After an unforgettable evening pulsing with laughter, warmth, and the kind of chaotic joy only family reunions could bring, the house had finally quieted down.
One by one, doors clicked shut, voices faded, and the estate settled into a hush broken only by the distant wind rustling through trees and the creaking of old wooden floors.
Due to limited space within the estate compared to the number of visitors present, the family and friends had to compromise their privacy to accommodate one another.
Some family members slept in pairs while others were lucky enough to get one room to themselves.
Others, like Sarah, were not so fortunate. Her sanctuary of solitude was sacrificed, replaced by the soft but unmistakable snore of her mother sleeping beside her while her brother shared a room with their father,
It was nearly midnight and the world was already asleep. But Sarah didn't.
She lay wide-eyed, her body restless beneath the thick covers, her breath shallow, the chill in the air doing nothing to cool the fire swirling inside her.
Her back ached from tossing and turning, yet her mind was alive, caught in a spiral of desire and wants. She stared up at the ceiling, but it was Henry's name etched across the dark and his handsome face smiling down at her.
'His hands...' She thought. 'God...those delicate warm hands steady, hands and the way he held her so tenderly like a fragile being.'
The memory of his touch ignited a trail of heat through her body, clashing wildly against the icy night. She bit her lower lip, turning her head to glance at her mother who was deep asleep –blissfully unaware of the storm raging inside her daughter.
Then it hit her. Henry did mention he would be sleeping alone in the guest room downstairs. The thought sent a reckless flutter through her chest.
"What if he's still awake?"
The question came out as a whisper, barely brushing the air, but thick with daring and want.
Her eyes shifted to her phone on the nightstand like it held the answer to everything.
She hesitated, stealing a second glance at her snoring mother before reaching out and picking it up with trembling fingers.
That was all she sent.
A whisper in digital form, but loaded with heavy meaning.
She clutched the phone to her chest and waited, every second feeling like a lifetime.
Tick Tock, Tick Tock.
The clock on the wall seemed to count down with her pounding chest.
By the fifth second, her heart sank.
Disappointment curled through her like a bitter wind.
Maybe he was asleep. Maybe he wouldn't...
The soft ping of a reply lit up her screen and her entire soul. Her lips parted and her eyes widened in excitement.
Suddenly, the cold tingling in her toes didn't matter.
The silence didn't matter.
Not even her mother's presence did.
Henry was awake, and for now, anything could happen.
[Hello, princess... Aren't you supposed to be sleeping?]
Sarah stifled a laugh the moment she saw his message, complete with the classic curious eyes, plus bed, plus question mark emojis.
She cupped her mouth to muffle the sound, freezing for a second when her mother shifted beside her. But the soft rhythm of her mom's snoring resumed, and Sarah let out a breath of relief.
[I should be asking you that same question.]
Sarah fired back, ending it with three overly dramatic rolling eyes emojis.
[Well… I couldn't stop thinking about you, my love.]
Henry's response was sweet, bold, and dripping in charm.
[I have been lying here for the past two hours, staring at the ceiling, imagining what your face would look like when you're asleep. I almost texted earlier… but I didn't want to wake you if you were already deep in dreamland.]
He ended his text with seven heart emojis.
"Aww...." Sarah's cheeks instantly flushed with a rosy glow. She bit her lip, fighting the ridiculous grin spreading across her face.
[Me too... I couldn't sleep thinking about you...]
She typed, then paused. Her fingers hovered above the typing keyboard, her pulse quickening with a brief moment of hesitation. Then she finally added:
[...and what it would feel like to fall asleep wrapped in your arms.]
Downstairs, Henry was already upright on his bed, heart pounding against his bare chest, his thumbs flying across his phone like they had a mission.
[Would you like me to come over?]
Sarah choked back a gasp, slapping a hand to her mouth to suppress a giggle.
[I'm sharing a room with my mom, silly.]
She added a laughing emoji and blushed so hard it warmed her entire face.
[How about you come to my room then? I'm all alone.]
Henry was now up and pacing, adrenaline lighting him up like a Christmas tree.
When she didn't respond immediately, he followed up with an almost pleading message.
[I swear, I won't try anything funny. On my honour. Just… talk, cuddle, maybe breathe the same air.]
Sarah stared at the screen, her heart hammering like a wild drumbeat. Her gaze slid to her mother, still asleep and blissfully unaware of the emotional war happening beside her or so she thought.
[What if my mom wakes up and doesn't find me in bed? She might panic.]
She texted, sitting up slowly and cautiously.
Henry's reply came fast.
[Leave her a note. Tell her you went to Annabelle's room for the night.]
Sarah raised her brow at the screen.
[Are you suggesting I lie to my sweet, innocent mother, young man?]
She threw in a smirk emoji for good measure.
Henry replied dramatically with a raised hand emoji.
[How could I possibly encourage the woman I love to commit a criminal act against my future mother-in-law? That was just me fantasizing out loud… about what it'd feel like to hold you under the covers, or maybe take you for a moonlit walk down to the ocean shore with your fingers intertwined in mine and your head resting on my chest. Even the stars would be jealous of our closeness.]
Sarah let out a soft squeal, burying her face in the pillow for a second. Her ears burned from the surge of emotion as she typed quickly.
[Expect me in two minutes.]
She carefully slipped out of bed, her every movement precise and silent. She reached for her plush velvet-red fleece robe and threw it over her long creamy chiffon pyjamas, the kind that whispered luxury and softness with every step.
She glanced back one last time at her sleeping mother before tiptoeing to the door.
As she turned the doorknob, the creak it made nearly gave her a heart attack.
She winced, held her breath, then quietly slipped through the crack and shut the door behind her.
Back in the room, Judith–who had been very much awake the entire time–finally opened her eyes, a mischievous smile tugging at her lips.
She had heard everything she needed to hear.
As she reached for her phone on the nightstand to check the time, a soft ping announced a new message.
She picked it up, read it, and had to clamp a hand over her mouth to keep from bursting into laughter.
[Mom, I've gone to Annabelle's room. I'll see you in the morning.]
Judith chuckled softly, shaking her head.
"Oh Lord… my baby has finally joined the gang of hopeless romantic liars."
She dropped the phone back on the nightstand and sighed contentedly.
"At least now I can get some sleep without all that restless tossing and turning beside me."