Chapter 327: The Night... [1]
The night was calm and the moonlight stretched over the winding road.
Brandon’s hands rested casually on the steering wheel, as the hum of the engine filled the quiet air. Beside him,
Florence sat in the passenger seat, her soft profile glowing under the intermittent wash of headlights from passing street lamps.
Her blonde hair shimmered faintly, and though she hadn’t said much, there was a heaviness to her silence that Brandon noticed.
He don’t know what is happening with her personal life, but she asked for another night ride and he accepted.
They drove for a while in that serene quiet, the faint sound of Florence’s soft breaths mingling with the low thrum of the tires.
Finally, Florence spoke, "Kael... stop the car for a moment."
Hm? He frowned lightly but didn’t question her.
With a small nod, he turned the wheel, guiding the car smoothly to the side of the road and the tires crunched lightly against gravel before coming to a stop.
The engine purred faintly before he shifted it into park "What’s wrong, Florence?"
Florence undid her seatbelt slowly and looked at him before speaking softly. "Stay inside. Don’t move."
She stepped out of the car and closed the door gently behind her.
Brandon blinked in confusion, watching as Florence’s slender figure circled the car.
When she reached his side, she opened the driver seat door, letting in a soft breath of cool night air.
Florence leaned in, and without a word, she gracefully slipped onto his lap.
Her body curled naturally against him and she folded her legs neatly to the side as she nestled close.
Her head rested just below his chin and Brandon instinctively raised his arms, wrapping them around her waist, feeling the soft press of her body through the fabric of her dress.
Florence exhaled, a long, almost relieved sigh, as if this was where she had wanted to be all along. "Mm... this is better," she murmured softly, her voice muffled against his chest.
"I just... wanted to be closer, Kael."
Brandon glanced down at her and a small smile appeared on his lips.
He brushed a hand gently along her back, feeling the rise and fall of her breaths. "You could’ve just asked, you know."
Florence tilted her head slightly, her cheek brushing against his collarbone as her lips curved faintly. "Sometimes actions are easier than words."
She shifted just a little to get comfortable, her hand resting over his heart, feeling the steady rhythm beneath his shirt.
Brandon tightened his arms around her, lowering his chin to brush lightly over the top of her head.
Closing the door, he asked her "Shall I start the car, Lady Florence?"
With a giggle, she nodded his head and replied "Mhm, take us there."
The engine hummed again and Florence remained curled on his lap instead of returning to the passenger seat, one arm loosely draped around his shoulders, her cheek pillowed against him.
Every time the car shifted slightly on the winding road, she adjusted with a subtle press of her body.
The streetlights grew fewer as the road bent away from the city, giving way to long stretches of dark coast lined by the faint outline of dunes and shrubs.
His gaze softened as he steered the car off the main road, the tires crunching softly against sand-dusted pavement until the headlights fell upon the open stretch of shoreline.
The moon hung heavy above the ocean and he stopped the engine.
Florence gave him a last affectionate nuzzle before sliding gracefully out of the car, the night breeze instantly lifting strands of her long hair.
Brandon followed and without speaking, both of them bent down.
Florence unbuckled her delicate heels, holding them loosely in one hand, while Brandon tugged off his sneakers, tossing them casually back into the car.
The cool night air kissed their bare feet as they stepped onto the damp sand.
The grains gave way softly beneath their weight, each step leaving behind shallow impressions that the sea would soon erase.
Florence’s fingers reached for his hand, slipping between his fingers.
The warmth of his palm contrasted beautifully against the chill of the night air, grounding her as surely as the earth beneath her feet.
Hand in hand, they started walking along the shoreline.
The waves curled and lapped at their ankles and Brandon glanced sideways at her, watching the way her hair strands stuck to her face as the breeze toyed with them.
Florence tilted her head up at him, catching him staring, and she let out a quiet laugh. "You’re doing it again."
"Doing what?" he asked, squeezing her hand lightly.
"Looking at me like... that."
Brandon was quite embarrassed and replied "Just admiring your beauty, Florence..."
"Hmm..." She hummed under her breath and giggled.
They looked at each other for a moment and their eyes softened.
But then, as if suddenly realizing the moment, they quickly glanced away, blushing faintly.
"Ahem." Brandon gave a small cough, pretending to clear his throat as his hand reached down.
He crouched, scooping up a small shell that had been half-buried in the sand.
Brushing the grains away with his thumb, he stood and held it out awkwardly. "Here. For you."
Florence blinked at him in amusement before reaching out to take it.
The shell sat in her palm for a moment, and then she turned it between her fingers.
With a quiet smile, she closed her fist over it and tucked it against her chest "I’ll keep it."
The two of them slowly resumed their walk along the shore, the water brushing at their ankles with every tide.
After a stretch of silence, Florence tilted her head toward him and spoke "Let’s go back to the car and sleep."
Brandon chuckled under his breath, shaking his head "Last time we slept in the car, you were lying so uncomfortably you kept shifting all night. So this time, I prepared properly."
He gave her a little grin, proud of himself "I brought some clothes and things. We can lay them out here on the beach and sleep under the stars."
Her eyes widened slightly, amusement flickering in them "Really? Show me."
"Sure." With a nod, Brandon reached into his storage ring and, with a small flash of light, pulled out a neatly folded mattress and quilts.
He spread his hands toward them proudly "Ta-da. Comfortable, right?"
Before he could even finish basking in his own cleverness, Florence grabbed the stack from his arms with shocking speed.
"H-Hey, what are you-"
Without hesitation, she marched two steps toward the water’s edge and threw the mattress and quilts straight into the ocean.
*Sploosh!*
Brandon froze, blinking rapidly as the tide immediately swept the bedding away, dragging it deeper with each wave.
His jaw dropped in shock "Florence...?"
The woman turned back toward him, scratching the side of her head with an awkward smile, "What were you saying again, Kael?"
-_- Brandon’s face twitched and he gave her a blank stare "...Let’s go sleep in the car."
"Hahaha..." The sound of waves crashing against the shore mingled with Florence’s soft giggles as she hooked her arm through Brandon’s, pulling him back toward the car with a mischievous little bounce in her steps.
Brandon dragged his feet in mock defeat, still staring at the waves swallowing up the mattress and quilt "...Do you know how much time it took me to fold those neatly into my storage ring?"
Florence tilted her head up at him "Mhm, about three seconds, right? Because that’s how your fancy ring works. Stop sulking."
"That’s not the point," Brandon grumbled, though the corners of his lips twitched upward despite himself.
"The point is... I tried to be considerate. Thought I’d make it comfortable this time. Quite romantic even. And you-" He gestured toward the sea with both hands. "-donated all my efforts to the fish."
Florence laughed again, "Kael, if you wanted romance, you wouldn’t have suggested sleeping out in the open where crabs could crawl over us."
He gave her a flat look "That’s what the mattress was for."
"Uh-huh," she teased, squeezing his arm tighter as if to keep him from sulking too much. "But I like the car better. It’s small and warm, and it forces you to stay close to me."
That last line slipped out softer, and she quickly glanced away, her cheeks warming faintly in the moonlight.
Brandon chuckled in his heart but he kept sulking "...So that’s what this is about," he said, lowering his voice just a bit. "You wanted an excuse to trap me in the car again."
Florence’s steps faltered, and she puffed her cheeks before giving his shoulder a playful shove "Don’t say it like that! You make it sound like I’m-"
She stopped, realizing any explanation would only dig the hole deeper.
So instead, she pouted and marched a little ahead, dragging him along with her hand.
Brandon chuckled under his breath, letting her set the pace as they reached the car parked just off the sand.