The second day at the cabin was slow in the best way possible—the kind of morning where they stayed wrapped up in blankets long after the sun had risen, where coffee went cold on the nightstand because they were too comfortable to move. The kind of day that felt like it was meant to be spent nowhere else but here, just the two of them.

Eventually, hunger won out, and they made their way to the kitchen, Tucker rummaging through the fridge while Melina sat on the counter, swinging her legs.

"Are you actually making something, or are you just staring at the food hoping it cooks itself?" she teased.

Tucker shot her a look over his shoulder. "I'm strategizing."

"Mhm. That's what it looks like."

He grabbed a carton of eggs and shut the fridge with his hip. "You want breakfast or not?"

Melina smirked. "I want breakfast, but I also want to make fun of you while you make it."

Tucker rolled his eyes but didn't argue. Instead, he set to work scrambling eggs while Melina reached for her phone, casually scrolling through messages.

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Tucker glance at his own phone again. It was the third time in the last twenty minutes.

She narrowed her eyes. "Okay, what's going on with you?"

"What?" Tucker didn't look up.

"You're acting weird."

He smirked. "Define weird."

Melina hopped off the counter, walking over to him. "You keep checking your phone like you're waiting for something. And you're quiet. You're never quiet."

Tucker turned off the stove and set the eggs aside before finally facing her. He leaned against the counter, arms crossed, smirk still playing at his lips. "Maybe I just like watching you try to figure me out."

She groaned. "Tucker."

He reached out, tugging her closer by the waistband of her sweatpants. "You think I have some big secret?"

"Yes," she said, fully convinced.

Tucker laughed softly, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Maybe I just like messing with you."

Melina squinted at him. She could tell when he was holding something back. His eyes always gave him away—there was something behind them, something playful, something knowing.

"Fine," she said, crossing her arms. "Keep your secrets."

Tucker grinned, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her into his chest. "You're cute when you're suspicious."

She let herself melt into his hold, even though she knew something was up. "You're annoying."

"And yet, here you are," he murmured, lips brushing against her hair.

Melina sighed dramatically, resting her chin on his shoulder. "Unfortunately."

Tucker chuckled, holding her a little tighter, swaying them side to side.

Whatever he was hiding, she'd figure it out soon enough. But for now, wrapped up in his arms with the smell of breakfast filling the cabin, she decided she could let it go—just for a little while.



---



By midday, the sun was high in the sky, beaming down on the cabin and making the air feel thick and warm. It felt nothing like the last time they were here, bundled up in layers, huddled by the fireplace. Now, it felt like summer—like the kind of lazy, golden afternoon that stretched on forever.

Melina stood on the back porch in her bathing suit, sunglasses perched on her nose, watching Tucker wrestle with the old sprinkler hooked up in the yard. The grass was dry, and the heat clung to her skin in a way that made her want to be drenched in cold water.

"You think it still works?" she called out.

Tucker glanced over his shoulder, standing up from where he'd been messing with the hose. His swim trunks were already dusted with dirt from kneeling in the grass. "There's only one way to find out."

Melina took a step back. "If I get sprayed before I'm ready, I swear—"

Before she could finish, the sprinkler sputtered to life, sending a sudden burst of water shooting into the air.

Tucker yelped, jumping back, but it was too late—he was already soaked.

Melina burst out laughing. "That was the best thing I've ever seen."

Tucker pushed his dripping hair out of his face, grinning. "Oh, you think this is funny?"

Melina took another cautious step back. "Tucker—"

"You think this is funny?" he repeated, his grin widening as he advanced toward her.

"No—Tucker!"

She turned on her heel, making a break for it, but she didn't even get three steps before he grabbed her by the waist, spinning her around and pulling her right into the cold spray of water.

She shrieked as the water hit her skin, laughter bubbling out of her. "I hate you!"

Tucker held on tighter, laughing along with her. "No, you don't."

She tried to wrestle out of his grip, but he was stronger, keeping her pressed against him as the water drenched them both. Her hair stuck to her face, water droplets clinging to her skin, and yet—she couldn't stop smiling.

Eventually, Tucker loosened his hold, letting her spin around to face him. His eyes were bright, his smile wide, his chest rising and falling with laughter.

Melina reached up, brushing wet curls away from his forehead. "You're a menace."

He leaned in, pressing a cold, wet kiss to her cheek. "And yet, here you are."

She groaned, shoving him playfully, but he just laughed, catching her hands and lacing their fingers together.

The sprinkler spun wildly beside them, spraying water in all directions, catching the sunlight just right so that tiny rainbows shimmered in the air. They ran through it like kids, slipping on the grass, laughing so hard their stomachs hurt. It was ridiculous. They were ridiculous.

But it was perfect.

At some point, Tucker jogged back to the porch, grabbing his phone and snapping a quick picture of Melina mid-run—her hair soaked, her arms lifted slightly as she jumped through the water, pure joy written all over her face.

She stopped when she noticed him, hands on her hips. "Oh, absolutely not."

Tucker grinned, holding the phone up and turning it toward her. "Are you kidding? Look at you."

She walked over, narrowing her eyes as she inspected the photo. She was soaked, her hair was a mess, and yet...

She looked happy.

She looked completely happy.

Tucker watched her expression soften before nudging her gently. "I'm keeping it."

Melina sighed, feigning reluctance. "Fine. But if you ever post it anywhere, you're done."

Tucker laughed, slipping his phone back onto the porch before grabbing her by the hand. "Deal."

They stayed outside until the sun started to dip lower, until their fingers were pruned from the water and their skin was warm from the sun. And when Tucker pulled her close, arms wrapped lazily around her waist, Melina let herself sink into him, pressing her forehead against his.

"Good day?" he murmured.

She smiled. "Perfect day."

And for a moment, she forgot all about how weird he'd been acting.

For now, it was just them.





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