Sienna’s POV
The day had gone by almost perfectly. Nic had been tender and sweet, laughing at my jokes and teasing me in that way that made my heart flutter. I had wished, more than once, that this moment could make me his—not just in fleeting affection, but in the quiet, real way that mattered. Yet, deep down, I knew it was an illusion. A beautiful, fragile illusion that would vanish the moment he returned to his cold, untouchable self.
We walked slowly along the beach, hands intertwined, feeling the sand shift beneath our feet. Overhead, fireworks exploded in the night sky, brilliant colors spilling into the darkness. I could feel Nic’s warmth beside me, smell the faint hint of his cologne, and it was intoxicating. He had prepared these fireworks himself; he knew exactly how to make a
