Jonas Pov
The city lights moved past the windows as I drove. Ruby sat in the passenger seat, her graduation dress still on, a soft smile resting on her face. The air between us felt different after the kiss at the party — warmer, heavier, full of things we hadn’t said yet.
I glanced at her once, then kept my eyes on the road. My heart was beating harder than it should have for a simple drive home. My hands felt a little damp on the steering wheel.
“Can we stop somewhere first?” I asked.
Ruby turned to me, still smiling. “Where?”
“It’s a surprise.”
She laughed quietly, the sound light and familiar. “A surprise at this hour? Okay… I trust you.”
I took a different turn and drove toward the quieter side of the city. After a few minutes the buildings thinned out, and the road followed th
