Olivia's POV
After dinner, I put my fork down and wiped my mouth with a napkin.
"I'll go to the room first," I said. "I need to pack Adrian's things."
Both of them looked up from their plates.
"Okay," Adrian said.
Noah nodded.
I smiled at them and left the table, walking down the hallway to our room.
Inside the bedroom, I went to the closet and pulled out a medium-sized duffel bag from the top shelf. It landed on the bed with a soft thump.
"Okay," I whispered to myself.
I opened the closet door wider and started picking out clothes. I took some sleepwear, a few pairs of jeans, and light shirts that would be good for working in the fields. Then I grabbed a couple of sweaters and his coat, too. It was autumn, after all; the days could be warm, but the air turned chilly when the sun dropped.
I laid each piece of clothing neatly on the bed in small piles, trying to think of what he might need.
Extra socks. A cap. Maybe another sweater.
I walked to his drawer and pulled it open, the wood making a soft scrape. I took out his underwear and some pairs of socks, counting in my head.
"One, two… three should be enough. Maybe four or six," I murmured.
A few minutes later, the door opened, and Adrian walked in. His shirt was slightly damp from washing, and he smelled faintly of soap.
"You're still up," he said with a smile, closing the door behind him.
"Of course," I answered, not looking up right away. "I'm almost done packing your things."
He bounced onto the bed with his usual energy, making the mattress dip and the clothes shift.
"Woah, careful," I said, trying to steady the pile of shirts.
He slid closer and suddenly wrapped an arm around my waist from behind, trying to pull me down to lie beside him.
"Come on," he said. "Rest for a bit. Packing can wait."
I gently smacked his hand and twisted away.
"Stop that," I said, half annoyed, half amused. "I'm busy. If I forget something, you'll complain later."
He sighed dramatically and sat up behind me.
"Fine, fine," he said.
Then his arms slipped around my waist again, but this time he didn't pull me down. He just held me, his chest resting lightly against my back.
I felt his lips brush the back of my neck, soft and warm. Then another kiss, lower, on my shoulder.
"Hey," I said quietly. "What's wrong?"
He didn't answer. He just kept planting small kisses along my neck and shoulders, his breath warm on my skin.
"You're acting strange," I said, tilting my head slightly, my hands still folding a shirt.
He let out a low sound—half a hum, half a sigh.
"Nothing's wrong," he said at last, his voice muffled against my skin. "I just… like being close to you."
I paused, then decided not to push too hard.
"Okay," I said softly. "But if you want your toothbrush and soap, you should get your toiletry bag from the bathroom. I forgot to grab it."
He groaned like a child asked to do a chore.
"Now?"
"Yes, now," I replied. "Before I forget. Go."
He slowly unwrapped his arms from my waist and stood up.
"Fine," he muttered, but there was a small smile on his face as he headed to the bathroom.
While he was gone, I finished folding the last shirt and arranged everything neatly inside the duffel bag. I checked the corners to make sure there was space for his toiletries.
A moment later, he came back holding the toiletry bag by the strap.
"Here," he said.
I stood up, took it from his hand, and gently placed it inside the duffel bag on top of the clothes. Then I pulled the zipper slowly, closing the bag with a small, final sound.
When I looked up, Adrian was standing very close to me.
He stayed there, not moving, like a chick afraid to lose sight of its mother hen. The thought made me smile.
I turned fully toward him.
"You look really sleepy," I said. "You should go to bed already. You have a long day tomorrow."
Instead of agreeing, he caught my arm and held onto it gently.
"I want you to tuck me in," he said.
I let out a small giggle and stared at him in disbelief.
"You're twenty-seven, not five," I said. "Do you still need someone to tuck you in?"
He pouted a little, his eyes soft.
"Only you," he said. "I'm leaving tomorrow. Let me be needy tonight."
His words made my chest soften. I rolled my eyes, but my smile gave me away.
"Fine," I said. "Let's go to bed."
"Victory," he whispered under his breath.
He finally let go of my arm and walked around to his side of the bed, lying down on his usual spot. I went to my side and lay down too, turning so I could face him. I pulled the blanket up to his chest and smoothed it over him like I was tucking in a child.
"Is this good enough?" I asked.
He nodded, looking strangely content.
I leaned in and pressed a kiss to his cheek.
"Good night," I said softly.
I reached toward the lamp to turn it off, but before my fingers touched the switch, his arm shot out. He grabbed me and pulled me closer, wrapping both arms around me tightly.
I let out a small, surprised sound as my body slid closer to his. He buried his face into the curve of my neck, his breath warm against my skin. His hold on me was firm, almost desperate.
"Adrian," I said quietly. "What are you doing?"
He just groaned a little.
"Just stay like this," he murmured. "Please."
My heart tightened a bit.
"Are you okay?" I asked again. "You're holding me like I'm going to disappear."
"I'm fine," he said, his voice low. "I just… I'll miss you. Even if it's just for a few days, I'll miss you. So let me hold you like this for now."
Hearing him speak like that—soft, almost childlike—made me smile. He really did seem like a big baby clutching onto something precious.
"Okay," I whispered. "I'm not going anywhere."
I lifted one hand and gently ran my fingers through his hair, feeling the soft strands under my palm. With my other hand, I lightly patted his back in slow, calming motions.
His breathing began to steady, but he still didn't loosen his hold. It was like he was trying to memorize the shape of me in his arms.
After a moment, he took a deep breath, then gently tilted my chin up with his hand so I would face him.
Our eyes met in the soft light of the bedside lamp. There was something intense there—fear, love, worry, all mixed up.
Then his lips met mine.
The kiss was both intense and gentle at the same time. Not rushed, not playful, but full of something deeper. His hand moved to the back of my head, and I felt him lean into the kiss like he was trying to say everything he couldn't put into words.
I kissed him back, my eyes drifting closed. For a moment, the thoughts of his trip, of the next days, of anything else at all, slipped away. There was only the warmth of his arms, the soft press of his lips, and the quiet sound of our breathing in the small, dim room.