Page 103 of A Simple Reminder

“Yes.” Sophie’s smile lights up the small space of the elevator, and if this were a scene from a movie, time itself would stop just to capture it. To allow me to kiss her sweet lips. To stay in this perfect moment where the world doesn’t exist—only her. The soft hum of the elevator, the city outside, everything fades, leaving us suspended in time. My hand itches to reach for her, to pull her close and savor every heartbeat we share. Instead, I let her smile burn into my memory because right now, this moment feels like forever. Everything feels lighter around her like the whole world brightens with her presence. Just like pure sunshine.

The elevator dings, pulling me back to reality, and I blink as the doors slide open. The spell breaks, but her hand in mine is grounding.

The spa is finally ready, and Sophie has been asking me to show it to her. It’s the only room she hasn’t worked on, I was in charge of it. Nerves rake through me. I don’t really know why, but I’m afraid she’ll judge me. Not that she’s that kind of person. I’m not a designer, I’m not even close to her level. But spas are my sanctuaries—everything about them calms me in a way nothing else can. It’s where the noise of the world fades away and I can relax.

As we step further into the spa, Sophie’s eyes wander, trying to take in everything at once. The room opens into a series of hallways, each leading to a different experience.

“There are different halls here, each offering something unique,” I explain, guiding her closer. “Everything from a traditional Turkish hammam, with heated marble and steam, to a Scandinavian ice plunge, where the cold helps with circulation and recovery. It's like traveling the world without ever leaving the building.”

Sophie’s gaze flickers between the various paths, her smile widening as she takes in the variety. “This is incredible. You really thought of everything.”

I nod, watching her closely, taking in her reaction, feeling a sense of satisfaction settle in my chest. She approves.

“Come,” I say, tugging her hand, pulling her closer to the pool. “I want you to see the tiles at the bottom. I'm really proud of this; we imported it directly from Spain.”

The memory of Sophie's old bathroom, with those striking blue tiles, flashes in my mind. She probably won’t remember, but I never forgot anything connected to her. Even the smallest details about her are etched into my brain, permanent and vivid.

Now, a part of our story will always reside in this hotel.

Her high heels tap rhythmically on the polished floor as we approach the pool. The sound is steady, almost hypnotic, and I find myself smiling at the simple yet intoxicating presence of her beside me. She bends forward slightly, trying to get a better look at the water below, but stops short. The way her hair falls forward as she peers down is stressing me out.

“Careful,” I murmur, tightening my grip on her hand. A flicker of nervousness runs through me—she’s too close to the edge, and the marble is slippery.

She glances back at me, a confident smile dancing on her lips. “It’s fine, Liam,” she says, her tone light. Still, she takes another cautious step forward, bending even closer. “Is that the same as—AAAH!”

Her words cut off as her foot slips, and instinctively, she yanks on my hand. Before I can react, the world tilts and tumbles into chaos. The polished marble, her startled gasp, the rush of air—it all blurs into one disorienting moment.

Splash.

The water engulfs us, cold and shocking, snapping me into the present. For a second, I can’t see anything but bubbles and ripples as we sink into the pool. Her hand is still clutched tightly in mine, our fingers intertwined, and I’m not letting go. Never.

We surface together, gasping for air, and the first thing I feel is a jolt of panic. “Sophie?!” I grab her face, searching her eyes, my heart pounding. Is she okay? Did she hurt herself? But then her lips pull into a grin—a big, radiant one that immediately dissolves the tension in me.

Relief floods through me as the biggest, most beautiful sound escapes her—a laugh so pure it echoes around us. “You’re not hurt?” I ask, my voice shaky but softening as her laughter grows.

“No!” she gasps between giggles, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “What a mess!” Her arms loop around my shoulders, and before I know it, her legs wrap around my waist, holding onto me like I’m her lifeline.

Her makeup is smudged—black streaks of mascara running down her cheeks—but she’s somehow never looked more beautiful. Without thinking, I reach out, wiping a streak away with my thumb. ”You look like a raccoon,” I tease, my voice low but filled with warmth. She’s beautiful. Always beautiful. With makeup, without makeup, even with it running down her face—she’s stunning.

She huffs a laugh, her fingers brushing under her own eyes as she tries to clean up.

Is that…? I stop breathing.

There's something black on her left ring finger. The moment feels suspended in time, water dripping from us, and laughter fading into a stillness so profound that it feels like the entire world has hushed to listen. My heart tightens as I reach out, gently taking her wrist and moving it closer to my eyes. My thumb drags over her finger, slow and deliberate.

What are you hiding, Sunshine?

A faint smudge of makeup clings to her skin, the water having eaten away at its disguise. My breath catches as a familiar word begins to emerge—a glimpse of something I thought was long gone.

She stills, her eyes fixed on me, waiting. I stare at her finger, the faint but unmistakable Arabic script coming into view.

Nasib.

Our promise, still inked into her skin after all this time. Matching mine. My mind races, memories crashing into me like waves. The night we got them. The laughter, the thrill, the absolute certainty of what we felt for each other.

“You kept it,” I whisper. ”You didn’t remove it.”

Her eyes soften, the spark of vulnerability flickering in their depths. “Of course I didn’t.”

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