Chapter 6

Before I could even blink, my dad shoved the pink helmet Nathaniel offered right onto my head. He fumbled with the straps, his fingers clumsy with excitement. Nathaniel let out an amused sigh and stepped forward. "Uncle Benjamin, allow me."

My dad chuckled awkwardly and retreated, leaving me standing there, face-to-face with Nathaniel. The boy I once knew had grown—taller, broader, his features sharper. His fingers brushed against my chin as he adjusted the strap, and I caught the faint scent of cedar and something warm, like spiced vanilla. My pulse kicked up a notch.

Once we were on the bike, my arms wrapped around his waist, the solid muscle beneath his shirt sending heat rushing to my cheeks. The wind roared past us, but the helmet muffled the noise, cocooning me in a strange, exhilarating quiet.

When we arrived, my breath hitched. The abandoned construction site I remembered was gone—replaced by a sprawling outdoor theater, alive with movement and laughter. "When did this happen?" I asked, stunned.

Nathaniel took the helmet from me, his grin effortless. He had been smiling nonstop since we reunited, as if happiness was his default setting. "Two years ago," he said, pride lacing his voice. "I convinced Victoria to invest in this place. Turned it into the Starlight Drive-In."

He laughed then, shaking his head. "I was so sure it’d be a goldmine. Turns out, the only regulars are my friends and a handful of high school kids looking for a place to hang."

I arched a brow. "So why not sell it?"

His expression softened, something unreadable flickering in his eyes. "Because I like it here."

I frowned, scanning the space. It was nice, sure, but what was so special about it?

Then we stepped further in, and the scent of sizzling meat hit me. A barbecue was in full swing—Victoria and a group of twenty-somethings bustling around. Some were threading skewers, others hauling coolers of drinks, a few draping fairy lights over the trees.

Victoria spotted me and smirked, her signature sharp tongue ready to strike. "Well, well, if it isn’t our runaway bride! What, no billionaire husband in tow?"

I glanced pointedly at her rounded stomach and said nothing.

Nathaniel shot her a warning look. "Victoria."

She rolled her eyes. "Relax, I’m just teasing."

Turning back to me, Nathaniel softened. "We’ve got two ways to watch movies here. One’s the classic indoor theater—binge all day if you want. The other’s the drive-in experience under the stars. Which sounds better?"

I opened my mouth, but he cut in with a grin. "Go for the drive-in. Trust me, some things are just better at night."

I shrugged. "Drive-in it is."

"Perfect."

As he disappeared inside to grab supplies, Victoria made a face at his retreating back before dragging me down beside her. "You’ve gotten quiet," she mused, studying me.

I smirked. "Just trying not to set you off."

She snorted. "Please. When have you ever won an argument against me?"

I scoffed. We’d been rivals since childhood, always toeing the line between friendship and competition.

Nathaniel returned with a tent, calling for help. I jumped up, eager to assist. Unlike his sister, he was patient, guiding me through the setup with easy instructions.

By lunch, the group had swelled to over twenty, everyone digging into takeout boxes. Time slipped away in laughter and chatter, and before I knew it, the fairy lights twinkled to life, painting the night in soft, golden hues.