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“It’s so good to see you, baby,” he rasped when he eventually backed away. “Take me home.”

I knew he probably just said it but my heart skipped a beat at his words.

Home. Yes, I will. In more ways than one.

I led him around the house into the clearing, my heart fluttering like a caged bird in my chest.

Thank the trees I had prepared everything already.

“I have a surprise for you, Bunny.”

“Oh my God, Jules!” Nikolai turned on the spot, taking in the mountain of pillows and blankets, the picnic basket, and the canopy of leaves shielding us. “Did you do all this?”

Does he hate it?

“I did, I thought you might…”

“Jules,” he stopped me with a hand on my arm. “This is the most romantic thing anyone has ever done for me.” Leaning in a little, he pressed a kiss on my cheek and hugged me. “Thank you.”

“I’m glad you like it, Bunny. I thought we could watch a movie, eat, and maybe cuddle a bit?”

“That a great idea.”

We took our shoes off and settled on the cushions. Smiling to myself when I remembered how I had stripped every room in my house of anything that even closely resembled a cushion to make the forest bower, I poured him a glass of my sweet summer wine.

“To this perfect evening.”

“To you. Thank you again, Jules. You have no idea how much I love this.”

You have no idea how much I love you.

We drank. Then I moved in, feeling brave enough to steal a little kiss.

Nik lingered on my mouth for a long time before breaking the connection. His cheeks were flushed as he fired up his sleek laptop and picked a movie for us.

“I had a pretty tough week, Jules,” he sighed when we snuggled up with our hands joined under the fluffy blanket I had brought and our empty glasses set aside. “Thank you for this.”

“Anything for you, Bunny.” I raised our clasped hands to my mouth and kissed the back of his. “Anything.”

A clear drop slid down his cheek, followed by another and another.

It took him a long time to calm down. I held him through it, stroking his golden hair. Getting things out helped.

“Sorry, I—”

“Don’t apologise for your feelings, Nikolai. I adore your tears as much as I do your laughter. They are all part of you.”

“Fuck.” Sniffing, he buried his face in my chest, fresh tears seeping into the fabric. “I feel so dumb. I have everything. A supportive family, the best job, a hot boyfriend. Why the hell am I so fucking miserable?”

Boyfriend? Does he mean me? But who else would he be talking about? Unless…

“I don’t know, Bunny. You are, and you have every right to be. There is no amount of suffering you need under your belt to be allowed to be sad or empty. Sometimes we just are.” I stroked his sweaty hair off his brow. “And having supportive people in your life makes things easier, but they don’t magically heal you, as much as your family or your boyfriend might want to do that for you.”

Nikolai pressed a soft kiss on my throat. “I would never expect you to, Jules. I hope you know that.”

He means me.

“I’m your boyfriend?” I blurted out.