You’d barely gotten the blanket spread out before the first drop of rain hit. It splashed onto the edge of the fruit container, then another, then five more all at once. You and Aaron locked eyes, both already half-laughing before either of you moved.

“Okay, abort mission,” he said through a grin, grabbing the basket as you scrambled to fold the blanket back up.

By the time you made it back to the SUV, you were both damp and breathless, shoes muddy and cheeks warm from the sudden dash. Aaron popped the door open and tossed everything into the front seat with practiced ease.

“Alright,” he said, brushing off his hands, “plan B: indoor picnic. Premium seating. Zero bugs.”

You laughed, climbing into the passenger seat while he climbed in beside you, the SUV’s plush interior swallowing you in comfort. With a button press, the panoramic glass sunroof slid open—just the fabric cover, not the glass itself—and above you, the sky was a smooth sheet of grey, rain trailing down in thin streaks. It turned the whole ceiling into moving watercolors.

He nudged your shoulder, “This might actually be better than outside. No wind. No ants.”

You tilted your seat back a little and dug into the bag. Sandwiches, strawberries, a few pastries you’d grabbed on the way—it wasn’t anything fancy, but something about the rain and the quiet of the car made it feel special.

After you ate, you stretched your legs out, feeling the lull of a full stomach and the calming rhythm of rain. Aaron glanced over at you, one arm slung casually over the steering wheel.

“You tired?” he asked, softer now.

“A little,” you admitted.

He reached down to recline his seat all the way back, the leather shifting with a quiet creak. “C’mere,” he said, patting his chest. You gave him a look. “What? It's cozy. And I’m comfy.”

You crawled over, settling carefully across his lap, then laying with your head on his chest as his arms wrapped around you without hesitation. The familiar warmth of him settled over you, and then—without a word—he reached behind him and pulled the picnic blanket up over the two of you.