Their Little Sunshine

[34] The Meet-Up

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Third Person POV 

"Don't miss me." She said placing her hands on Stefan's shoulders

She saw his eyes shine as they both were covered in the sun rays, "It's quite hard," He said giving her a small smirk

He picked her up and made her stand on the ground. She rounded the car and stood besides the driver's seat. The window was down and Alex's gaze was fixed on her when she was coming towards him. He kept his sunglasses on the dashboard while his gaze didn't wander from her. Her soft smile was on her face when she opened his car door, took a step towards him and wrapped her arms around his broad frame, "Thank You for dropping me here,"

He placed his right hand on her back, his posture relaxing under her hold, his lips barely brushed the top of her head before he pulled back slightly, his voice firm. "Don't thank me for doing what I should."

Alex exhaled sharply, his hands settling on her shoulders as he gently but purposefully pushed her back just enough to meet her eyes. His expression was unreadable, but his voice held that unmistakable edge of his. "I didn't drop you here as a favor, Kiara. I don't need your gratitude for that."

Stefan was now standing behind her, "What we are trying to say is," Alex sighed, his grip tightening ever so slightly before he let her go. "Like, you don't thank someone for breathing, Kiara. It's just something they do."

She smiled, small but genuine. "I do."

For the first time, she saw Alex's expression falter, his brow furrowing in confusion. "What?" His expression mirrored Stefan's, who stood behind her, arms crossed, watching the exchange with mild curiosity.

Kiara's gaze softened as she looked between them. "I don't thank people for breathing," she admitted. "But I do thank God that some people are breathing in my life."

A flicker of something unreadable passed through Alex's eyes, but he remained silent. Stefan, however, arched a brow. "Who?"

She didn't hesitate. "You."

Both men stiffened. Stefan's lips parted slightly, as if taken off guard, while Alex's jaw tightened just a fraction.

"You're the ones who make sure I'm okay, even when I don't ask for it," she continued, her voice quieter now but unwavering. "You look out for me in ways I don't even notice sometimes. I might not say it often, but I don't take it for granted."

Alex, however, remained quiet. His gaze was sharp, assessing, but not in a way that unsettled her-it was more like he was trying to memorize her words, hold onto them even if he didn't fully know how to respond. After what felt like an eternity, he finally moved.

His fingers, calloused yet careful, reached out and tilted her chin up. Kiara stilled under his touch, not out of fear but out of surprise. Alex wasn't one for casual affection, and if he did show it, it was always in quiet, fleeting moments-never this direct.

Before she could react, he leaned down and pressed a firm, lingering kiss to her forehead. His grip on her chin softened, shifting until his palm cupped the side of her face, his thumb brushing over her cheek in a gesture so uncharacteristically tender that she nearly forgot to breathe. Kiara closed her eyes for a brief second, letting herself soak in the warmth of the moment, of the silent reassurance in his touch. When he finally pulled back, his face was unreadable again, but his hands lingered at her shoulders, grounding her.