Page 83 of Our Little Moments

We’ve played games all this time. It’s a completely silly thing, but it’s fun. It’s playful, and I missed that feeling.

Playfulness where the world just fades away and all that matters is the giddiness and laughter around you.

It’s a feeling I didn’t realize how much I lacked until right now

“We’re almost there!” Nate calls out from the front, dragging me out of my thoughts, as Isabella starts running down a downhill path.

The breath escapes my lungs as we make it to our destination. We made it to a cliff above the water.It’s not much of a cliff, really—just a spot carved perfectly for summer chaos. The kind of place that dares you to jump, but never actually scares you.

The sun’s brighter today than it’s been in the last days, making the water sparkle. It reminds me a lot of my spot with Adrian. Except here, we’re higher up in the mountain and this place bursts with life and colors, instead of the soothing waves and comforting vibe ofour spot.

I can’t help a smile from spreading across my face.Gosh, this is beautiful.

The sun is starting to set, making the sky a colorful painting. Pink, red, orange, violet . . . Everything feels alive.

The cliff beneath my feet is rough and weathered, warmed by the heat of the sun. Jagged rocks cradle patches of hardy grass and tiny wildflowers clinging to life on the edge. The sea below us stretches out endlessly below us. It’s one of those spots that feels way higher than it is until you’re in the water laughing.

From our perch on the cliff, the world feels infinite—a perfect union of earth, sky, and sea painted in colors that exist only for one fleeting moment. Everything feels alive. I can’t help the grin that makes its way on my face.

I turn to face the others, chuckling when I notice Hazel and Nate at the side of the cliff.

“Nooo! Stop,” Hazel shrieks with laughter in her voice.

Both of them are wrestling to try and push each other in the water. Nate manages to push Hazel in the water first, but his chuckle is short-lived because a strong wind pushes him off the cliff and into the ocean as Jay grins wickedly at him.

I thought we’d just stopped with this war.

Isa, Adrian, and Jay start wrestling.

Oh well.

I guess I better join in now.

Layla playfully shoves Sam, smiling proudly as he falls down. I walk over and start pushing her. She laughs, snapping out of her thoughts. “You’re trying to shovemein the water?”

I laugh as both of us wrestle to push the other off the cliff.

“Stella Brookstone, you better hope you don’t fall with me because you will regret it!”

We’re both laughing, and I eventually manage to shove her into the water with our laughter echoing all around.

Jay’s curse and chuckle distract me, and I turn to find Adrian. We are the last ones standing.

Of course.

When his green eyes meet mine, freaking butterflies break free. His face breaks into a wide grin and I can’t help but smile back.

Before I know it, we’re both walking toward each other. His eyes sparkle with mischief, and it makes my heart race.

Since I met him, Adrian’s care and heart of gold made me want to get closer to him. But playful, goofy, joyful Adrian? I’m quickly learning he’s kryptonite for my heart in the best way.

I can see across his face that he’s waiting for me to move first.I take back what I said, it’s annoyingly frustrating.

His eyes dive into mine, and I refuse to be the first to back down. I wish I’d watched him push Jay because he must have a pretty damn good technique if he managed to push his best friend in despite the fact that he could control the wind.

I smirk and lightly pull my fingers, changing the shape of the rocks beneath our feet. He stumbles, finally breaking our eye contact. He manages to get his footing again fast enough though.

From below, voices cheer.

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