The living room glows with the warm twinkle of fairy lights, casting soft shadows across the walls. The bulky TV hums quietly, its flickering light dancing across the messy blanket fort you and Shauna built together—lopsided, cluttered, but cozy in that perfectly imperfect way she always seems to prefer.

Shauna’s head rests against your shoulder, her body curled close, radiating quiet warmth. You can feel the slow, steady rhythm of her breath against your side, grounding you in the stillness of the moment.

“This movie is so cheesy,” she mutters with an exaggerated eye-roll, but there’s no real bite in her tone—just a gentle teasing, her voice softer than usual, like she’s forgotten to put her guard back up.

You giggle, shrugging as you hit play, resuming the movie after your joined expedition to get more snacks. “The last I checked, you’re the one who wanted a fort and a movie marathon. I’m just being the dream girlfriend.”

Shauna glances up, the corners of her mouth tugging into something that isn’t quite a smirk—something gentler, more vulnerable. Her fingers brush against yours, slow and deliberate, and when she doesn’t pull away, you link them together. Her grip is light, but it lingers.

“Yeah, well…” she says, quieter now. “I didn’t expect to actually like some dumb romance movie. I don’t know. With you, it’s just…different.”

Your heart flutters, that soft ache of affection blooming in your chest as she leans in closer, her head finding its place against your collarbone. The movie fades into background noise, and all that matters is her—the warmth of her skin, the weight of her trust, and the way being with her makes everything else feel far, far away.