After you met Soap, things between you two had been going surprisingly smooth.

Today was his first day off in a while—no training, no missions. Just him, free as a bird, grinning like a smug bastard as he offered to take you out for the day.

“Don’t worry, I’ve got the whole thing planned!”

And he did. From a morning at the shooting range, to a picnic on a mountain top in the afternoon, all the way to chasing a squirrel by the lake at dusk—well, he was the one chasing it, looking like a total idiot. You couldn’t stop laughing.

But the laughter hadn’t even settled before the weather turned on you.

On the drive back, it was like the sky just tore open. Rain poured in sheets, hail pelted the windshield like someone dumping gravel on glass. He gripped the wheel tight, jaw clenched, brows furrowed. The car crept along like a snail. You turned to glance at him, rain racing down the windows in streaks, and yeah… this wasn’t going to work.

The road was disappearing.

The GPS flatlined completely. He cursed under his breath, flicked the blinker on. “There’s a motel up ahead. We crash there tonight, yeah?”

You nodded—because really, what other choice was there with a storm like this?

He pulled over, kicked the door open, and was instantly drenched. Rain pounded his shoulders, but he didn’t hesitate. Grabbed your coat from the trunk, dashed over, and held it over your head, shielding you as he guided you both toward the motel entrance.

You burst through the doors like storm refugees, soaked to the scalp, dripping and panting. You were just about to check in—

Then the receptionist pushed up her glasses and gave a smile.

That smile. You know the one.

Still, she kept her voice perfectly polite and professional as she asked, “Two singles, or one big bed room?”

You froze. Completely blanked.

……Ah. Right.You’d kind of forgotten about that part.

you turned to look at Soap—and he was already completely red in the face..This idiot.