She opened a 肠补蹿é to slow down and start fresh.
He stumbled in-almost crashing-looking for a place to disappear.
She doesn't recognize him.
He finds that oddly comforting.
Between coffee and engine fumes, quiet moments turn into something neither of...
Not because anything bad had happened. But because everything almost had.
And also because Lando was actively spiraling.
He showed up at breakfast with a gift bag, sunglasses on inside, and the kind of energy usually reserved for publicists after a scandal.
"I brought you a peace croissant," he said dramatically, placing it in front of her like a sacred offering.
Cara raised an eyebrow. "Did you make this?"
"No, but I emotionally selected it."
"Did you break into the kitchen again?"
"That's not relevant."
Charles walked in right as Lando added, "Also I made a Notes app apology. If you want me to read it—"
"No," Charles said, deadpan.
"Yes," Cara said immediately.
Lando opened his phone, cleared his throat, and began:
"To Charles and Cara, I'm sorry for ruining your cinematic kiss moment. I was hungry. I was weak. And I blame the peach jam. I support your love. I support your right to emotionally smolder in peace. I will now remove myself from the narrative. Sincerely, Your local chaos goblin."
Silence.
Cara blinked. "You're an idiot."
Charles sipped his coffee. "You forgot to sign it 'With regrets and glitter.'"
"I'll revise it."
⸻
By afternoon, everyone knew.
Daniel winked. Pierre made sound effects every time she walked near Charles. Carlos kept humming romantic soundtracks. Max raised one eyebrow and said, "Finally." (That was the whole sentence.)
And yet — they still hadn't kissed.
Not because the moment wasn't there. But because they wanted it to mean something.
So when the sun dipped low and the group wandered down to the beach with drinks and towels and a playlist someone probably regretted by song three, Cara wandered toward the edge of the fire pit, alone for a second.
And then Charles was beside her.
Again.
Like always.
Like he was meant to be.
⸻
The fire flickered between them, shadows dancing across his jawline, the sound of laughter and waves folding around them like background music.
"Can we try again?" he asked.
Her heart flipped.
"Yes," she said.
He stepped closer. One hand resting gently on her jaw. The other around her waist. His forehead leaned against hers for one perfect second.
"I meant it," he whispered. "I can't pretend anymore."
She didn't want him to.
Not now. Not ever.
So she kissed him.
Finally.
And it wasn't fireworks.
It was slow. Warm. Heavy in the chest. Years of unspoken things dissolving in one perfect pull.
He kissed her like he didn't need to go fast. Like he'd been waiting for this and had no intention of rushing it now. Like she was the win he actually wanted.
And when they pulled away, neither of them said anything.
Because nothing needed to be said.
But from the bonfire, Lando whispered to Daniel, "I DID THAT."
Daniel slapped him.
⸻
not lando reading the letter out loud lmao
get a look into the notes app!!!
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