Part 38 ( Juliet )

I squint at the monstrosity in front of me. "What am I looking at?"

"It's a van," Mia announces proudly, stepping aside to showcase the oversized, borderline obnoxious black vehicle with tinted windows.

Aiden slaps a hand against the hood like it's a brand-new car on a showroom floor. "Not just any van. A luxury travel experience."

I stare at them both. Then at the van. Then back at them.

Ellie shifts beside me, arms crossed, amusement flickering in her eyes. "Mia. Aiden. Why do you guys have what looks like a mobile VIP lounge?"

Luke, who's been standing beside the van, leans against it with a smirk. "Technically, they rented it."

Mia glares at him. "Excuse you, we invested in it for the weekend."

I pinch the bridge of my nose. "Mia, why?"

She rolls her eyes, like I'm the one being difficult. "Because this is a group trip, and instead of everyone driving separately, we get to bond and enjoy the ride together."

I glance at the van again. "How big is this thing?"

Mia beams. "Oh, it fits all of us comfortably. There's a fridge, reclining seats, Bluetooth speakers—"

I tilt my head, eyes narrowing at the vehicle. "So, basically, you got us a party bus."

Mia claps her hands together. "Exactly!"

I blink at her. "Mia."

Ellie snickers, nudging me. "Come on, baby. It does sound kind of fun."

I look up at her, unimpressed. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

She grins. "A little."

Luke sighs dramatically. "Can we just get this show on the road? I don't want to be that guy, but I feel like this whole trip is already behind schedule."

Before anyone can respond, a new voice chimes in smoothly, one that doesn't belong to any of us.

"Well, if we're behind schedule, maybe you should've spent less time complaining and more time getting in the van."

We all turn.

There, standing casually beside Luke, arms crossed and looking far too at ease with all of this, is a woman I've never seen before.

Tall, sharp hazel eyes, long chestnut hair cascading over her shoulders in effortless waves. Her presence alone carries an air of quiet confidence, and the smirk tugging at her lips? Almost identical to Luke's.

"Who is this?" I ask bluntly, because apparently, no one else is going to.

"This is Olivia."

Silence.

Olivia lifts a hand, completely unbothered by the lack of immediate response. "Hey."

Luke exhales, dragging a hand down his face. "She's my—"

"Girlfriend," Olivia supplies smoothly, cutting him off.

Mia sputters. "I'm sorry—what?" Mia's voice goes up a whole octave. "Since when do you have a girlfriend?"

Luke groans. "Mia—"

Olivia laughs, stepping in front of Luke slightly, her smirk amused but unreadable. "I see this is a surprise."

Mia glares at Luke. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Luke exhales sharply. "Because of this reaction, obviously."

I tilt my head, still eyeing the two of them. "How long has this been going on?"

Olivia answers first, unfazed. "A little over six months."

Mia gasps. "Six months?" She looks genuinely betrayed. "You kept a secret relationship from me for half a year?"

Luke mutters something under his breath before shaking his head. "It's not a secret relationship, Mia. It's just a relationship."

Ellie grins. "And yet, none of us knew about it."

Luke glares. "You knew about it."

Ellie shrugs, entirely too smug. "Yeah, but only because I saw you sneaking out of the club with her that one night."

Mia lets out a shriek. "Ellie knew and i didn't?"

Aiden chuckles, throwing an arm around Mia's shoulders before she can combust. "Breathe, babe. He was gonna tell us eventually."

Luke scowls. "I wasn't."

Olivia just shakes her head, laughing softly. "This is more entertaining than I expected."

Mia throws her hands up. "Oh, well, I'm glad someone's enjoying themselves." She turns to Olivia. "Okay, since I'm clearly the last to know, let's get this over with." She extends a hand. "Hi. I'm Mia. Luke's annoying, overbearing, twin sister."

Olivia shakes her hand, unphased. "Nice to meet you. He's told me all about you."

Mia narrows her eyes. "Has he now?"

Luke groans. "Oh my God."

I cross my arms, finally giving Olivia a small nod. "Well, if you can handle him, you might actually belong here."

Olivia grins. "Oh, don't worry. I can handle him."

Luke huffs, rubbing his temples. "Can we just get in the damn van now?"

Ellie snickers. "Alright, alright. Let's load up." She grabs my hand and i let her guide me into the van, settling into what is, admittedly, a ridiculously comfortable seat.

Mia beams as she hops in. "Alright, let's hit the road!"

Luke groans. "God help us all."

I just sigh, resting my head against Ellie's shoulder as the van rumbles to life.

Mia claps her hands together, practically vibrating with excitement. "Alright, everyone, welcome aboard the greatest road trip vehicle of all time!"

Aiden gestures dramatically toward the spacious interior. "Now, let us begin our grand tour."

Mia spins on her heel and waves her arms around. "First, we have your standard VIP seating—luxurious, reclining leather seats with cup holders, leg rests, and mood lighting." She gestures to the overhead LED strip lights glowing a soft blue. "For ambience."

Luke, already slumped into one of the ridiculously cushy seats, tests the recline function and lets out a low whistle. "Okay... I hate to say this, but this is kind of nice."

Mia grins, smug. "Told you."

She moves further back, opening a small compartment on the side. "And this—" she reaches in and pulls out a bottle "—is a fully stocked mini-fridge. Drinks. Snacks. Whatever you need."

Aiden swings open a panel beneath it. "And right here, a hidden storage compartment for luggage. Because we believe practicality."

Juliet crosses her arms, raising a brow. "I'm sorry—we believe in practicality? You rented a party bus for a cabin trip."

Mia waves her off. "Details, details."

Then, without warning, she marches to the back and flings open a door. "And now... the pièce de résistance!"

We all blink.

Because, unbelievably, there's an actual bedroom.

It's small, but it's still a damn bedroom.

Luke gapes. "Are you kidding me?"

Mia grins, stepping inside like a game show host. "Surprise! There's two of them."

"What?" I sputter.

Aiden opens another door on the opposite side. Sure enough, another tiny bedroom.

Juliet rubs her temples. "So instead of normal seating, you decided we needed two actual rooms?"

Mia beams. "Why sit when you can lounge in a private suite?"

Luke looks between the rooms, then at Mia. "Did you two rent a tour bus?"

Mia shrugs innocently. "Maybe."

I let out a disbelieving laugh, running a hand through my hair. "Jesus."

Juliet just shakes her head, exhaling sharply. "So, let me guess, you two already called dibs on one of the rooms?"

Aiden throws an arm around Mia. "Obviously."

Luke crosses his arms. "Which means the rest of us are fighting for the second one?"

Mia smirks. "Or... you could sleep in a reclining chair."

Luke narrows his eyes. "You're evil."

Mia just bats her lashes.

Juliet sighs, rubbing at her temple. "I swear, every time we do a trip, you two find a way to make it insane."

Ellie, who's been suspiciously quiet this whole time, suddenly tugs me closer, leaning down to murmur, "Call the second room."

I blink up at her. "What?"

She gives me a pointed look. "Call the second room, Jules."

Understanding dawns, and before anyone else can open their mouth, I straighten and say, "We're taking the other one."

Luke groans. "God damn it."

Mia snickers. "Fast reflexes, Baldwin."

I smirk, glancing up at Ellie, who looks entirely too pleased with herself. "Well, i am pregnant."

Luke grumbles, dragging a hand down his face before muttering, "Guess me and Olivia are sleeping in the chair."

"I don't mind." Olivia chimes in.

Aiden pats his shoulder. "Sorry buddy."

Luke glares. "No, you're not."

Mia claps her hands. "Alright! Tour's over! Everyone settle in—we've got a long drive ahead."

I shake my head, exhaling as I slide onto the ridiculously comfortable bed in our room.

I turn my head toward Ellie, smirking. "So, was this part of your master plan?"

Ellie grins, stretching her arms over her head. "I always have a plan, baby."

I snort, rolling my eyes before settling in.

The moment she clicks the door behind us, Ellie wastes no time. She shifts, rolling onto her side, propping herself up on one elbow as she watches me with that look. the one that always makes my breath catch, the one that tells me exactly where her mind is going.

I arch a brow, pretending not to notice the way her gaze drags over me. "Something on your mind, Crawford?"

Ellie hums, reaching out to brush a stray strand of hair from my face. "Maybe."

I scoff, shifting onto my back. "We're on a moving van, you know."

Her smirk deepens as she leans in, her fingers tracing absent patterns over my stomach. "Mmm. And?"

"And," I say, narrowing my eyes at her, "the others are literally right outside."

Ellie shrugs, completely unbothered. "Doors lock."

I roll my eyes, but my pulse betrays me, kicking up a notch when her hand slides a little lower, her fingertips skimming the hem of my shirt. She dips her head, pressing a slow, lingering kiss to my jaw. "What?" she murmurs against my skin. "You nervous, baby?"

I let out a breathy laugh, tilting my chin slightly to give her better access. "And i'm the one thats supposed to be hormonal."

She kisses along my jaw, her lips warm, teasing, working their way toward my neck. "Can't help it. You look too sexy."

I let out a shaky breath, hands instinctively finding her waist. "Dangerous thing to say when we're stuck in this van for hours, baby."

Ellie hums, before capturing my lips in a kiss, deep, like she has all the time in the world. She tastes like the wine from earlier, a little intoxicating, a little too easy to get lost in.

I sigh into her mouth, letting her take what she wants. Her hand slides up, slipping beneath my shirt, fingers brushing over bare skin, and I shiver at the contact. My grip on her waist tightens, my nails digging in just enough to make her exhale sharply.

"Juliet," she murmurs, her voice rough with want.

I tug her closer in response, our bodies aligning in a way that makes my breath hitch. My fingers tangle in her hair, and I tilt my head, deepening the kiss, turning it into something hotter, hungrier. Ellie groans softly, shifting her weight, pressing me further into the mattress, her hand trailing up my side, thumb tracing just beneath my ribs.

I arch into her touch, sighing against her mouth. "You're getting ahead of yourself."

Ellie grins, her breath warm against my lips. "You love when I get ahead of myself."

I do. I really do.

I yank her down into another kiss, one that steals the air from my lungs, one that makes heat coil deep in my stomach. She presses herself against me, and I feel everything, every point of contact, every inch of her that fits so perfectly against me.

Ellie grins, a wicked glint in her eye as she straddles my hips, the heat of her pressing against me through our clothes, rocking her hips in a slow, teasing grind.

I whimper lowly, my back arching off the bed. "Fuck." I breathe out, fingers digging into her hips.

She leans down, capturing my lips in a bruising kiss, her tongue delving deep, claiming me.

At the same time, she starts to move, rolling her hips in a slow, steady rhythm, the friction delicious and maddening all at once. I can feel every inch of her, hard and insistent, pressed against my aching heat.

I gasp into her mouth, hips rising to meet hers, desperate for more. Ellie groans, breaking the kiss to bury her face in my neck, teeth grazing my pulse point.

"Fuck," she growls. "That feels good."

I make a wordless sound of agreement, lost in the sensation of her moving above me, our bodies moving together in a dance as old as time. The pressure builds slowly, steadily, until I'm wound tight as a bowstring, my hips jerking erratically.

Ellie picks up the pace, her rhythm growing faster, harder, driving us both toward the edge.

A loud knock on the door.

Both of us freeze.

"Hey!" Luke's voice carries through the door. "I don't know what the hell is going on in there, but if I hear even one more suspicious noise, I'm throwing myself out of this van."

Mia snickers from outside. "Or we could just blast the music louder."

Aiden sounds far too amused. "I dunno. I kinda like hearing Luke suffer."

Ellie groans, dropping her head against my shoulder with an exaggerated sigh. "I hate them."

I chuckle, still breathless, still warm all over.

"Such cockblockers." She whispers in my ears. Sending shivers down my spine.

Luke knocks again. "I swear to God, if this thing starts rocking—"

Ellie growls under her breath, pressing one last, frustrated kiss to my lips before rolling off me and stomping toward the door. She flings it open, glaring at our very unbothered group.

Luke holds up his hands. "Just keeping the peace."

Ellie gestures toward the hallway. "Leave."

Mia smirks. "Lovebirds interrupted?"

Ellie squints at her. "I will fight you."

Mia hums, turning to Aiden. "You hear that, babe? She wants to fight a pregnant woman."

Aiden sighs, draping an arm around her. "Assaulting a pregnant woman now, Ellie?"

Luke groans, rubbing his temples. "Can we just get some sleep before we crash into a ditch? Please?"

Ellie pinches the bridge of her nose before stepping back into the room and slamming the door shut. She turns back toward me, shaking her head. "I really hate them."

I grin, reaching for her wrist and pulling her back onto the bed.

She sighs, letting herself collapse beside me, her head resting against my shoulder. "You owe me later."

I press a soft kiss to her hair. "Mmm. Whatever you say."

She hums, snuggling in closer.

-

A loud knock jolts me awake.

"Hey, lovebirds! We're here!" Luke's voice booms from the other side of the door, followed by another set of rapid, obnoxious knocks. "Get up before Mia starts giving an inspirational speech about 'seizing the moment' or some shit."

I groan, burying my face into Ellie's shoulder, my body still tangled with hers.

Another knock, this time from Mia. "I swear to God, if you two made this room a no-go zone, I will never forgive you."

I lift my head slightly, squinting at the door. "We slept, you psychopath." My voice is hoarse from sleep, my body still heavy with exhaustion.

"Hmmm." Mia hums in a way that makes it clear she doesn't believe me. "Well, you two were locked away for six hours. What was I supposed to think?"

I sigh, rolling onto my back and glancing toward Ellie, who's rubbing a hand down her face, blinking the sleep from her eyes.

I shift, turning my head toward the clock. Six hours. Damn. That was quick.

Ellie yawns, stretching her arms above her head before lazily wrapping one around my waist, pulling me back in. "Five more minutes," she mutters, pressing a kiss to my shoulder.

Luke pounds on the door again. "Nope! Up! Now! If I have to suffer through Mia's over-the-top cabin excitement, so do you two."

Ellie groans dramatically, tightening her grip around me, as if that would somehow keep me in bed. "I swear, I'm going to kill him before this trip is over."

I snicker, running my fingers through her hair. "Get in line."

Mia knocks one last time. "If you're not out in five minutes, I'm unlocking this door myself."

Ellie sighs, dragging a hand down her face.

I press a quick kiss to her cheek before slipping out of bed, pulling one of Ellie's hoodies over my top before grabbing her hand, tugging her up with me. "Come on."

Ellie groans but follows, fingers threading through mine as we make our way to the door.

As soon as I unlock it, Mia and Luke practically fall inside.

Mia grins. "Finally! Time for the official cabin tour!"

Ellie squeezes my hand, shooting me a knowing look.

We step out of the van, Mia is already halfway up the massive wraparound porch, gesturing wildly like she's about to give a TED Talk on the art of cabin living.

"Welcome, my dear friends, to the best cabin experience of your lives!" she announces, arms spread wide.

I blink up at the house.

No. Not a house.

A goddamn mansion in the woods.

The place is ridiculous. Floor-to-ceiling windows, multiple balconies, a stone fireplace that stretches up two stories. There's even a separate guesthouse off to the side, because of course there is.

Ellie lets out a low whistle beside me. "Mia, this isn't a cabin. This is a ski resort."

Mia turns, hands on her hips. "I prefer the term luxury woodland getaway."

Aiden nods, throwing an arm around her shoulder. "She made a whole itinerary."

Luke groans. "Of course she did."

Mia ignores him, clapping her hands together. "Alright! Tour time!"

We follow her up the porch and through the massive double doors, stepping into a stunning open-concept everything. The living room alone is bigger than my penthouse's main floor. Vaulted ceilings, wooden beams, oversized couches, a grand piano.

I turn to Mia, eyes narrowing. "You rented this?"

Mia grins. "Nope! Aiden bought it!"

Aiden shrugs like he didn't just casually drop millions on this place. "Seemed like a good investment."

Luke stares at him, then turns to Mia. "You married a lunatic."

Mia beams. "I know."

Ellie lets out a low chuckle. "Alright, tour guide. Show us where we're staying before Luke has an aneurysm."

Mia snaps into action. "Right this way!"

We're led through the obnoxiously large kitchen (state-of-the-art appliances, double islands, a wine fridge.) before heading upstairs.

Mia points down the main hall. "All the guest rooms are here, each has an en-suite, because we believe in comfort and class."

Luke pushes past her, already throwing open a random door. "Called it." He glances back at Aiden. "Bet there's a hot tub."

Aiden smirks. "There is. Outside."

Luke groans in delight.

Mia keeps walking. "But you two," she says, turning to Ellie and me, "will be staying over here."

She points to the opposite end of the hall. A single door. Set apart from the others.

Ellie raises a brow. "We get the one farthest from everyone?"

Mia winks. "You're welcome."

I squint. "Mia. What did you do?"

Mia gestures for us to open the door.

Ellie does.

It's not just a room.

It's a suite.

A ridiculously huge suite.

A king-sized bed takes up the center, massive windows offering a view of the mountains beyond. There's a fireplace, a seating area, and—

I tilt my head. "Is that a private balcony?"

Ellie lets out an impressed hum. "Damn."

Mia grins. "Figured you two might want a little... privacy."

Luke groans from the hallway. "Mia, why are you like this?"

Mia grins wider. "Because I'm an amazing friend."

Ellie smirks, dropping our bags inside. "I'm not complaining."

I side-eye her. "Of course you're not."

Mia wiggles her eyebrows. "Alright. Get settled in. We'll meet downstairs for drinks in an hour."

Ellie shuts the door.

I sigh, admiring our room. "This is.....wow."

Ellie wraps her arms around me from behind, lips brushing against my ear. "Mmhmm. Come on. Let's check out our balcony."

I let her guide me toward the glass doors, stepping outside into the crisp mountain air. The view is breathtaking, endless trees stretching beneath the twilight sky, the peaks dusted in snow, the world quiet in a way that makes it feel like we're the only two people here.

Ellie leans against the railing, hands in her pockets, a slow smile tugging at her lips. "Not bad, huh?"

I cross my arms. "I'll admit, it's gorgeous."

She smirks. "Told you."

I roll my eyes, stepping closer, close enough for her warmth to chase away the evening chill. "You gonna gloat about this all weekend?"

She hums, like she's considering it. "Maybe."

I poke her side, and she grabs my wrist, pulling me in before I can react.

"Ellie—"

She cuts me off with a kiss, her lips warm against mine.

When she finally pulls away, I exhale, my fingers curling into the fabric of her hoodie. She's grinning like an idiot, brushing her nose against mine.

Ellie tugs me back inside, kicking the door shut behind us. "Now... about that bed."

I arch a brow. "So that's what this was about?"

She smirks. "Just making sure it's comfortable for the next three nights."

I don't even get the chance to roll my eyes before she kisses me again, this time deeper, hungrier, like she's got all the time in the world to kiss me stupid.

Ellie backs me up slowly, step by step, until the backs of my knees hit the edge of the bed. Her smirk is downright smug as she leans in, her hands sliding down to rest on my hips, fingers teasing at the hem of my hoodie.

"Just testing it out, huh?" I murmur, my voice lower than I intended.

Ellie hums, her lips brushing against my jaw. "Gotta make sure we sleep well."

I scoff, but whatever comeback I had dies on my lips the second she tilts my head up with her fingers and kisses me again.

It starts slow, but there's a heat behind it that sends a shiver racing down my spine. I grip the front of her hoodie, pulling her closer, and she laughs softly into the kiss before deepening it, her tongue teasing against mine.

She presses me down onto the mattress, her weight settling over me in a way that has my breath hitching.

Ellie pulls away just enough to drag her lips down my neck, her teeth grazing over my pulse. A soft gasp escapes me before I can stop it, and her answering grin is downright sinful.

"There it is," she murmurs, her voice husky. "Missed that sound."

I thread my fingers into her hair, tugging just enough to make her groan. "Shut up and keep kissing me."

She grins but obeys, capturing my lips again, her hands sliding under my hoodie, fingers skimming over bare skin. She presses her knee between my legs, just enough to make me tense beneath her.

Her hand trails down my side, slow, teasing, slipping just beneath the waistband of my sweatpants, and I let out a sharp breath, my hips instinctively shifting against her.

"Impatient?" she teases, her lips brushing against my ear.

I tug her hoodie up, slipping my hands beneath the fabric to trace over the toned muscles of her back. "You're one to talk."

Ellie huffs a quiet laugh, kissing me again, harder this time, like she's trying to prove something. I feel her fingers dip lower, her breath warm against my lips.

Ellie groans against my lips, her grip on my waist tightening as I arch into her. Her kisses are hungry, teasing, just shy of desperate, like she's barely holding herself back. I can feel the way she shivers when my nails scrape lightly down her back, the way her breathing hitches when I tug her closer.

Her fingers dip lower, brushing over my hip, and I let out a quiet gasp against her mouth.

She pulls back with a sharp exhale, her forehead resting against mine. "Jules." she murmurs, voice rough with restraint.

I try to chase her lips, but she holds me firm, her hands steady on my hips. "We should go downstairs."

I blink up at her, still half-dazed, lips swollen, skin burning. "What?"

She sighs, dragging a hand down my side, a pained expression on her face. "If we don't leave now, things are gonna escalate. Fast."

I huff, pressing my fingers against her chest. "That's not a problem for me."

Ellie lets out a strained chuckle, shaking her head. "Yeah, I can tell." She cups my face gently, brushing her thumb along my jaw. "Come on, baby. We'll have time later."

I whine, not even caring how pathetic I sound. "Ellie."

She grins, amused but also clearly struggling. "Jules."

I cross my arms, pouting, because yes, I'm actually pouting. "I'm horny."

Ellie groans, dropping her head onto my shoulder like I just made her life significantly harder. "You can't just say that."

I shrug, running my fingers over the hem of her hoodie, toying with it. "I'm just stating a fact."

She tilts her head up, eyes dark, filled with heat. "Believe me, baby, I know."

I smirk, pressing a slow kiss to the corner of her mouth, dragging my lips just slightly against hers. "Then what's stopping you?"

Ellie's jaw clenches, her grip on my waist tightening before she pulls away entirely, standing up from the bed. "The best friends waiting for us downstairs."

I stare at her for a moment, letting the silence stretch, before I sigh dramatically, finally sitting up. "Fine."

Ellie snickers, offering me a hand. "Oh, don't act like I just ruined your life."

I let her pull me up, stepping into her space again, just to tease. "You kinda did."

She grins, tugging me closer by my wrist. "Then I'll make it up to you later."

I hum, running a slow finger down the center of her chest. "Damn right, you will."

Ellie shakes her head but grabs my hand, leading me toward the door. "Come on, troublemaker."

We head downstairs and Luke and Mia are both standing outside, arms crossed, wearing nearly identical expressions of suspicion.

Luke lifts a brow. "You two were gone a while."

I give him a tight smile. "And thats any of your business because...?"

Ellie shakes her head grinning, not even trying to hide her amusement. "Let's go, idiots. We've got drinks to steal from you."

Mia smiles. "You always are."

Ellie just laughs, leading me with her.

If she thinks she's off the hook for later, she's dead wrong.

-

The group gathers in the massive living room, a fire crackling in the grand stone fireplace, the oversized sectional making it easy for everyone to sprawl out. Mia's practically vibrating where she sits, which means she's about to unleash chaos.

I raise a brow at her. "Mia. What's that look?"

Mia grins. Never a good sign. "We're playing The Ultimate Cabin Gameshow."

Luke groans immediately. "No."

Mia ignores him. "Yes."

Aiden stretches, slinging an arm over the back of the couch. "I'm intrigued."

Ellie, who's perched beside me, smirks. "Sounds fake, but go on."

Mia claps her hands together. "It's a mix of different games, but with a competitive twist. We're doing teams."

Luke smirks, wrapping an arm around Olivia's shoulders. "Well, obviously, Olivia and I are together. Power couple and all."

Mia snickers. "Oh, is that confidence I hear? Interesting."

I shake my head. "So the teams are Mia and Aiden, Luke and Olivia, and Ellie and me?"

Mia nods smugly. "Exactly. May the best couple win."

Ellie grins, nudging me. "We will."

Luke huffs. "Yeah, yeah, dream team, whatever. Let's get this over with so Olivia and I can crush you all."

Mia grins mischievously. "Alright. First round: The Riddle Challenge!" She pulls a card from her stack, reading it out loud.

"I have keys but open no locks. I have space but no room. You can enter but not go outside. What am I?"

I glance at Ellie, who immediately smirks.

"A keyboard," she says, barely hesitating.

Mia sighs dramatically. "Correct."

Ellie nudges me. "Told you we're the dream team."

"Okay one point to team Jullie."

Mia scribbles something down on a notepad and announces, "Okay, one point to Team Jullie."

"Team Jullie?"

Ellie raises a brow. "That's a thing now?"

Mia rolls her eyes, like we're the unreasonable ones. "Obviously. We all have nicknames."

Aiden leans back, grinning. "We do?"

Mia gestures between them. "Ours is Team Miaden."

Then she points at Luke and Olivia. "And you two are Team Luvia."

Olivia snorts. "That sounds like a high-end perfume."

Luke grins. "Or a luxury cruise line."

Mia shrugs. "Whatever, it works."

Ellie leans in, amused. "And you just decided all this on your own?"

Mia flips her notepad shut dramatically. "As the official game master, yes."

Aiden chuckles. "You literally just made these up five seconds ago."

I shake my head. "Ridiculous."

Ellie smirks. "Oh, I don't know. I kind of like Team Jullie."

I give her a dry look. "Of course, you do."

Luke leans back, stretching his arms. "Alright, Miaden, what's next?"

Mia gasps. "Oh my God, you called us Miaden."

Luke groans immediately. "I regret it already."

Mia claps her hands together. "Alright! Next round is speed charades! And we're upping the stakes."

Aiden raises a brow. "How exactly?"

Mia grins mischievously. "Losers do kitchen duty for the rest of the trip."

Luke bolts upright. "Hold the hell on—"

Mia cuts him off. "No backing out now! Let's go, Luvia! Show us what you've got!"

Ellie laughs, draping an arm over my shoulder. "Hope you're ready, baby. Team Jullie is about to dominate."

I smirk, shaking my head. "Let's do this."

-

The room erupts into laughter and groans as Mia tallies up the final scores.

"And the winners, by a landslide..." she pauses for dramatic effect, then throws her arms up, "Team Jullie!"

Ellie pumps a fist in the air. "Hell yeah! Dream team, baby."

Luke, slumped on the couch beside Olivia, groans. "This is rigged. I demand a rematch."

Aiden laughs, shaking his head. "Face it, Luke. You lost fair and square."

Mia grins wickedly. "Which means you two..." she points at them dramatically, "are on kitchen duty for the rest of the trip."

Luke throws his head back. "I hate everything."

Olivia smirks, nudging him. "Look on the bright side. At least you'll get to show off your dishwashing skills."

Mia ignores them, turning to Aiden. "And for second place... drumroll, please."

Aiden obliges, drumming his hands against his thighs before stopping abruptly.

"As runners-up, we get... dinner duty!" Mia announces.

Aiden blinks. "Wait, what?"

"You heard me," she says smugly. "We lost to Jullie, which means we suffer. But we beat Luvia, which means they suffer worse. So our punishment is making dinner for the winners."

Ellie grins. "Oh, I am loving this game."

I laugh. "Mia, you literally just made that up on the spot."

Mia shrugs. "So? What are you gonna do, challenge the game master?"

Luke snorts. "You're literally just making up punishments based on what's most convenient for you."

Mia smirks. "Exactly."

Aiden sighs, running a hand through his hair. "Alright, fine. We'll cook. But if anyone complains, I'm burning the whole kitchen down."

"Please don't," Olivia says dryly. "I'd rather not die in a cabin fire."

Ellie leans back with a smug grin. "So, to recap, Luke and Olivia handle dishes, Mia and Aiden handle cooking, and Jules and I? We sit back and enjoy the perks of victory."

I smirk, settling into her side. "I like the sound of that."

Everyone groans but Mia.

Mia claps her hands. "Great! Now that the official results are in, let's move on to the next event, hot chocolate and s'mores by the fire."

That, at least, no one complains about.

-

The fire crackles softly, casting a golden glow against the thick blanket of snow surrounding us. The air is filled with the scent of burning wood and the faint sweetness of melting chocolate from the s'mores everyone's been passing around.

I shift slightly, adjusting my position on Ellie's lap, the thick layers of blankets wrapped around us keeping the cold at bay. She tightens her arms around my waist instinctively, pressing a kiss to my shoulder.

Mia, sitting across from us, eyes our position with a smirk. "You guys are disgustingly cozy."

Ellie grins, resting her chin on my shoulder. "Jealous?"

Mia rolls her eyes. "Please. Aiden and I are way cuter." She leans dramatically into Aiden, who chuckles, tossing an arm around her shoulders.

Olivia watches all of this unfold with an amused shake of her head. "This is the most chaotic group of people I've ever met."

Ellie shrugs, her fingers tracing lazy circles on my hip. "Jules makes it worth it though."

Aiden groans. "Disgusting."

Olivia hums. "Kinda sweet, though." She glances at Mia. "Do they act like this all the time?"

Mia doesn't even hesitate. "Worse."

I arch a brow. "Worse?"

Mia gestures vaguely at us. "You guys are like... aggressively in love. Like, if you weren't so hot, it would be unbearable."

Ellie bursts out laughing. "That might be the best compliment we've ever gotten."

I shake my head, unable to fight my smile. "Mia, is there a single romantic bone in your body?"

She shrugs. "Sure. But I keep it buried under layers of sarcasm and emotional detachment."

Aiden snorts. "She's lying. She cried watching a puppy video yesterday."

Mia glares at him. "That puppy was fighting for its life, Aiden!"

Luke leans back, smirking. "Ah, there it is. Mia's soft side."

Mia crosses her arms. "Shut up, Luke."

Luke sighs. "I can't believe I willingly came on this trip."

Mia cackles. "Oh, you love it here."

Olivia smirks. "Besides, I think it's nice. A weekend away, a cozy cabin, good company..." She leans into Luke's side, her voice turning teasing. "A perfect romantic getaway."

Luke huffs. "I walked right into that one, didn't I?"

Ellie chuckles, tightening her hold around me. "You really did."

Aiden stretches, exhaling a content sigh. "Okay, but all jokes aside, this is actually kinda nice. The fire, the snow, the stars. Feels like one of those moments you remember, you know?"

Mia nudges him. "Aww, look at you being sentimental."

Aiden grins. "I have my moments."

I glance up at the sky, the stars shining bright against the inky blackness, the soft glow of the fire flickering against everyone's faces. It really is one of those moments. One where everything feels just right.

Ellie must be thinking the same thing because she presses another kiss to my shoulder, murmuring just for me, "Best trip ever?"

I smile, squeezing her hand. "Yeah. It really is."