the fire between us

chapter 54

The next morning, Nora and Marcus are buzzing with excitement as they prepare to head out for a very important wedding task—cake sampling. The kitchen is a flurry of activity as Marcus tosses a set of keys in the air and catches them with a grin, clearly looking forward to the adventure.

"We're off to find the most delicious cake in the world," Marcus declares, slipping his arm around Nora's waist as they make their way toward the door.

Nora giggles, nudging him lightly. "I hope you're ready to eat way too much cake today."

"Always ready for cake," Marcus says with a playful wink.

As they head out, the house feels a little quieter, but Martinus and I settle in for a relaxing day. We've been spending more time together, and it feels like we're finding our rhythm again after everything we've been through. Today, though, it's just about us—no wedding tasks, no major plans, just some peaceful time at home.

Martinus turns to me with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Since we're left behind on cake duty, how about we make our own little adventure today?"

I raise an eyebrow, intrigued. "What did you have in mind?"

"I was thinking we could test out some new recipes ourselves," he suggests with a grin. "Maybe we'll stumble upon a cake that rivals what Nora and Marcus find."

I laugh, shaking my head. "You think we can out-bake the professionals?"

"With a little teamwork, anything's possible," he replies, his voice filled with playful confidence.

"Alright," I say, my smile growing. "Let's do it. Let's bake our own masterpiece."

As we gather ingredients from the kitchen, it's not long before flour is dusting the counters, chocolate melting on the stove, and the smell of vanilla filling the air. Martinus leans over the counter, intensely focused as he mixes a bowl of batter, and I can't help but smile at how serious he's taking our little experiment.

"You're really getting into this," I tease, handing him a whisk.

He chuckles, giving me a sideways glance. "I'm competitive, what can I say?"

We laugh, continuing to mix and pour, all the while joking about how we might accidentally create the best cake Nora and Marcus could ever hope for. The lightness of the moment fills me with warmth, and I realize how much I treasure these little moments with him—just the two of us, lost in our own world.

By the time the cake is in the oven, we collapse onto the couch, waiting for it to bake. Martinus reaches for my hand, threading his fingers through mine, and I lean my head on his shoulder, content in the quiet.

"I think this could be our new tradition," he says softly. "Baking random cakes together when we have a free day."

"I wouldn't mind that at all," I reply with a smile, squeezing his hand.

As the cake bakes and the house fills with the comforting scent of sweetness, I know this is another memory I'll carry with me. It's in these small, simple moments—whether it's baking with Martinus or watching Nora and Marcus fall even more in love—that I realize how lucky I am to be surrounded by so much love and laughter.

As we sit on the couch, the soft sound of the oven ticking in the background, Martinus turns his head slightly to look at me. There's a peacefulness in his gaze that makes my heart feel full. His hand rests warmly in mine, and for a moment, we don't need words to fill the space between us.

Eventually, though, he breaks the comfortable silence. "Do you ever think about what the future holds for us?" His voice is soft, almost hesitant, as if he's testing the waters of a deeper conversation.