XXI

Solené Beckett

Today is the day. I'm finally taking Summer out on a date. I managed to book us dinner at Halcyon, an upscale and serene seafood restaurant known for its impeccable atmosphere.

It's 6 p.m., and I just stepped out of the shower, ready to start getting dressed. After drying off with a towel, I applied lotion to my skin, followed by deodorant. I slipped on my undergarments, then slid into my outfit for the evening: a black dress with an open back, paired with sheer black stockings and knee-high black boots. The all-black ensemble felt sleek, modern, and fitting for the night ahead.

At my vanity, I worked on my hair, straightening it to perfection before doing a full face of makeup. I opted for a semi-matte finish, adding a soft contour to enhance my cheekbones, nose, and jawline. A subtle highlight graced the high points of my face, and I carefully filled in the ends of my brows for a natural yet polished look. My lash extensions created a dramatic, cat-eye effect, while a lightly overlined lip with a rich, glossy nude lipstick complemented my skin tone.

Satisfied with how I looked, I smiled at my reflection. It had been a while since I'd done a full face of makeup, but I was happy with the results. Realizing it was nearly 7 p.m., I grabbed my black wool trench coat and my Louis Vuitton Nice Mini bag before heading downstairs.

I sent Summer a quick text letting her know I was on my way before grabbing the keys to my Range Rover. As I drove to her place, I couldn't help but overthink, as I often do. I wanted tonight to be perfect.

When I arrived, I stepped out of the car and walked up to her door, giving it two firm knocks. The crisp Chicago wind blew my hair into my lip gloss, and I quickly tucked it behind my ears, annoyed but smiling at the absurdity of the moment.

Seconds later, the door opened, and there stood Summer. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to leave you out in the cold," she said breathlessly. "I was just slipping on my heels—" Her words trailed off as her eyes scanned my outfit, and I took the opportunity to admire hers.

She wore a long-sleeved red dress with zebra-print stripes that reached the floor. The bold design gave it personality, and her Christian Louboutin stilettos only added to the look. Her slicked-back bun highlighted her sharp, elegant features, and gold stud earrings and rings complemented her gold clutch. Her makeup was understated but striking: a smoky eye, light blush, and slightly tinted lips in a soft pinkish hue.

"You look beautiful, Summer," I said, stepping inside and closing the door behind me.

"And you look absolutely gorgeous," she replied, her gaze lingering on me. "So beautiful, baby." She wrapped her arms around my waist and pulled me close. Her perfume enveloped me, and for a moment, I was lost in her scent.

Blushing, I smiled. "Thank you, pretty," I said, pressing a fleeting kiss to her lips. "Are you almost ready?"

"Yes," she said coyly, "but I wouldn't mind being late. I assume you can make other arrangements, no?" Her hands trailed up to the back of my neck, her touch warm and inviting.

Raising an eyebrow, I chuckled, "As much as I'd love to take you up on that offer, we can't."

She rolled her eyes and pushed my coat off my shoulders, smirking. "And why not?"

I leaned in, pulling her close. "Don't start something you can't finish," I teased.

"Says who?" she challenged.

Before she could say more, I kissed her deeply, her lips soft against mine. Her hands cupped my face, pulling me closer. My hand trailed down to her waist, then lower, giving her a firm squeeze, eliciting a gasp. Taking the opportunity, I deepened the kiss, but quickly pulled away before it went any further.

"Go finish getting ready," I said with a playful smirk.

With an exaggerated groan, she walked away, muttering under her breath. Chuckling, I headed to the bathroom to touch up my lip gloss and smooth my hair before slipping back into my coat.

When she reappeared, she was wrapped in a luxurious mink coat, her purse draped elegantly over her arm. "Ready?" I asked, wrapping an arm around her waist.

She hummed in response, still pretending to be annoyed, which only made me laugh.

We made our way to the car, and I opened the door for her before heading to Halcyon.

At the restaurant, the hostess led us to our table. I pulled out Summer's chair for her, and she smiled warmly as she thanked me. "Have you been here before?" I asked as we settled in.

"No," she admitted. "I'd planned to come with Adrianna, but we never got around to it. I've heard great things, though."

"Same. Let's hope it lives up to the hype—I'm starving."

"When aren't you?" she teased with a smirk.

We laughed as we browsed the menu. Summer ordered the Pearl in the Fog cocktail, while I chose the Golden Horizon. The waitress, Jewell, blushed when I smiled at her, causing Summer to shoot me a playful glare.

"Are you jealous?" I teased.

"What if I am?" she said, crossing her arms.

"Then I'd tell you that you have nothing to worry about."

"Of course not. You're here with me," she said with a confident smirk.

Dinner was exquisite. Summer ordered the Celestial Scallops, while I chose the Ocean's Embrace. We shared bites, laughing and talking about everything under the sun.

After dinner, I drove us to the dock, where a yacht awaited.

"You rented a yacht?" Summer exclaimed, her eyes lighting up.

"I did," I said, smiling as she squealed and hugged me tightly.

Onboard, we stood against the railing, looking out at the city lights. My arms wrapped around her waist as the wind nipped at our skin. "You're so warm," she murmured, nuzzling closer to me.

"I'll always keep you warm," I whispered, planting a soft kiss on her head.

As we stood there, planes began spelling something in the sky. Summer squinted, reading the words aloud: "Will you be my girlfriend?"

Her head whipped toward me, her eyes wide. "You did this?"

"I'll do anything for you," I said, cupping her face.

She smiled brightly and kissed me. "Of course, I'll be your girlfriend," she murmured, her lips brushing against mine. Moments later, fireworks lit up the sky, forming a heart with S+S in the middle.

She laughed, leaning against me. "You're unbelievable."

"I'll take that as a compliment," I said, holding her tighter as we watched the night sky together.

I had a girlfriend again—and this time, it felt perfect.

As the fireworks faded, we lingered against the railing, the city lights reflecting in the water below. Summer's arms stayed wrapped around me, her head resting on my chest. The moment was serene—one of those rare, fleeting pockets of time where everything feels right.

"You really went all out," she murmured, her voice soft.

"Only the best for you," I replied, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

She smiled up at me, her eyes sparkling in the dim light. "You're making it impossible for anyone else to ever compete, you know that, right?"

"That's the plan," I teased, leaning down to kiss her forehead.

We spent the next hour exploring the yacht. The captain had arranged a private lounge area adorned with fairy lights and a chilled bottle of champagne waiting for us. Summer kicked off her heels, sinking into one of the plush chairs as I poured us both a glass.

"To us," I said, handing her a flute.

"To us," she echoed, clinking her glass against mine.

As we sipped, our conversation flowed effortlessly. We talked about everything: her latest design projects, my plans for the modeling agency, our favorite memories growing up. It felt like no topic was off-limits, and every word she spoke only deepened my feelings for her.

"You know," she said, tracing the rim of her glass with her finger. Her eyes softened, and she reached across the table to take my hand. "You make me feel safe, Solené. And seen."

I squeezed her hand, my heart swelling at her words. "You deserve that. Always."

We fell into a comfortable silence, the only sounds being the gentle lapping of the water and the faint hum of the yacht's engine.

Eventually, we made our way back to the deck. The city skyline had grown more distant, replaced by the endless expanse of water and stars. Summer leaned against the railing, her hair catching the light breeze. I stood behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist.

"You know what I've always wanted to do?" she asked suddenly, tilting her head back to look at me.

"What's that?"

"Dance under the stars."

I chuckled. "You're so corny, that can be arranged."

Pulling my phone from my pocket, I queued up a soft, romantic playlist. The first notes of a piano melody drifted through the night air, and I extended my hand to her.

"May I have this dance?" I asked, my voice low and playful.

She giggled but placed her hand in mine. "Always."

We swayed together, her head resting on my shoulder as the music wrapped around us. The moment felt intimate, magical, like we were the only two people in the world.

As the song ended, she pulled back slightly to look at me, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Thank you for tonight," she whispered.

"For what?"

"For everything. For showing me that love can feel this... effortless."

Her words hit me hard, and I cupped her face, pressing a tender kiss to her lips. "You make it easy," I said softly.

The rest of the evening felt like a dream. We talked, laughed, and simply existed in each other's presence. By the time the yacht docked, it was past midnight, but neither of us was ready for the night to end.

As I drove her home, her hand rested on mine, our silence filled with a mutual understanding.

When we arrived at her place, I walked her to the door, her fingers intertwined with mine. She turned to face me, her cheeks rosy from the cold.

"I had the best night," she said.

"So did I," I replied.

She smiled, standing on her toes to kiss me softly. "Goodnight, Solené."

"Goodnight, Summer."

As she stepped inside, I felt a sense of peace wash over me. Tonight wasn't just about romance or grand gestures—it was about connection. And with Summer, I knew I had found my person again.

As I walked back to my car, a small smile played on my lips. The cold wind didn't bother me; nothing could.

I had her.

And that was more than enough.