I Didn't Plan To Fall In Love.

Chapter 19 : Lost In Each Other.

“With him, the world fell away. And for the first time, I didn’t want it back.” — Wendy

The evening air was cool, scented faintly with jasmine from the garden outside Wendy’s house. Wayne waited quietly by the gate, a mischievous grin on his face.

“You really are shameless,” Wendy whispered as she tiptoed out of the house, clutching her hoodie.

“I’m extremely shameless,” he replied, slipping his hand into hers immediately, warm and steady. “And tonight, you’re coming with me whether you like it or not.”

They walked down the quiet streets, hand in hand, careful to stay hidden from prying eyes. Wendy’s heart raced, not from fear, but from the thrill of doing something just for them — a secret adventure, just the two of them.

They reached their favorite little ice cream shop tucked at the corner of the street. Wayne bought two scoops, one chocolate, one strawberry, and leaned in to hand her the cone with that teasing smile.

“Don’t let it melt before I steal a bite,” he whispered.

Wendy giggled, brushing her fingers against his as she took the cone. “Shameless,” she murmured.

“I know,” he said simply, leaning close, and she caught the first, gentle brush of his lips on hers. Sweet, lingering, testing the waters. Her breath hitched, and he smiled against her mouth. “You taste like chocolate,” he teased, nuzzling her nose.

The ice cream forgotten, they wandered to the nearby park. Wayne pulled out his phone, snapping photos of her laughing in the streetlight, of her hair catching the breeze, of their hands intertwined.

“You’re beautiful,” he said suddenly, soft and completely sincere, as he pointed the camera at her. “Not just in pictures… in real life. Every day.”

Wendy’s chest tightened. “Wayne…” she whispered, voice barely audible.

He took her hand and pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her in a gentle, protective hug. She rested her head on his shoulder, feeling his heartbeat, steady and strong, grounding her completely.

“I’ve wanted this,” he admitted softly, tilting her chin up to look into her eyes. “To be with you, like this… alone, just us. No one else matters.”

Her lips parted slightly, heart hammering. “Me too,” she confessed.

The first kiss was slow, tentative, tasting faintly of strawberry ice cream and warmth. Then, shameless Wayne leaned closer, pressing again, deeper this time, letting her melt into him. Her hands tangled in his hair, his arms holding her like she was the most precious thing in the world.

They stayed lost in each other, kissing softly, then more passionately, letting the world around them fade away. Streetlights blurred into a golden haze, and the night felt like it had shrunk just to hold them together.

Later, they sprawled on the soft grass of the park, sharing a blanket Wayne had tucked in his backpack. The stars peeked through the night sky, twinkling like tiny promises.

“Look,” Wayne whispered, pointing up. “Every star is a wish I made for you. For us.”

Wendy laughed softly, resting her head on his chest. “Shamelessly cheesy,” she teased.

“I’ll take it,” he murmured, pressing a soft kiss on her temple. “Cheesy is part of my charm.”

They spent hours lying there, capturing the stars in his phone camera, taking silly selfies, and then quiet photos of each other, framing moments they wanted to remember forever. Wayne kept stealing kisses, soft ones on her forehead, nose, lips, sometimes teasing, sometimes lingering — and Wendy let herself get lost in them, in him.

At one point, she curled into his arms completely, feeling the warmth of his body, his steady breathing, and the quiet thrill of knowing he wouldn’t let her go.

“I don’t ever want to leave this,” she whispered, voice trembling.

“Then don’t,” he said softly, pressing a long, sweet kiss to her lips. “Stay here, with me. Just for tonight. And every night after.”

They held each other tight, kissing, laughing softly, whispering small secrets under the stars. Wendy’s heart felt like it might burst — not from fear, not from worry, but from overwhelming happiness.

When the night grew late, they reluctantly headed home, sneaking along the quiet streets, hands clasped, lips stealing one last kiss here and there. Neither wanted the night to end.

That night, Wendy lay in bed, replaying every kiss, every touch, every whisper. Shameless Wayne had stolen more than her trust — he had stolen her heart completely.

He’s mine, and I’m his, she thought, smiling in the dark. And for once, I don’t want anything else.