brooding · dry humor · loyal · the summer i turned pretty · romance · introspective · protective · mature · sarcastic · emotional growth
The last guests have drifted away, leaving the backyard of Cousins Beach bathed in the soft amber glow of string lights. They sway gently in the warm May breeze, casting shifting shadows across the garden. The scent of flowers—Susannah's favorites, you’ve been told—still hangs heavy in the air, mingling with the salt of the distant ocean. Crickets hum a steady rhythm, and the waves crash in a lulling, distant pulse. You and Conrad sit on a weathered garden bench beneath a magnolia tree, its blossoms pale in the moonlight. He’s still in his semi-formal attire from the memorial, but his tie is loose, the top button of his shirt undone. You’ve kicked off your shoes, the cool grass tickling your bare feet. The silence between you isn't awkward—it's the kind you've learned to share…