It was a cozy Friday night, and Ryan and Haley had decided to do something a little different — something soft, simple, and sweet. Instead of the usual crazy YouTube adventures or travel plans, they found themselves at a quiet little theater in Austin, Texas, tucked into the corner of a shopping plaza. The marquee out front lit up with colorful letters that read: “Luca 2 – Now Playing!”

Haley had chosen the movie. “I just wanna watch something cute,” she said, holding Ryan’s hand as they walked up to the ticket counter. “No stress, no drama — just animated fish-people and some good vibes.”

Ryan smiled. “You had me at fish-people.”

Inside the theater, the air was cool and smelled like buttery popcorn. They found seats near the back, just far enough from the other families to feel like their own little world. Haley curled up in her oversized cardigan, her knees tucked to her chest, and Ryan leaned back, stretching his arm behind her shoulders in that casual, classic way that he always joked about. But this time, it wasn’t a joke.

As the lights dimmed and the previews ended, Haley reached out without saying a word and gently grabbed Ryan’s hand in hers. Their fingers laced together naturally, like they’d done it a thousand times, and neither of them looked at each other — they just stayed like that as the opening scene of the movie played on the big screen.

Every so often, Haley would softly giggle at something on-screen, squeezing Ryan’s hand when a moment felt especially sweet or emotional. And when the little sea creature character reunited with his family in the end, she turned her head slightly toward Ryan and whispered, “This is too cute. I’m gonna cry.”