We pulled all the sheets and blankets down onto the floor, pilling up pillows against the windows that overlooked the rippling waves below. Jake called the front desk, ordering through the dessert menu like a child left alone with their parent's credit card. It wasn't long before there was a knock at the door and a cart filled with an assortment of cookies, cakes, and ice creams was being pushed over towards our makeshift fort.

We took turns feeding one another the frozen treats and delectable sweets, licking icing and syrup from each other's candied lips and fingertips. I don't know what it is about fabric barriers and cushioned floors that make you feel so safe from the outside world, but little by little, the imaginary castle walls went up as ours came crashing down, leaving us with both nothing but long-awaited childlike innocence, the friendship with him I had always longed for alongside our wistful love.

"You know, I really don't know how you're going to top this next year." I giggled, holding a spoonful of chocolate ice cream up to his mouth. He shrugged, taking a bite, licking the rest of the syrup off while holding his dazed eyes on me. My heart started beating faster as my eyes moved down to his lips, quickly leaning in to kiss away what remained. His lips curled into a smile as he leaned his forehead against mine, his wandering hands gently gliding up my leg.

"I know we joked about having to get a sitter, but.. I would love it if we spent it as a family." He said softly, breaking off a piece of one of the cookies, holding it up to me. I couldn't help but smile at the thought of there actually being three of us next year, cuddled together in another handmade blanket fort, the room filled with our shrill laughter, little fingers trying their hardest to grasp spoons that were much too big for their tiny hands.

"Jake, I.. I wanted to talk to you about that." I said softly. His face dropped.

"W-what do you mean?" He asked. "Are.. are you having second thoughts? Because.. I mean, we kinda just-" I sighed, reaching up, gently running my fingers across his cheek.

"No." I laughed, shaking my head, holding my stare on him. He was so beautiful, his cheeks still flushed a light pink, his eyes tired but adoring.

"It's just.. I love when we talk about it, and I love how excited you get but, you know.. the odds.. and sometimes.. the thought of it.. I just don't want to get so excited over something that may never happen. And.. the more we talk about it.. the more I want it.. and sometimes.." I stopped, biting down on my lip. "I know what you said, but sometimes I worry you're going to resent me if I can't give you that."

"Jess.." He said, now pulling me into his lap, gently running his fingers through my hair.

"I've seen you with Sophie and.. it is incredible seeing you with kids, you're so happy and.. you make them so happy and.. I don't want to be the one that gets in the way of you getting to have that." He reached up, gently holding my face in his hands.

"How about this.. we don't have to talk about it anymore, okay? I don't want to upset you and I don't want you to worry. I'm so happy and I'm not going anywhere. Ever." I nodded, leaning in, kissing his cheek. He gently turned my head, pulling me into a passionate kiss, his hand slowly moving behind my neck, pulling me in closer.

"But we can still try as many times as you want." He laughed. "I'm not complaining." I shook my head, giggling to myself, pulling him into another kiss.

"I won't bring it up anymore, okay?" He said softly. "If.. if you want to talk about it.. then we can talk about it all you want but.. I'll leave that up to you." I nodded, biting down on my lip, feeling my heart beat faster.

Every single day I was reminded of why I picked him forever.

His hand traveled down into mine, intertwining our fingers, bringing it back up, admiring my ring again until his face dropped, now noticing the bruises starting to form around my knuckles.

"Jess, what happened??" He snapped, bringing my hand up to his face. My heart dropped. I couldn't tell him about this without telling him.. everything.

"Um.." I started, unsure of how to even begin. "Well, Sam-"

"Sam?!" He yelled, his face getting angrier, burning red with rage. "Did he touch you??" My heart started pounding. I couldn't remember the last time I saw him like this.

"He.. he grabbed m-"

"He grabbed you??" He said, his jaw clenching. If he was getting this angry about this..

"Jake, I don't want to ruin tonight." I said softly, staring back up at him. He held his exasperated glare on me for a moment, taking a deep breath.

"Okay, I just.. I want to know what happened in the van." He said calmly.

"He kissed me.." I said. His eyes went wide, his fists tightly clenching, but he stayed quiet, waiting. "So.. I slapped him." His lips slowly curved into a gentle smile.

"You.. slapped him?" He giggled. I nodded, unable to contain my laughter. He shook his head, holding his gaze.

"And.. when I tried to leave, that's when he grabbed me, and he wouldn't let go, so.."

"So.."

"So I.. I might've punched him." I muttered, feeling my cheeks burn. His smile grew as he pulled me into a gentle kiss.

"I know he's my brother but.. I feel like I'm kinda obligated to agree that he deserved it." He laughed. I nodded, biting down on my lip.

"And I didn't like that he hit you." I sighed, wrapping my arms around his neck, leaning my forehead against his. "You're my man, and I'm not gonna let anything happen to you either."

His eyes got wide, moving back down to my lips. I felt his hands slowly glide their way up my body, slipping under my robe.

"Yeah.. I'm gonna need you to call me your man all the time now." He laughed, pulling me into a passionate kiss. "And if you have to go around punching people, well.. I think I can turn a blind eye." I couldn't help but laugh, pulling him back into a series of kisses as he slowly crawled over me, pulling the tie open to my robe, slipping it off and tossing it to the side.

"So.. remember what I said about trying as many times as you want?" He giggled, his kisses moving up my neck, getting harder as I ran my fingers up his back.

"Mhm.." I managed, a smile escaping from my lips as his kisses traveled down to my chest.

"Well, I think we should take advantage of this room while we have it." He smirked. I nodded, now seeing the sun gradually peeking over the horizon, glistening over the ripples of the water down below, meaning we didn't have much time before we'd have to get back to the buses.

"Okay." I sighed, pushing him back onto the cushioned ground, climbing over him. He stared up at me, his cheeks burning red with affection, his eyes gleaming with excitement. His impatient hands quick to move their way down my chest, tightly grasping my hips.

"But this time it's my turn."