Chapter 156
**Sara**
I stared at my open suitcase, a jumbled mess of clothes spilling onto my bed. Packing for a weekend getaway with Tom should've been simple, but I was overthinking every possible scenario.
"Okay, Sara," I muttered, holding a little black dress. "Fancy dinner? Check."
I tossed it into the suitcase, then frowned. What if we ended up at some hipster food truck instead? I grabbed a pair of ripped jeans and a cute top and added them to the pile.
"Hiking? Maybe?" I mused, eyeing my workout leggings. "Better safe than sorry."
The leggings, a sports bra, and a tank top went in. Tom was pretty fit. What if he suddenly decided we needed to climb a mountain or something?
My eyes landed on my swimsuit, and my cheeks heated up. Our last beach day had been... memorable, to say the least. I quickly stuffed the bikini into a corner of the suitcase, burying it under a pile of socks.
"Just in case," I mumbled, refusing to acknowledge the flutter in my stomach.
I grabbed a handful of underwear and then paused. How many pairs did one need for a weekend? Five? Ten? What if we got stranded somewhere, and I ran out of clean underwear? The horror!
"Get a grip," I scolded myself, shoving a random assortment into the bag. "You're packing for a weekend, not the apocalypse."
I zipped up the suitcase with a huff, feeling like I'd wrestled an overstuffed burrito. I stood back to admire my handiwork, and a low chuckle from the doorway made me jump.
"Jeez, Tom!" I yelped, spinning around. "How long have you been standing there?"
He leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed and a smirk on his lips. "Long enough to witness the great Sara Parker battling the evil suitcase monster."
I rolled my eyes, trying to ignore how my heart raced at seeing him. Even in a simple t-shirt and jeans, he looked like he'd stepped out of a magazine. It was infuriating.
"Ha ha, very funny," I said, tossing a pillow at him. He caught it effortlessly because, of course, he did. "You try packing for a mystery weekend without losing your mind."
He sauntered into the room, his eyes scanning the chaos of discarded clothes. "How long does throwing a few things in a bag take? We're only going for two days, you know."
I planted my hands on my hips, fixing him with my best glare. "Easy for you to say. Some of us have to actually plan ahead."
He smiled, closing the distance between us. "Planning ahead? Is that why you've packed enough underwear to open a lingerie store?"
My face burned as I glanced at the overflowing suitcase. "I like to be prepared," I mumbled.
His hands found my waist, pulling me close. "Oh, I'm not complaining," he murmured. "I'm just wondering if you'll need any of it."
A shiver ran down my spine, and I struggled to keep composure.
"Well," I said, running a finger down his chest, "that depends on where exactly you're whisking me off to, doesn't it? For all I know, we could be roughing it in the wilderness."
"Funny you should mention that..."
I narrowed my eyes. "Tom, where are you taking me?"
He grinned, looking smug. "I'm kidnapping you to a forest, of course."
I blinked. "A... forest?"
"Mmhmm," he hummed, his hands tracing lazy circles on my hips. "Just you, me, and the great outdoors. Hope you packed your bug spray."
I gaped at him, trying to process this information. "But... but what about five-star hotels? Champagne breakfasts? Silk sheets?"
"I thought you'd be into roughing it. You know, embracing your wild side and all that."
"My wild side prefers room service and spa treatments, thank you very much."
He laughed. "Alright, city girl. If you want five-star hotels, we can do that instead. I just figured you'd enjoy a little adventure in the great outdoors."
"Oh, I'm all for adventure," I said, running my hands up his chest. "But maybe we can save the forest kidnapping for another time? When I've had a chance to, you know, mentally prepare myself for potential bear attacks and poison ivy rashes."
"I think you've been watching too many nature documentaries."
I shrugged. "Hey, you never know. Better safe than sorry, right?"
He laughed, the sound sending a warm tingle through my body. "Fair enough. So, where do you want to go now?"
I grinned, wrapping my arms around his neck. "You know what? Let's keep it spontaneous. See how well we can spend two days without a plan."
"Now you're talking my language. Spontaneity it is."
"Oh, now you're on board with my lack of planning?" I teased, poking him in the chest.
He shrugged. "What can I say? I'm a man of many contradictions."
"Clearly," I laughed, kissing his lips quickly. "So, Mr. Spontaneous, when do we leave for our unplanned adventure?"
Tom glanced at his watch, then back at me. "We could head out now if you're finished battling your suitcase. Unless you need more time to pack your entire wardrobe?"
I rolled my eyes, giving him a playful shove. "Ha ha, very funny. For your information, I'm all set. And I'll have you know, I showed great restraint in my packing."
"Oh really?" He raised an eyebrow, eyeing my bulging suitcase skeptically.
"Yes, really," I insisted, trying to maintain a straight face. "I left at least three pairs of shoes behind. That's practically minimalist packing for me."
"I'm impressed. Shall we hit the road then, my minimalist traveler?"
"Absolutely," I grinned, excitement bubbling up inside me. "Let's go!"
I grabbed my suitcase, grunting slightly under its weight. He watched with amusement as I struggled to lift it off the bed.
"Need a hand there, champ?" he asked, barely containing his laughter.
I shot him a glare, still wrestling with the overstuffed bag. "I've got it, thanks. Just... giving my biceps a little workout."
"Uh-huh," he nodded, clearly unconvinced. "Don't strain yourself. We wouldn't want you too tired for our adventure."
I finally managed to heave the suitcase onto the floor with a triumphant "Ha!" Then, trying to play it cool, I leaned against it, slightly out of breath. "See? No problem at all."
He smirked, reaching for the handle. "Allow me, oh strong one. I insist."
"Such a gentleman," I teased, gladly relinquishing the suitcase. As he effortlessly lifted it, I admired how his muscles flexed under his t-shirt. Overpacking wasn't such a bad thing after all.
We made our way out of my apartment, Tom leading the way with my monstrous suitcase while I trailed behind, double-checking that I hadn't forgotten anything important.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
