Page 7 of A Simple Reminder

There’s no teasing in his eyes, no hint of frustration—just patience that somehow both calms and unnerves me. It’s not the kind of reassurance I’m used to, where bravery is demanded before fear is acknowledged. Instead, he lets me be afraid. It’s strange and disarming, like being given permission to take up space I didn’t think I deserved. And somehow, in his calm acceptance, I feel the stirrings of a strength I didn’t know I had—one that makes me want to face this, not for him, but because I trust him to catch me if I fall.

“Deal,” I reply, feeling a newfound determination. “I want to do it. With you.”

He nods, his eyes steady and warm, a quiet confidence softening the sharp lines of his face. His lips curve into the faintest smile, carrying a weight that feels more like a promise whispered into the air than a simple gesture. “With me.”

As a purple gondola stops in front of us, the door opens invitingly. The attendant gestures for us to quickly take our seats, and as the door closes behind us, we begin our ascent.

Liam sits in front of me, his arms casually draped over the edge of the gondola. Meanwhile, the fear simmers back as we start our journey upward, and I begin to shrink into myself.

The ground beneath us falls away, and the world expands before my eyes. The view is breathtaking, with sprawling landscapes stretching out in every direction. But despite the beauty surrounding us, my mind fixates on the possibility of danger. My stomach knots so tightly it feels like a fist squeezing from the inside, and my whole body tenses, rigid as a plank. Planks fall fast—and then they break. The thought sends a jolt of panic through me, and my fingers curl around the edge of the seat, gripping it as if it’s the only thing keeping me safe. I can’t stop imagining the gondola swaying, the bolts loosening, or us plummeting to the ground—Liam falling alongside me.

When we finally reach the starting point again, I expect the ride to end, but we continue our ascent instead. My heart races again, but this time, there's a comforting warmth beside me. I glance to my right to see that Liam has moved closer, offering his silent support.

“Are you okay, Sunshine?” he asks, his voice gentle.

Sunshine.

He’s never called me that before, but something about the way it rolls off his tongue feels warm, like it’s meant to comfort me. The only other person who has a nickname for me is my dad. Hearing Liam give me one, just for me, stirs something I can’t quite name—a warmth that spreads through my chest, making me feel…special, in a way I haven’t felt in a long time.

“Y-yes,” I stammer, though the crack in my voice betrays me. His eyes linger on mine, reading the truth I can’t quite bring myself to say

“Come here.”

His arm once again wraps around my shoulders, firm and secure, and I lean into him without hesitation. The faint scent of leather and cedar drifts from his jacket, grounding me as I let my cheek rest against him.

“Look, there’s the cathedral we went to last week.” I peek up and follow his gaze, and sure enough, there in the distance stands the magnificent Gothic cathedral, its grandeur undiminished even from this height.

When the gondola reaches its apex, it abruptly stops, jerking slightly and swaying from side to side. My breath catches, and panic seizes me like a vice. I instinctively cling to Liam, my nails digging into his shirt, and a scream tears from my throat.

“OH MY GOD. LIAM.” My arms wrap around his torso, and I pull closer, almost climbing on top of him in sheer desperation. The sway feels endless like the whole gondola might give way at any second. “We’re going to die. We’re going to fall, I know it.”

He chuckles softly, his laughter a maddening contrast to the chaos inside me. It vibrates through his chest like a calm wave against my storm.

“We're not going to die,” he says, annoyingly steady. “They stop it for a few minutes from time to time. We’re lucky; it stopped at the top. Look.”

I shake my head frantically, every nerve in my body screaming in defiance of his calm demeanor.

“I promise we won’t fall. Just look.”

My head tilts up a little, nausea churning in my stomach. Tears prick at the corners of my eyes, and an overwhelming sense of helplessness washes over me, making me feel as small as a child. “I can’t.”

His large hand cradles my face, his touch steady and reassuring, yet firm enough to anchor me. “It’s okay. Look at me then.”

Reluctantly, I do. I slowly sit up and fix my eyes on his. His dark eyes hold mine, offering a steady anchor amidst the turmoil. I focus on him, and my racing heart gradually begins to slow, replaced by a sense of calm that emanates from him.

“Just like that, Sunshine,” he murmurs, his voice a soothing melody. “Keep your eyes on me.”

I do just that.

He slowly licks his lips, and a tingle ripples through my body, a reaction I can’t control. I find myself mirror his subtle gesture. Before I can fully process what’s happening, his lips find mine, and I surrender completely to the pull.

The kiss is tender yet fervent, each movement igniting a fire that burns through every thought, leaving only the sensation of him. I hadn’t realized how desperately I wanted this until now, when his lips finally claim mine, as though they’ve always belonged there.

I sit taller, instinctively leaning into him, my hands sliding up to grip his shoulders as though anchoring myself. His fingers press into my waist, pulling me closer until there’s no space left between us. The faint taste of mint lingers on his tongue as it brushes against the seam of my lips, coaxing them apart. A soft moan escapes me as I comply, the knot of tension in my stomach unraveling under the heat of his kiss.

Our thighs press together, his warmth seeping through the fabric of our clothes. My chest brushes against his as I twist slightly toward him, every nerve ending alive and buzzing. His lips grow hungrier, and I match his fervor, my pulse roaring in my ears, drowning out everything but him.

A throat clears, snapping us back to reality, and we reluctantly break eye contact—only to meet the curious stares of onlookers.

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