Autumn Leaves

The crisp October air was refreshing, the kind that made the heart beat a little faster and the world feel a little sharper. The Outer Banks had a quiet, peaceful feel in the fall, the summer crowds long gone, leaving behind only the locals and the sound of the waves.

JJ and Alora had spent the day exploring the beaches, but now they were sitting on a fallen log near a small, secluded cove, wrapped in blankets, with the sun starting to dip below the horizon.

“Bet you didn’t think we’d be doing this today,” JJ said, his voice playful as he tossed a small handful of fallen leaves into the air. They fluttered down around them like confetti, the colors vivid against the fading light.

Alora laughed, catching a few of the leaves in her hands. “No, I really didn’t. But it’s kind of perfect, don’t you think?”

“Perfect? Really?” JJ grinned, turning to her. "I thought you were all about big adventures and wild plans."

She shrugged, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “Sometimes, it’s the quiet moments that mean the most.”

JJ didn’t respond immediately, his gaze fixed on her face, as if seeing her in this new light—just the two of them, no rush, no expectations, just being in the moment. A small smile tugged at his lips. “I think I could get used to this.”

Alora caught his eyes and held them for a beat, her heart fluttering. It wasn’t just the fall colors or the quiet beach that made this moment feel so special. It was him. Being here, with him.

She leaned her head against his shoulder, feeling the warmth of his body against the cool evening air. “Me too,” she murmured, almost to herself.

JJ’s arm instinctively went around her, pulling her a little closer. They sat there in silence for a while, the sound of the ocean mixing with the soft rustling of leaves in the trees.

When he finally spoke again, his voice was quieter, softer. “I’m glad we’re doing this. I know we’ve only been together for a little bit, but... I feel like this is right.”

Alora looked up at him, her eyes soft and warm. “I feel the same. I’ve never been good at the whole ‘doing nothing’ thing... but with you? It’s just easy.”

JJ’s grin returned, the playful glint back in his eyes. “Easy, huh? Guess I’m good for something after all.”

She rolled her eyes, nudging him with her shoulder, but she couldn’t help the smile that spread across her face. “You’re more than just good for something, JJ Maybank.”

The air grew cooler, the sky a rich purple now, but they stayed close, wrapped up in each other and the quiet beauty of the fall evening. The world outside of their little bubble didn’t matter much. They were exactly where they were meant to be.

As the last of the light faded, JJ leaned in, his lips brushing against her forehead. “We’ll have plenty of adventures,” he whispered, “but this? This is pretty damn perfect.”

Alora smiled, letting herself settle into the warmth of his embrace. “Yeah, it really is.”