over and over in my head, each detail making my heart race all over again. That kiss, the way he held my hand, the way he told me he wanted us to be something more—it was all so perfect.
After getting dressed, I walked downstairs to find the others already up. Nora and Marcus were sitting on the couch, talking quietly, and Emma was in the kitchen, making coffee. The smell of breakfast wafted through the air, and for a moment, it felt like nothing had changed. But then I spotted Martinus sitting at the table, his eyes catching mine, and everything felt different.
I tried to play it cool as I walked over to the kitchen, but I could feel Emma’s eyes on me, watching my every move.
“Morning,” I said casually, grabbing a mug for coffee.
“Morning,” she replied, a smirk tugging at her lips. “Sleep well?”
I shot her a look, knowing exactly what she was hinting at. “Yeah, I did. You?”
“Oh, I slept great,” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “But I’m more interested in how you and Martinus are doing this morning.”
I rolled my eyes, though I couldn’t help but smile. “We’re fine.”
“Fine, huh?” Emma raised an eyebrow. “Because the look you two just exchanged didn’t seem like ‘just fine’ to me.”
I glanced over my shoulder at Martinus, who was now chatting with Marcus and Nora. He seemed relaxed, but there was still that spark in his eyes whenever he looked at me.
“Okay, maybe we’re better than fine,” I admitted, leaning against the counter. “We talked last night. Really talked. And… things happened.”
Emma’s face lit up with excitement. “Finally! I’ve been waiting for this to happen for ages.”
“Really?” I asked, surprised. “You never said anything.”
She shrugged. “I didn’t want to push you. But it was so obvious to everyone that you two had something going on. I’m just glad you finally realized it.”
I took a sip of my coffee, feeling a sense of relief. “Yeah, me too.”
Before Emma could say anything else, Martinus walked over, his presence immediately making my heart skip a beat.
“Hey,” he said softly, his eyes locking onto mine. “Can we talk for a minute? Outside?”
I nodded, setting my coffee down. “Sure.”
Emma gave me a wink as I followed Martinus outside, where the cool morning air greeted us. The sky was a pale blue, with the sun just starting to rise over the trees. It was peaceful, and the perfect setting for whatever Martinus wanted to say.
We stood on the porch, leaning against the railing, and for a moment, neither of us said anything. But the silence wasn’t uncomfortable—it was like we were both just taking a breath before diving into something big.
“I wanted to talk to you about last night,” he started, his voice steady but serious.
I felt a flicker of nerves. “Yeah?”
He turned to face me fully, his eyes intense but warm. “I meant what I said last night, Y/N. About wanting this—us—to be something real. But I don’t want to rush you into anything. I just want to make sure you’re on the same page.”
His honesty made my heart swell. I could see the concern in his eyes, the way he was giving me the space to figure things out. But I didn’t need space. I didn’t need time. I knew what I wanted.
“I’m on the same page,” I said, my voice full of certainty. “I’ve been thinking about it a lot, and I’m sure. I want this too, Martinus. I want us.”
He exhaled, like he’d been holding his breath waiting for my response. A slow smile spread across his face, and I felt the tension between us dissolve.
“I’m glad,” he said, stepping closer, his hand brushing against mine.
I looked up at him, feeling that familiar rush of warmth and excitement. “So what now?”
He smiled, taking my hand in his. “Now, we figure this out together. One day at a time.”
The simplicity of his words brought me comfort. There was no rush, no pressure. Just us, figuring things out as we went. And that was enough for me.
---
The rest of the day passed in a blur of light-hearted moments. We all decided to take a hike through the woods, enjoying the fresh air and the stunning views. I stayed close to Martinus the whole time, our newfound connection making everything feel lighter and easier. It was like the awkwardness we’d carried for so long had finally melted away.
As we climbed the trail, Marcus and Nora walked ahead, chatting and laughing. Emma was behind us, humming a song to herself, and Martinus and I hung back, taking in the beauty around us.
At one point, Martinus stopped, pulling me aside from the trail. I looked at him, confused.
“What are you—” I started, but he cut me off by pulling me into a kiss.
It was different from the kiss the night before. This one was slower, more intentional. I melted into him, my arms wrapping around his neck as I kissed him back, feeling like everything around us had faded into the background.
When we finally pulled away, he rested his forehead against mine, a soft smile playing on his lips. “I’ve been wanting to do that all day.”
I laughed, my heart feeling full. “You really couldn’t wait, could you?”
He shook his head, his eyes twinkling. “Nope.”
We shared a quiet moment together, just the two of us, surrounded by the peacefulness of the woods. It was perfect—simple and perfect.
Eventually, we rejoined the others on the trail, and the rest of the hike passed in a blur of laughter and inside jokes. It felt like everything had finally fallen into place, like the group dynamic had shifted in the best possible way.
---
That evening, back at the cabin, we all gathered around the firepit outside. The sky was painted with hues of pink and orange as the sun set behind the trees, casting a warm glow over everything. We roasted marshmallows, told stories, and enjoyed the peacefulness of the night.
Martinus sat next to me, his arm casually draped over my shoulders. It was a small gesture, but it made my heart flutter nonetheless. I leaned into him, feeling content in a way I hadn’t in a long time.
“So, what’s next for everyone?” Marcus asked, breaking the comfortable silence.
“I’m heading back to Oslo next week,” Emma said, popping a marshmallow into her mouth. “I’ve got a couple of shoots lined up.”
“Same,” Nora added. “Back to work. But this weekend has been amazing. We should do this more often.”
“Agreed,” Marcus said, squeezing her hand.
I glanced at Martinus, wondering what he was thinking. We hadn’t talked much about what would happen after the trip ended, but I knew that whatever was next, we’d figure it out together.
“I guess we’ll just see where things go,” Martinus said, his hand squeezing mine. “But I’m in no rush to leave this place yet.”
Neither was I.
