??????? ?? | ??????? ?????

𝐏𝐀𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐊 𝐅𝐄𝐄𝐋𝐘 🎸/❦♫♪♬♩\🎸

IT WAS ONE OF THOSE rare afternoons where everything in the world seemed to slow down, and for once, I didn't feel like I was running out of time. The sun was shining, the breeze was soft, and the farm was quiet save for the distant bleating of sheep and the occasional rustle of leaves.

I had my guitar propped on my knee, my notebook open on the grass beside me, and Nessa was sprawled out a few feet away, her dark hair falling over her face as she lay on her stomach. She was working on one of those flower crowns she liked to make, twisting daisies and dandelions together with a level of concentration that would've made anyone think she was solving world hunger.

For someone who always had a million things to do, this felt...easy. Sitting there, watching her, strumming a few chords while the sun warmed my back—it was like a bit of magic had slipped into my otherwise chaotic life.

"You're staring," she said, her voice teasing but soft. She didn't look up from her flower crown, but I could hear the smile in her tone.

I smirked, plucking a few strings on the guitar. "Can't help it. You're very distracting."

She finally glanced up, squinting at me through the sunlight. "I'm making a flower crown, Patrick. Hardly riveting."

"Still," I said with a shrug, scribbling a line in my notebook. "You've got me properly distracted. I can't even focus on writing."

She rolled her eyes but smiled, turning her attention back to her creation. "You're hopeless."

I grinned, letting the notes of the song I was working on fill the air around us. It wasn't finished—not even close—but I liked the way it was shaping up. A soft, easy tune that felt right in a way I couldn't quite explain.

After a few minutes, Nessa sat up, holding her finished crown in her hands with a triumphant look. "Done!" she announced, and before I could say anything, she crawled over to me and plopped the thing right on my head.

"There," she said, sitting back on her heels with a grin. "Perfect."

I tipped my head, pretending to be appalled. "Are you serious? You're putting flowers on me now?"

"You look gorgeous," she teased, her grin widening. "Like a proper flower king."

I couldn't help but laugh, setting the guitar down on the grass. "You're unbelievable."

She just giggled, crawling closer until she was practically in my lap. Before I could say anything else, she wrapped her arms around my neck and started pressing quick, playful kisses all over my face.

"Oi, what are you doing?" I asked, laughing as I tried to dodge her.

"Showing you how much I appreciate you," she said between kisses, her laughter mingling with mine.