Forever in the making

Chapter 2: Morning after

Piper woke up to the sound of seagulls crying outside her window. She groggily opened her eyes, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings. Where was she?

As she sat up in bed, memories of the previous night's party came flooding back. The music, the laughter, the conga line... and Max.

Piper's cheeks flushed as she recalled the way Max had spun her around the dance floor, his eyes sparkling with mischief. She hadn't felt that carefree in years.

But as she looked around the room, Piper realized she wasn't in her own bed. She was in Max's hotel room.

A wave of panic washed over her. What had she done?

Piper threw off the covers and scrambled out of bed, searching for her phone. She found it on the nightstand, next to a note scrawled in Max's handwriting:

"Good morning, beautiful. Went for a run. Make yourself at home."

Piper's heart skipped a beat. Beautiful?

She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing thoughts. What did she do now?

As Piper stood there, trying to decide what to do, her eyes landed on the hotel room's balcony. The sliding glass door was open, and the sound of the waves crashing against the shore was inviting.

She walked out onto the balcony, taking a deep breath of the salty air. The view was stunning – the ocean stretched out before her, meeting the horizon at a perfect line.

Piper leaned against the railing, feeling the cool breeze on her skin. She closed her eyes, letting the sound of the waves wash over her.

As she stood there, she felt a sense of clarity wash over her. She realized that she didn't have to make any decisions right now. She could just enjoy the moment, and worry about the consequences later.

Just as she was starting to relax, Piper heard the sound of the hotel room door opening. She turned to see Max walking towards her, a towel slung over his shoulder and a smile on his face.

"Good morning," he said, leaning against the railing beside her. "I see you found the best spot in the room."

Piper smiled, feeling a sense of ease with Max that she couldn't explain. "It's definitely the best view," she said.

Max turned to her, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "I think you might be the best view," he said, his voice low and husky.

Piper's eyes locked onto Max's, and for a moment, they just stared at each other. The tension between them was palpable.

Then, without saying a word, Max reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair behind Piper's ear. The touch sent shivers down her spine.

Piper's heart was racing, but she didn't pull away. Instead, she found herself leaning into Max's touch, craving more.

As they stood there, frozen in time, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore seemed to fade into the background. All Piper could focus on was the sensation of Max's fingers on her skin.

Suddenly, Max's phone buzzed, breaking the spell. He hesitated for a moment before pulling away and answering the call.

Piper felt a pang of disappointment, but she tried to shake it off. She didn't know what was happening between her and Max, but she knew she needed to be careful.

As Max stepped away to take the call, Piper took a deep breath and tried to gather her thoughts. What was she doing?

As Piper stood there, trying to gather her thoughts, she noticed a small notebook on the balcony railing. It was Max's, and it was open to a page with a rough sketch of the ocean view.

Piper's eyes widened as she took in the details of the drawing. It was beautiful, and it seemed to capture the essence of the moment.

Without thinking, Piper picked up the notebook and began to flip through its pages. The sketches were stunning, and they seemed to tell a story of their own.

As she delved deeper into the notebook, Piper started to feel a connection to Max that went beyond their physical attraction. She saw a kindred spirit, someone who appreciated the beauty in the world.

Suddenly, Max appeared beside her, his eyes narrowing slightly as he took in the sight of his notebook in Piper's hands.

"I'm sorry," Piper said quickly, feeling a flush rise to her cheeks. "I didn't mean to snoop."

Max's expression softened, and he smiled. "It's okay," he said. "I'm glad you like my art."

Piper's heart skipped a beat. "You're an artist?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Max nodded. "I try to be," he said. "But it's not always easy."

Piper felt a pang of curiosity. What did Max mean?

As Piper stood there, looking at Max's artwork, she felt a sudden surge of inspiration. She had an idea for a new wedding theme, one that incorporated Max's artistic style.

"Max, can I ask you something?" Piper said, her eyes shining with excitement.

"Anything," Max replied, his curiosity piqued.

"I have an idea for a new wedding theme," Piper said. "One that combines art and nature. Would you be interested in collaborating with me?"

Max's face lit up with surprise, and then a slow smile spread across his face. "I'd love to," he said.

Piper's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't expected Max to agree so readily.

As they began brainstorming ideas, Piper felt a sense of excitement and creativity that she hadn't felt in a long time. She was inspired by Max's artistic vision, and she could see the potential for something truly special.

But as they worked together, Piper couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more to Max's story. What secrets was he hiding?

As Piper and Max continued brainstorming, the sun began to set over the ocean. The sky was painted with hues of pink and orange, and the air was filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers.

Piper felt a sense of magic in the air, and she turned to Max with a mischievous grin. "Let's take a break and watch the sunset," she said.

Max raised an eyebrow, but a slow smile spread across his face. "I'd love to," he said.

Together, they walked to the edge of the balcony, and Piper felt Max's hand brush against hers. It was a gentle touch, but it sent shivers down her spine.

As they watched the sunset, Piper felt a sense of connection with Max that went beyond their collaboration. She felt like she was seeing a side of him that few people got to experience.

Suddenly, Max turned to her and said, "I have a confession to make."

Piper's heart skipped a beat. What was Max going to reveal?