Darn Stupid Brother You Are by Mairee

Chapter 80

(Hande's POV)

The cool evening breeze brushed against my skin as I followed Eddie down the narrow, dimly lit path that led to the center's maintenance yard. It was quiet here, a little too quiet, but that was what we needed. Eddie had insisted it was the safest spot to avoid prying eyes.

The area was surrounded by tall wire fences overgrown with creeping vines. Old benches and rusty equipment were scattered across the lot, forgotten and untouched for who knows how long. The faint glow of the center's floodlights in the distance gave the place an eerie, golden hue. Eddie had dragged a couple of crates together to make a table, and he'd even managed to scavenge a blanket for us to sit on.

"Not bad for a last-minute setup, huh?" Eddie

grinned as he spread his arms wide like he was presenting some grand masterpiece.

I raised an eyebrow, trying to hide my amusement. "You call this a date? I feel like I'm about to get interrogated in some dystopian movie."

Eddie clutched his chest dramatically. "Ouch, Hande. That cuts deep. You wound me."

I couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, fine. It's... charming."

"Charming?" He scoffed, plopped down on the blanket and patted the spot beside him. "I'll take it. Come on, before someone spots us and ruins the vibe."

I hesitated for a moment and glanced around. The place was secluded enough, but the thought of being caught still made me nervous. But Eddie's easygoing smile was contagious, and I found myself sitting down beside him. "So, what's on the menu tonight?" I teased, gesturing to the empty crates.

Eddie dramatically pulled out two slightly crushed granola bars from his pocket. "Only the finest cuisine for my lady."

I laughed again and shook my head. "You're ridiculous."

"But you like it," he said whilst wiggling his eyebrows.

Maybe I did.

for a while, nibbling on granola bars and talking about nothing and everything. Eddie had this way of making the world feel lighter, even in a place as suffocating as the center. He told me about his childhood, about the time he and his cousin had accidentally set a

of here?" I

reached out and took my hand. "Yeah, we will. And when we do, I'm taking you to the best stargazing spot in the world. No rusty fences, no floodlights.

and my heart did a

said, grinning. "But until then, you're stuck with

into him. "I guess I could do

wrapped an arm around my shoulders. "You could do a lot worse. But hey,

warmth in his voice made me smile. "Don't push your

and for once, he wasn't joking. The playful glint in his eyes softened into something

I didn't pull away.

if he pressed

finally pulled apart, he grinned. His goofy

his. "Don't let

the rest of the evening talking and laughing, wrapped up in each other. For a little while, it

000

(Thomas's POV)

the edge of the center's

shrugged, not bothering to deny it.

didn't hide the blush that crept up her

I said and stepped closer. She didn't move away, and that was enough for

past few weeks had been... surreal. I'd spent so long watching her from a distance, wanting what I thought I couldn't have. And now, here she was. Mine. Or at least, as close to mine as anyone could be in a place like this. We sat down on the grass, and the silence between

I brushed my thumb over her knuckles. "What's on your

the horizon. "Just... everything.

stiffened at the mention of Hendrix. "You're not having