Luna Lucky

5

A Queen in His Eyes

The night stretched out around us, quiet and warm, the kind of stillness that made every breath and every word feel heavier, more deliberate. Will’s hand rested lightly on my waist, his thumb tracing slow circles as if even the smallest touch was a promise.

I turned my head to look at him, catching the way the faint light softened his features. His mismatched eyes—one steady brown and the other brilliant blue with its faint scar—held a warmth that made the edges of the world blur.

“What?” I asked softly, feeling the weight of his gaze settle over me.

“Just wondering,” he said, his lips curving into a small smile. “Do you even know how lucky you are to have someone as dashing as me lying right here beside you?”

I let out a quiet laugh, shaking my head. “There it is. The full Will experience.”

“Hey, don’t downplay my charm,” he said, mock-offended, though his grin only widened. “It’s a limited edition.”

“You’re ridiculous,” I replied, my voice soft, but there was no bite in it.

“Ridiculously thoughtful,” he added smoothly, his tone shifting into something quieter, more serious.

The humor faded from his expression, replaced by something that made my chest tighten. He looked at me like I was holding the entire world in my hands, and for a moment, I couldn’t find the words to fill the silence.

“You know,” he began softly, his fingers brushing gently over my side, “there’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you.”

“What?” I whispered, suddenly unsure if I wanted to know the answer.

He exhaled slowly, the kind of breath that felt like it carried more than just air. “I’ve never been great at speeches, and let’s be honest, I don’t always know when to shut up, but…” He hesitated, his hand sliding from my waist to rest against my cheek. “You make me want to get things right. For once.”

My breath caught, the intensity in his eyes rooting me in place.

“Every time I look at you,” he continued, his voice steady but low, “I think, how do I make sure she knows? That she’s strong. That she’s unforgettable. That she’s…” He smiled then, soft and full of something that made my heart ache. “That she’s Lucky. Pun intended.”

I laughed despite the tightness in my chest, the sound trembling as tears pricked the corners of my eyes. “You don’t have to say that,” I whispered, though the words felt small in the face of everything he’d just given me.

“I do,” he said firmly, his hand brushing a strand of hair from my face. “Because if I don’t, who will? You deserve to know. To feel it.” He leaned down then, pressing a kiss to my forehead—gentle and deliberate, like he was sealing a promise.

“I’ll spend as long as it takes,” he murmured against my skin, “making sure you feel as lucky as you truly are. That’s the only goal I’ve got. And trust me, I’m a man of my word.”

His lips quirked into a smile as he pulled back, and that familiar mischievous light sparked in his eyes. “Pun still very much intended, by the way.”

I shook my head, laughing softly despite the lump in my throat. “You’re impossible.”

“True,” he replied with a grin, settling back against the pillow. “But you can’t say I’m not dedicated to the bit. Or to you.”

And just like that, he diffused the weight of the moment, leaving behind a warmth that curled around me like a blanket.

As I lay there, watching him grin up at the ceiling like he’d just made the best joke in the world, I realized something: Will didn’t need grand confessions or declarations to make me feel cherished. He didn’t have to say it outright.

He made every moment with him feel like I was the only thing that mattered. And for now, that was enough.

A Walk to Remember

The air smelled like rain—earthy, sharp, and alive. It was the kind of night that made you feel like anything could happen. Will had suggested the walk, promising he had something “earth-shatteringly important” to show me. Knowing him, it could range anywhere from a rare flower blooming to a perfectly shaped rock he’d nickname “Rocky.” Either way, I couldn’t resist.

We walked side by side down the dirt path that cut through the woods near my house. The moonlight filtered through the trees, painting dappled patterns on the ground. Will’s flashlight swung lazily in his hand, lighting up stray branches and bushes in erratic bursts.

“Do you trust me?” he asked suddenly, his tone playful but with a touch of mystery.

“Do I what?” I stopped mid-step, raising an eyebrow. “Is this the part where you tell me you’ve led me into the woods to reveal you’re secretly a vampire or something?”

Will smirked, the beam of his flashlight catching his face just enough to highlight the mischievous glint in his eyes. “That’d be the coolest plot twist, wouldn’t it? Alas, I’m just a boring guy with two very human eyes… well, one and a half, technically.” He gestured dramatically to the scar on his blue eye.

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help smiling. “Okay, fine. Yes, I trust you. What’s your big reveal?”

He grinned, motioning for me to keep walking. “Patience, Lucky. All good things come to those who… you know, follow mysterious men into the woods at night.”

“You’re terrible at making this sound safe,” I muttered, but I followed him anyway.

We walked for a few more minutes, the trees thinning as we approached a clearing. I caught a faint glimmer ahead, like water reflecting the moonlight. My curiosity was piqued, despite Will’s attempts to build suspense.

And then we were there.

The clearing opened up to a small pond, its surface smooth as glass, reflecting the stars overhead like a second sky. Fireflies danced along the edges, their tiny lights flickering in and out of existence. It was stunning—a pocket of quiet magic hidden away from the rest of the world.

“Wow,” I breathed. “How did you find this place?”

Will shrugged, but there was a trace of pride in his voice. “Got lost one day. Decided it was too pretty not to share with someone who’d appreciate it. And that someone, obviously, had to be you.”

My cheeks warmed, and I was grateful for the darkness. “It’s beautiful.”

“Not as beautiful as…” He paused dramatically, then held up the flashlight like a spotlight under his face. “…this pun I’ve been saving for the perfect moment.”

I groaned, but I couldn’t stop the laugh that bubbled up. “You’re impossible.”

“That’s what they all say,” he replied, grinning. “But seriously, Lucky, this place… it’s special. I thought you might like it.”

“I do,” I said softly, my gaze returning to the pond. “Thank you for bringing me here.”

For a moment, there was silence, just the sound of the water and the occasional chirp of a cricket. When I looked back at Will, his expression had shifted. The humor was still there, but something deeper shone through, like he was trying to memorize this moment.

“Can I tell you something?” he asked, his voice quieter now.

“Of course.”

He hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. “I… I’ve been thinking about how to say this without sounding like a total cliché, but, Lucky… you matter to me. A lot. More than anyone else ever has.”

My heart stuttered, and for once, I was grateful Will wasn’t cracking a joke. He was serious—terrifyingly, wonderfully serious.

“You matter to me too,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

He smiled, and it was the kind of smile that made you believe in things like magic and fate. “Good. Because I’ve been waiting for the right moment to do this.”

Before I could ask what “this” was, he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small glass jar. Inside, fireflies glowed softly, their light casting golden patterns on his face. He held it out to me like an offering.

“I thought you might like to keep a little bit of the magic with you,” he said.

I stared at the jar, then at him, my chest tightening with a mix of emotions I couldn’t untangle. “You caught fireflies? For me?”

“Not just fireflies.” He pointed to the lid, where he’d written in small, neat letters: Lucky’s Light.

I laughed, a tear slipping down my cheek before I could stop it. “You’re such a dork.”

“Your dork,” he corrected, his tone warm and teasing.

I didn’t argue. Instead, I took the jar, cradling it carefully in my hands. And as the fireflies glowed between us, I realized that Will had managed to do what he always did—turn an ordinary moment into something extraordinary.