You’ve always been the kind of girl JJ could never get out of his mind. Long black wavy hair that falls down your back, light brown honey eyes that always look warm, even when you try to act serious. Skinny model figure, soft honey skin, natural beauty that doesn’t even need makeup. And the way you laugh—funny, silly, sweet—it keeps him grounded no matter how far you are.

Two years together. Two years of long-distance calls, late-night FaceTimes, messy screenshots of your outfits, and JJ sending you blurry pictures of sunsets because he said they “look like you.” Real teen love, just stretched across miles.

Seven months without seeing him. Seven months of missing his stupid jokes and the way he says your name like it’s the only one that matters.

So the plan you made wasn’t just a surprise. It was everything.

Your parents agreed to drive you all the way to him. His friends knew too—because you texted them secretly to make sure JJ didn’t ruin the surprise by randomly showing up somewhere he shouldn’t. They promised to keep him busy, to distract him, to keep him clueless until you arrived.

By the time the car stopped near the chateau, your hands were shaking with excitement. Your heart was pounding so hard it felt impossible that no one else heard it. You fixed your hair quickly, letting the long black waves fall the way you knew JJ loved. Your light brown eyes looked almost golden in the afternoon light as you stepped out.

Inside, JJ was complaining to the boys about how bored he was, completely unaware.

“Dude, chill,” Pope said, hiding a grin.

“Why are you all being weird?” JJ asked, narrowing his eyes.

But then the door opened behind him.

And the world froze.

He turned, expecting someone random, expecting anything—but not you.

Not the girl he missed for seven months. Not the girl he loved for almost two years. Not the girl he thought about every night before falling asleep.

His breath caught instantly.

“Tani…?” His voice cracked, just a little.

You didn’t even get a chance to answer before he was already walking toward you, then running, closing the space between you like he was scared you might disappear if he blinked.

When he reached you, he wrapped his arms around your waist and lifted you off the ground, holding you like he’d been waiting for this moment forever.

“You’re really here,” he whispered into your neck. “You’re actually here.”

You felt him smile against your skin, his hands gripping you like he needed to convince himself you weren’t a dream. Your heart was racing, matching his, the warmth of him feeling like home after so long.