Caitlin's POV

I leaned back against the car seat, fingers drumming lightly against the steering wheel, the air inside the car warm from the late summer evening. I'd told Elena to go grab her bathing suit and throw on some shorts and a light top for the lake trip I'd promised her. She didn't ask many questions, just flashed me that curious smile before heading upstairs to change. Now I was here, waiting.

Waiting for her.

My heart pounded in my chest—an anxious, excited rhythm that refused to settle. Today was our second to last night in Australia together and I wanted this night to be perfect. But I didn't want to overthink it. It's just us, I reminded myself. Like always. No need to be nervous.

The passenger door opened, snapping me out of my thoughts. Elena slid into the seat next to me, her face glowing with the kind of easy happiness that always managed to calm me down.

"Ready?" I ask.

She looks down at herself, adjusting her loose tank top over her bikini and tugging her shorts. "Ready. What's the plan, coach?"

I smirk at the nickname. "Plan is, we're going to the lake to catch the sunset. You said you wanted to go before it gets too cold, so I'm making good on that promise."

She chuckles, buckling her seatbelt. "You're really spoiling me, aren't you?"

"You deserve it," I say simply, giving her a quick glance before pulling out of the driveway. As the car rumbled down the road, the tension that had been sitting in my chest began to ease.

Elena reached over, resting her hand on my thigh, a gesture that was so small yet always made me feel grounded. We didn't talk much on the drive, but the silence between us was comfortable. The kind of silence where words weren't needed.

The sun was still hovering above the horizon when we arrived at the lake. The sky had just started to turn shades of soft pink and orange, casting a warm glow over the water. It was peaceful out here—quiet, still, and perfect. Exactly what I needed for tonight.

I stepped out of the car and moved around to open Elena's door, offering her my hand with an exaggerated gentlemanly bow.

"Milady," I say, grinning.

She raises an eyebrow, accepting my hand with a teasing smirk. "Aren't you just the perfect gentlewoman tonight?"

"Only the best for you," I quip, pulling her up and out of the car.

We walk together to the front of the car, where I leaned back against the bonnet and motioned for her to join me. She hopped up beside me while we both pulled our legs up to our chests, facing the lake. The sun was getting lower now, its reflection dancing on the surface of the water.

Elena sighs softly, leaning her head on my shoulder. "It's beautiful."

I glance down at her, my breath catching for a moment. The sunset's glow reflected in her eyes, turning them a striking shade of green, like the first hint of spring. The way the soft light traced the gentle curve of her nose, how her hair framed her face just right, made my heart ache in the best way possible.

"Yeah," I murmured, unable to look away from her. "It really is."

For a while, we just sat there in comfortable silence, watching the sunset as it painted the sky in deeper shades of orange and red. Then, I broke the quiet, wanting to ease into the conversation.

"How're you feeling about the World Cup?" I ask, my voice gentle. I didn't want to bring up anything too heavy, but I knew it was something still lingering in the back of her mind.

She stays quiet for a second, thinking it over. "It still hurts. Sometimes I wake up thinking I'll be back in that stadium, fighting for it. But then I remember I'm here with you, and it doesn't seem to matter as much."

My chest tightens at her words. I kiss the top of her head, inhaling the soft scent of her hair. "You gave it everything. That's all anyone could ever ask for."

"Yeah, but... you know me. I always feel like I could've done more." She smiles, a little sad but still so her. "But at least I have you. That makes everything better."

I smile back as I wrap an arm around her, feeling a wave of affection roll through me. "You make everything better too, you know?"

She snuggles closer, letting out a soft hum of agreement. "We're pretty good together, huh?"

"The best," I whisper, holding her tighter. I chuckle, nudging Elena gently. "Remember our first date you planned? The one that got completely rained out?"

Elena groans playfully, tipping her head back. "Oh my God, how could I forget? It was supposed to be this perfect romantic night, and instead, we ended up sprinting through the streets like drowned rats!"

I laugh, the memory as vivid as if it had happened yesterday. "We were soaked to the bone! Your shoes were making that squelching sound with every step, and I was trying to act like I wasn't freezing."

Elena laughs too, covering her mouth with her hand. "And then, we tried to hide under that awning, but the rain just kept coming down harder. I thought we'd wait it out, but nope—five minutes later, we were right back in it, running for our lives."

I shake my head, wiping at my eyes as the laughter bubbles up. "And you kept saying, 'It'll stop any second, Cait! Just wait! Any second!' Meanwhile, the downpour was coming down like a waterfall."

Elena grinns, her eyes sparkling with the memory. "We were a mess by the time we got back to my place. My hair looked like I stuck my finger in a socket, and you—well, you just looked like you'd been swimming fully clothed."

We both start laughing again, the kind of deep, belly laughs that makes my stomach hurt in the best way.

"And that poor waiter," I add, catching my breath, "he looked like he wasn't sure whether to laugh with us or offer us towels."

Elena wipes a tear from her eye, shaking her head. "Hey, at least it was memorable, right? Definitely not boring."

I grin, my heart feeling lighter with each shared memory. "Best first date ever."

She smirks, "Oh, definitely. Although, I think my breakfast-in-bed attempt has to be up there too."

I burst out laughing before she can even finish the sentence. "Oh no, not the breakfast! El, I swear that was the most burnt piece of toast I've ever seen in my life!"

Elena rolls her eyes, playfully shoving me. "Okay, okay, so I'm not a five-star chef. But I tried! You were so beat up after that match, I thought I'd surprise you with breakfast in bed."

I hold my sides, shaking my head. "Surprise is one way to put it. The eggs were so black, I thought they might be a science experiment!"

Elena throws her head back, laughing uncontrollably. "But you ate it anyway! That's the best part! You ate every single bite and pretended like it was the best thing you'd ever had."

"Because you made it," I say, smiling softly at her. "Burnt toast and all."

Her laughter fades into a warm smile, and she shakes her head, eyes soft as she looks up at me. "I can't believe you remember all that."

"Of course I do," I say, squeezing her hand, feeling the weight of the promise ring on her finger under my hand. "How could I forget the worst, most wonderful breakfast I've ever had?"

Elena laughs again, her voice light, and we sit there, grinning at each other, the sound of our laughter lingering in the warm evening air.

I smile, still catching my breath from laughing. "Okay, but remember that fancy dinner I tried to take you to?"

Elena immediately bursts out laughing. "Oh no, how could I forget that disaster? You were so serious about it! You even wore a suit."

I roll my eyes, though I'm laughing too. "I was trying to impress you! I thought, 'This is it. I'm gonna show her I've got my life together."

Elena grins, leaning into me. "Right, because nothing says 'I've got my life together' like spilling red wine all over your shirt the second we sit down."

I groan, rubbing my forehead at the memory. "I was so embarrassed. I tried to act cool like it was no big deal, but the waiter was practically dabbing my chest with napkins."

Elena's laughter only gets louder. "And then you insisted it was 'fine,' but five minutes later, the pasta came, and you knocked your fork off the table and into the sauce. It was like a comedy of errors!"

I wince, chuckling at my own disaster. "And then the final cherry on top: I thought I'd make a toast to you—y'know, something romantic. And what happens? The candle gets knocked over, and I nearly set the tablecloth on fire."

Elena laughs so hard she has to hold onto my arm for support. "Oh my God, I forgot about the candle! The poor waiter had to rush over with a glass of water to put it out!"

I sigh, shaking my head. "I thought for sure you'd never want to see me again after that night."

Elena squeezes my arm, her laughter softening into something warmer. "Are you kidding? I knew right then I was falling hard for you all over again. Anyone who could turn a fancy dinner into a full-on sitcom and still be that sweet was definitely someone I needed to keep around."

I smile, looking at her. "Glad you did." Elena smiles up at me before she stands up and holds her hand out for me to take. "Elena, what are you doing? Don't break my car."

"Relax, Cait. Have a little fun." She says while laughing at me and I know I can't resist her when she looks at me with those big eyes and that innocent smile.

I roll my eyes and take her hand, letting her pull me up. When she does, she steps up onto the roof of the car and I tilt my head at her with a raised eyebrow, but she only reciprocates it until she wins and I get up with her.

"Els, we're going to fall off." I let out a small chuckle as Elena pulls me closer, her arm wrapped around my waist. The soft sounds of the evening surround us, the distant rustling of the trees, the faint chirping of birds, and the steady rhythm of our hearts as we sway gently.

"You're impossible, you know that?" I murmur, trying to keep a straight face as she guides me into the rhythm of our silent dance.

She just grins up at me, her eyes twinkling. "Impossible is more fun."

I can't help but smile at her, feeling the warmth of her hand in mine. She suddenly lets go of my waist, stepping back just a bit and twirling me with a playful grace. I laugh, my hand still in hers as I spin, a little unsteady on the car roof, but steady enough to play along.

When I stop spinning, she's smiling that carefree smile I love so much, her eyes soft. Before I can say anything, she moves to twirl herself, still grinning, but as she turns, her foot slips on the roof.

My heart jumps as she stumbles backward, her arms flailing slightly for balance. Instinct kicks in, and I catch her by the waist, pulling her into a dip. We both freeze for a moment, her body draped back over my arm While I lean over her, so close I can see the surprise in her eyes turning into something deeper.

Our faces are inches apart, breaths mingling in the soft evening air, both of us suddenly aware of how close we are. Her lips part slightly, her eyes locked on mine, and my heart starts pounding so loud I'm sure she can hear it.

"And that's why we don't dance on top of the roof of a car," I whisper, my voice coming out lower, raspier than I intended.

Her smile softens, a quiet laugh escaping her, but she doesn't move, her gaze never leaving mine. The world around us fades until it's just the two of us, caught in this moment. I lean in closer, feeling her breath against my skin, and then, without thinking, I close the space between us.

Our lips meet softly at first, then deeper,and it feels like everything I've ever wanted is right here in this kiss. She tightens her grip on my hand, pulling me just a little closer even as I hold her in the dip, and for a moment, it's like we're floating, weightless on top of the car, just us and the fading sunset.

As the sun began to dip lower, casting a deeper golden glow across the water, I stood up from the roof and held out my hand to Elena. "C'mon, let's get in the water before we miss the best part."

She grins, taking my hand as I help her down from the car. We both pulled our clothes off so we were left in our bathing suits and walked to the edge of the lake, the cool water lapping at our ankles as we waded in.

The water was calm, the light reflecting off it like a mirror. I pulled Elena into me, wrapping my arms around her waist as we stood there, the water gently swaying around us as our bodies pressed against one another's.

She looked up at me, her eyes soft, and I could see the love in them so clearly. My heart swelled in my chest, and for a second, I almost forgot to breathe.

"This is perfect," she whispers, resting her head against my chest.

I kiss the top of her head again, my fingers tracing small circles on her back. "Yeah... perfect."

We stayed like that for what felt like forever, just holding each other, feeling the water and the warmth of the fading sun on our skin. I could feel my nerves creeping back in, but I pushed them down. This was the moment. It had to be.

As the last slivers of sunlight began to disappear behind the horizon, I gently pulled away. "We should probably get out and dry off before it gets too dark," I say, my voice soft but steady.

Elena smiles, but her eyes are still locked on the sky. "Just a few more minutes?"

I nod, watching her as she stands there, captivated by the colors of the sunset. I take a deep breath, my heart racing, and slowly make my way back to the
shore.

'This is it.' I think as I watch her standing there, the water reaching her mid thighs and the sunset behind her.