19. Alex
19
ALEX
T he hot air balloon sways gently as we rise over the vineyards of Temecula. Bianca’s hands grip the edge of the basket, her eyes wide with awe. “This is incredible,” she breathes, her gaze sweeping across the mountains and endless rows of grapevines beneath us.
I step up behind her, placing my hands on either side of her. “You’re not the only one who thinks so,” I murmur, leaning in just enough to catch a whiff of her lavender-scented hair.
James laughs from the other side of the basket. “Hey now, Alex! Quit hogging our girl.”
I grin, not moving an inch. “Sharing is caring, remember? Besides, this whole trip was my idea.” I turn my head slightly to wink at him.
Liam chuckles as he takes a sip from his thermos. “Yeah, Alex here wanted to show off his romantic side. Who knew he had one?”
“Don’t act so surprised,” I retort. “I’m full of surprises.”
Bianca’s laughter rings out, a melody that blends perfectly with the morning breeze. “You guys are ridiculous.”
James sidles up next to us, giving Bianca a playful nudge. “Ridiculous? Maybe. But you love it.”
She turns to face us all, her smile radiant against the backdrop of the rising sun. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Liam joins us at the edge of the basket, his blue eyes twinkling with mischief. “So, what’s next on Alex’s grand romantic agenda?”
“Yeah,” James adds, nudging me with his elbow. “Got any more tricks up your sleeve?”
I smirk, enjoying the banter. “Maybe I do. Maybe I don’t. Guess you’ll just have to stick around and find out.”
Bianca leans back against me, her warmth seeping through my shirt. “Well, whatever it is, I’m in.”
“Alright then,” I say, tightening my arms around Bianca.
When we touch back down on solid ground, I can’t help but grin like a maniac. The hot air balloon ride was just the beginning.
James catches my eye, his eyebrows knitting together. “Why do I think I need to worry about what you’re about to say?”
I smirk, not bothering to hide my amusement. “Because you probably should.”
Liam’s eyes narrow at me. “What?”
I laugh, loving the suspense. “Next on today’s adventure? Skydiving.”
Bianca’s eyes nearly pop out of her head. “You’re kidding, right?”
James lets out a groan, rubbing his forehead. “You’re fucking insane.”
Liam crosses his arms over his chest, his jaw tightening. “Have you lost your damn mind?”
I shrug, unfazed by their reactions. “Hey, you wanted a memorable day. What’s more memorable than jumping out of a plane?”
Bianca takes a deep breath, her initial shock giving way to excitement. “Well, I did say I was in for whatever.”
James shakes his head, though a smile tugs at his lips. “You’re going to be the death of us all.”
Liam’s gaze softens as he looks at Bianca. “Are you sure about this?”
She nods, determination in her eyes. “Absolutely.”
I clap my hands together. “Let’s get moving before anyone changes their mind.”
As we drive to the skydiving center, the banter continues.
James nudges me with his elbow. “If we die today, it’s on you.”
“Noted,” I reply with a grin.
Liam stays quiet, but the wheels are clearly turning in his head. He’s always the cautious one, but even he can’t resist an adrenaline rush every now and then.
We arrive at the skydiving center and start suiting up in our gear. The instructors give us a thorough rundown of what to expect.
Bianca’s fingers tremble slightly as she fastens her harness, but she meets my gaze with a steady look.
“Are you ready for this?” I ask her.
She nods firmly. “Let’s do it.”
We board the plane and the engines roar to life. The ascent takes forever but soon enough, we’re at altitude.
The instructor opens the door and the wind roars in our ears.
James looks at me one last time before we jump. “Here goes nothing.”
We leap into the open sky and everything becomes a blur of wind and exhilaration. The rush of air against my face as we freefall through the sky is like nothing else. Adrenaline pumps through my veins, and I glance at Bianca, her laughter carried away by the wind. She’s loving every second of this.
I glance over at James, who seems right at home in the chaos. It’s surreal how seamlessly he’s fit back into our lives. Despite the years apart and all the shit we went through, it's like we never skipped a beat.
Bianca’s scream of delight pulls my attention back to her. “This is amazing!” she shouts, her voice barely audible over the roar of the wind.
“You’re crazy!” I yell back, grinning.
Liam swoops in closer, his blue eyes sparkling with excitement. “ You should know that by now!”
As our parachutes deploy and we start to glide down towards the ground, I can’t help but marvel at how perfectly everything has fallen into place. It’s as if nothing else matters but this moment.
James lands first, executing a perfect roll before standing up and grinning at us. “I’ve missed this kind of madness,” he admits as he unhooks his parachute.
Bianca touches down next to him, stumbling a bit before regaining her balance. “You mean you missed me,” she teases.
“Guilty as charged,” James replies with a wink.
Liam and I land together, our feet hitting the ground almost simultaneously. I turn to Bianca, unable to suppress my smile. “So? How was your first jump?”
She beams at me, her eyes shining with exhilaration. “It was incredible! Thank you for this.”
James claps me on the back. “Alright, Alex. What’s next on your agenda of insanity?”
I shrug nonchalantly. “Oh, you know... just a little dinner.”
Liam raises an eyebrow. “Should we be worried?”
I laugh, shaking my head. “Nah, just be ready for anything.”
Bianca looks between us, curiosity piqued. “What do you have planned?”
“You’ll see,” I say with a wink.
As we head back to the car, Bianca slips her hand into mine. Her touch is warm and reassuring, grounding me in this moment.
“You really went all out today,” she says softly.
I squeeze her hand gently. “You’re worth it.”
James falls into step beside us. “So what’s for dinner? I’m starving.”
“Patience,” I reply with a grin. “You’ll find out soon enough.”
I set the last plate on the table, a smug grin spreading across my face. My dining room glows with candlelight, casting warm shadows on the walls. The aroma of garlic and rosemary fills the air, mingling with the scent of the Pinot Noir I’ve chosen for tonight.
“Damn, Alex,” James says, eyeing the spread. “You sure you didn’t hire a chef while we weren’t looking?”
I chuckle, pouring wine into Bianca’s glass. “What can I say? I’ve got skills.”
Liam raises his glass. “Here’s to Alex not burning down the kitchen.”
Bianca laughs, clinking her glass with ours. “And to an amazing day.”
We dig in, and conversation flows as easily as the wine. The grilled salmon melts in my mouth, paired perfectly with the risotto that even Gordon Ramsay would approve of.
“This is fantastic,” Bianca says, her eyes lighting up as she takes another bite. “You’ve really outdone yourself.”
James leans back in his chair, a satisfied smirk on his face. “You’ve set a high bar for yourself now. What’s next? Michelin-starred restaurant?”
“Hey, don’t tempt me,” I reply, raising an eyebrow.
Liam grins, leaning in closer to Bianca. “I think Alex just wanted to impress you.”
“Is it working?” I ask, giving her a playful nudge.
Bianca’s smile is dazzling. “Maybe a little.”
The night winds down with more laughing and teasing, ending with the four of us sprawled on a blanket on the living room floor. The room is dimly lit by the glow of the fireplace, casting flickering shadows that dance along the walls. Bianca lies in the center, her braids fanned out like a halo, her body a tangled mess of limbs with ours.
"Remember that time in college," James starts, his voice filled with amusement, "when Alex tried to cook dinner for all of us and nearly set the kitchen on fire?"
I groan, covering my face with my hand. "Please don't remind me. That was a disaster."
Bianca giggles, her laughter light and infectious. "Oh my god, I remember that! You were so proud of your culinary skills until the smoke alarm went off."
Liam snorts, his hand lazily tracing circles on Bianca's thigh. "Yeah, we had to order pizza instead."
"Hey, I've come a long way since then," I protest, leaning in to kiss Bianca's neck. "Tonight's dinner was proof."
"True," she admits, tilting her head to give me better access. "Tonight was amazing."
James shifts closer, his fingers brushing against Bianca's arm. "So what's next on your list of surprises, Alex? Skydiving and a gourmet dinner seem hard to top."
I grin against Bianca's skin before pulling back to look at him. "You’ll just have to wait and see."
Bianca lets out a soft moan as Liam’s hand moves higher up her thigh. “You’re such a tease,” she murmurs.
“Only for you,” Liam replies smoothly.
James leans over Bianca, his lips hovering near hers. “Mind if I join in?”
She shakes her head slightly before capturing his mouth in a heated kiss.
I watch them for a moment before turning my attention back to Bianca’s neck, planting kisses along her pulse point. Her soft moans fill the room as our hands roam over her body.
The night stretches on, our shared history making every touch feel familiar yet electrifyingly new.
Bianca’s moans grow louder as our hands and mouths work in perfect harmony. In this tangle of limbs and whispered confessions, it feels like everything has fallen back into place—right where it belongs.