It was almost dark when we got to the lake. I parked the car and turned off the ignition, then leaned forward on the steering wheel and admired the old house for a few moments. It looked just as I remembered: big, warm, inviting. I didn’t experience that familiar feeling when going back to a place after a long time, and it seemed smaller or different overall from the imprinted mental image. It looked the same, just as it always had. When I turned to my right, I couldn’t help but smile.

“Wake up, baby,” I whispered, reaching my hand out and running my fingers through his hair.

Ethan had his arms folded over his chest and his head turned to the side, facing the window.

“Mmm,” he hummed, shifting on his seat. He turned to me but kept his eyes closed. “Are we there yet?” he murmured.

“We’re here,” I said softly.

He opened his eyes a bit and squinted as he adjusted to the light.

“God, I love waking you up.”

“Yeah?” He ran his tongue over his bottom lip and took a deep breath.

“You always look like it’s the first time you’re seeing me,” I told him, earning a grin.

I leaned forward and gave him a slow kiss before getting out of the car.

“This place is huge,” he commented, yawning and stretching his arms over his head as he walked along beside me.

“Come. I want to show you around.” I led us to the front door and quickly unlocked it.

We stood in the main hall, by the circular staircase to the second floor.

“The kitchen is in the back, next to the dining room and the library. That’s the living room and upstairs; at the very end of the hall is our room.” I pointed out each room as I spoke.

“I wanna see our room.” He smirked, raising both eyebrows and tilting his head.

“Soon.” I went through the living room and opened one of the glass doors that led to the back porch.

I crossed the backyard, over to the edge of the water and next to an old white oak. My Super 8 was going crazy, but I closed my eyes and took a few deep breaths and was able to suppress it—if only for a while.

“The water is so still,” he said, standing next to me and taking hold of my hand.

“Wanna go in?” I turned to face him.

“It must be freezing, babe. We’ll die,” he deadpanned.

“I’ll keep you warm.”

He smiled. “Are you sure you want to? I mean…” He cleared his throat. “Are you ready?”

“I think I am, yeah.”