*Nate's POV*
The past few days had been a whirlwind. From swimming in crystal-clear waters to stuffing ourselves with too much barbecue, from dancing at the beach party to hunting for souvenirs, every moment felt like something I wanted to imprint in my memory forever. But now, the trip was coming to an end.
It was 3:00 PM, and we had just finished thoroughly cleaning the beach house, because Sam wouldn't let anyone leave unless the place looked exactly the way we found it. She had that look in her eyes, the one that said, 'you are not leaving this place a mess.' And, of course, no one dared to defy her.
Now, everyone was upstairs, packing the last of their things, the bittersweet realization settling in. Soon, we'd be back to law school, back to reality.
Outside, the guys and I were loading the luggage into the cars while the girls stayed inside for a final glance at the ocean. I watched them huddle together, arms wrapped around each other, laughter mixing with the sound of the waves. Then, just as expected, they got a little emotional. Even Sam, who usually tried to keep her feelings in check, looked overwhelmed with happiness.
She was beaming, and I couldn't help but smile. That alone made the whole trip worth it for me.
"I don't want to leave," Millie pouted.
"Same," Cassandra agreed, hugging Sam and swaying her side to side. "Can't we just stay here forever?"
Sam laughed. "And how exactly would we fund this permanent vacation?"
"Marry rich," Millie said without missing a beat. "Or become an influencer. Maybe start a travel vlog."
They all chuckled, but eventually, the inevitable moment came. The girls stepped outside, and I called out, "Alright, we're all set. Time to hit the road!"
As everyone started heading toward the cars, Sam naturally went to join Millie, Cassandra, Austin, and Caleb in their car, except they had other plans.
Millie and Cassandra suddenly stepped in front of her, blocking her way.
"Sorry, babe," Millie said, shaking her head in mock sadness. "No space for you here."
"What?" Sam looked genuinely confused. "We literally came in together, and I sat with you guys on the way here."
"Yeah, but, uh......" Cassandra dramatically looked inside the car. "Too crowded. We bought a lot of stuff, you know? Souvenirs and all. Super full. Can't fit one more person."
Austin, clearly loving the moment, leaned against the car and nodded. "Tragic, really. But hey, don't worry! There's still a spot in Nate's car."
Sam's eyes darted to me, suspicion written all over her face. "You guys are messing with me."
Caleb raised his hands. "I mean... it's basic math, Sam. Too many things, not enough space."
"What about my luggage?" Sam tried again, looking for a loophole.
"Already in Nate's trunk," Austin said smoothly. "We took care of it for you."
Sam groaned and rubbed her temples. "Oh my God. You guys are the worst."
"No, no," Millie corrected. "We're the best." She winked. "Have fun, lovebirds."
With that, their car sped off, leaving Sam standing there with her jaw clenched and me, struggling not to laugh.
I quickly acted innocent and shrugged. "Well, looks like it's just us."
"You're in on this, aren't you?" she accused.
I held up my hands. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
She shot me a glare before climbing into the passenger seat. As I got in, I leaned over to her slightly and buckled her seatbelt for her, making her freeze for a second.
I pulled back and winked. "Safety first."
She rolled her eyes, but the blush on her cheeks didn't go unnoticed.
A few hours into the trip, my stomach started growling.
"We should eat," I said, pulling into a garden restaurant by the highway.
Sam looked at the place and nodded. It was quiet, with only a few people inside. The warm glow of hanging lights made it look even more beautiful.
We found a seat, and as soon as we ordered, we started talking about the trip.
"I can't believe how much barbecue we ate these past few days," I said, shaking my head. "I think I need a detox."
Sam laughed. "Tell that to yourself when you order another plate."
I smirked. "Point taken."
We kept talking, reminiscing about the trip.
Then, I decided to tease her.
"So," I said, smirking over my menu, "you were really something in the water back there."
Sam blinked. "Huh?"
"When we were swimming," I clarified. "You looked like a little fish, all graceful and fast... but also very tiny, so it was kinda funny."
She scoffed. "Excuse me, I am a great swimmer."
"Oh, you are," I teased, nodding. "Just a very small, adorable one, like a little fish flopping around."
Her mouth dropped open, obviously offended. "Wow. Just wow. You're unbelievable."
I chuckled, satisfied with her reaction. But then she turned the tables on me.
"You know what's really funny? You at the beach party. You were just standing there like some bodyguard."
I raised an eyebrow. "I was just—"
"Not even dancing! It was a dance party! And you were just there. Just standing looking all moody."
I leaned back in my chair. "I was guarding you."
She tilted her head. "Guarding me?"
I shrugged, playing it cool. "A lot of guys were looking at you. Couldn't have those bunch of creeps getting ideas. "
Her mouth opened slightly, but before she could say anything, our food arrived. I smirked, knowing I had successfully flustered her.
Oh, that reminds me... speaking of creeps, there's that leech who just won't leave her alone.
"So, no one was bothering you during the trip?" I asked casually.
She shook her head. "Not really. Just my mom checking in. And Josh kept asking for pictures."
I knew it. The king of creeps. My jaw tightened at the mention of his name.
I felt my mood instantly sour. That guy had been texting her the entire trip?
An idea formed in my head. "Let me see your phone."
"What? Why?"
"Just give it."
Hesitantly, she handed it over. I scrolled through her messages with Josh, and yeah, he was annoying. Always asking what she was doing, who she was with. It pissed me off.
"Wow. He really keeps checking in, huh?" I muttered.
"He's just—"
I didn't let her finish. I had to do something about this.
So I slid into the seat beside her, put an arm around her shoulder, and took a selfie with her. Then I sent it to Josh with a simple text: Had the best trip ever! :)
When I returned her phone, Sam stared at the screen, horrified. "Nate! You idiot!"
I laughed as she lightly smacked my arm. "Oh, come on. It's harmless."
She groaned and facepalmed. I was enjoying this way too much.
I grinned. "What? Just keeping your friend updated. He kept asking for pictures, right? Just granting his request."
She rolled her eyes. "You're impossible."
"And yet, you still put up with me."
She shook her head, but I caught the hint of a smile on her lips.
After dinner, we stepped outside, heading back to the car.
Just then, a sudden burst of color exploded in the sky. Fireworks.
Sam gasped in excitement. "Oh my God!"
I leaned against the car and watched as she took in the sight, her face lighting up.
"I love fireworks," she whispered, her voice filled with wonder.
I smiled.
The colors exploded against the dark sky, reflecting in her eyes as she smiled. And God, she looked beautiful.
And at that moment, it hit me.
Like a tidal wave crashing into my chest. Like a comet slamming into the earth. Like a force so strong it knocked the breath out of me.
Ashley was right.
I am in love with her.
Not the kind of love that sneaks up on you quietly. No, this was deep, real, and undeniable.
Holy shit, I was a goner.
I swallowed hard, feeling my heart pound.
I clenched my fists, fighting the urge to reach out, to hold her hand, to pull her close. I wanted to kiss her so badly. But I knew better. If I wanted to win her back, I had to take things slow.
"I wish I could see fireworks every night," she murmured.
I chuckled. "Wouldn't be as special if you did."
"True."
Another round of fireworks went off, and without thinking, I reached for her hand. She stiffened slightly but didn't pull away. I hesitated for a moment before squeezing it lightly.
"Sam," I said softly. "Are we okay now?"
She seemed taken aback by the question. She was quiet for a moment, but then she smiled. Widely, genuinely.
"Yes, Nate. We're okay."
Relief flooded me. That was all I needed to hear.
Without thinking, I pulled her into a tight hug. My arms wrapped around her as if I was afraid she'd slip away again. To my surprise, she hugged me back just as strongly. I closed my eyes, inhaling her familiar scent, feeling my throat tighten. A single tear escaped, but I didn't care.
When we pulled away, I almost kissed her. God, I wanted to. But I knew I had to take this slow. She was giving me another chance, and I wasn't going to mess it up.
So instead, I simply smiled.
The drive back was quiet, but comfortable. We listened to music, sometimes humming along, sometimes just enjoying the silence.
When we reached her house, I got out and helped with her bags. She turned to me, offering a small, shy smile. "Thanks for the ride."
"You're welcome," I said.
For a second, we just stood there. Then, with a little wave, she headed inside.
As I drove home, I let out a long breath, my hands gripping the steering wheel a little tighter. My heart was pounding, my mind racing.
This time, I was going to do things right. No rushing, no messing up. I was going to take my time, win her over, and make sure she knew just how much she meant to me.
There was no denying it anymore. I was completely, utterly, head over heels in love with Sam.
And I couldn't wait to show her.
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