⌗ 18
riley  ✎ᝰ
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I watch the moon loom over the city. It's golden glow shines over the little house on the hill. It's the kind of place you long for when you need to get away from reality—the perfect escape. I can see Maisie by the window. She gives me a warm smile as I swing gently underneath the big Maple tree that sits in front of the house.

"I love you." She mouths from the inside. It was her own personal request to make me dinner tonight. "It'll be ready soon!" She adds happily.

I nod with a wide smile on my face, "Take your time." I replied. "I'll wait for you patiently."

Mason smiles widely and holds out her hands anf forms a heart in the shape of a diamond. I laugh out loud. "You're such a dork, Mason."

She rolls her eyes and brings her attention back to the job in front of her. There's a wide range of vegetables set across the kitchen island. I'm still unsure about what she's preparing, but whatever it may be, I'm excited to try it.

I can tell that she's starting to feel a little tired. She's got that drowsy look in her eyes. I watch her endearingly. Mason continues to prep the ingredients in front of her as I watch from
the outside. She's done so much for me and I'm eternally grateful to have someone that would stop at nothing to show me how they truly feel.

I stand from the swing and make my way towards the door. The cool breeze of the night seeps under my skin, making me shiver. I hurry on inside and take my shoes off at the entrance, switching them for white slippers before making my way over to the kitchen.

"All done outside?" Mason wondered.

"Mhm," I nod. "It's a little chilly out there now."

Mason turns her head to look at me, "I set the fireplace up." She said proudly. "You can sit in the lounge and warm up. I'll just—"

Her words cut off when I wrap my arms around her waist. My chin rests against her shoulder. "You're warm enough." I smile. "See."

Mason turns a bright red. "Hey, look what you did," She giggled. "I'm all red in the face!" Mason sets down the knife and shifts herself so that she's facing me now. "I look like a tomato..."

I lean in close and kiss her gently. "Good thing I'm a big advocate for vegetables."

Mason laughed loudly, "Are you calling me a vegetable, Riley Danielle Marsh?"

I shrug my shoulders. "Well you've got round cheeks. And they're really round. So doesn't that make you a tomato?" I questioned.

Mason rolls her eyes once more and kisses me softly this time. "You're really weird. I like it." She replied. "You're also a really good distraction." Mason points to the ingredients that are laid across the kitchen island behind her. "I still have to finish prepping..." She kisses me again and I blush. That makes the two of us.

"I guess we're even now." She adds.

My cheeks are burning hot. "Well...I can always help you? I can be your little sous chef."

Mason tilts her head and nods, "I could always use a helping hand," She smiled. "Especially one this pretty." She draws me closer and hugs me tightly. "As long as you want to I'm happy."

I nod instantaneously. "Of course I want to. You've already done so much for me tonight," I explained. "Besides, isn't it kind of romantic?"

Mason turns around shyly and nods. "Mm, I think so." She answered. I wrap my arms around her waist once more. "What are you doing?"

I move my left hand over hers and leave my right on her waist. "Riley?" Her voice holds confusion.

"Let me help you."

"Like this?" She gestures to the position we're currently in. We look like a cliche taken straight out of a romantic film. "You're so corny."

I pull away slowly but she pulls my hand back over her own. "I said you were corny. I never said you should stop." She grinned.

We cut the rest of the ingredients up—looking like a bunch of giggling pre schoolers rather than a couple in a romantic film. "We're making so much mess!" I laughed. There's pieces all over the counter, some on the floor around us.

I move away, earning a look from my girlfriend. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Because you moved away from me," She pouted, turning back to the bowl in front of her. "Your hugs feel really nice." She mumbled. 

"Huh?" I heard her perfectly clear.

"Nothing." She answered. Mason moves towards the sink and starts washing the salmon.

"I heard you by the way," I smirk. "You can't deny it anymore, Kang Haerin." 

I meet her by the sink and I watch her carefully as she pokes her tongue out at me, "You heard me, so why did you try to make me say it again?"

"Because you're cute," I answered. "So you like my hugs do you?" I teased her. Mason rolls her eyes for the third time tonight and nods.

"When have I never liked your hugs, Danielle? Don't think there's one moment where you could tell me that I didn't. That moment simply doesn't exist. So, yes. I do like your hugs. I love them."

She tries to hide her smile by biting the sides of her cheeks. "If you want dinner by tonight you're gonna have to stop looking at me like that."

"Looking at you like what?" I said teasingly.

She takes a deep breath and moves towards the stove. Mason sets down a pan and turns the knob. A flame ignites from above the burners.

"You know what look I'm talking about."

I shake my head. "I don't think I do..."

Mason grabs the oil from the corner and holds it over the pan gently, pouring just enough. She picks up the pan and lets the oil spread.

"You're really such a tease." Mason chuckled. She puts the Salmon over the pan and it sizzles immediately, earning wide eyes from the both of us. "But hey, I wanted to ask you something."

My brows furrow. "Mm, what is it?"

"How has everything been tonight?" She questions. Her gaze doesn't move from the pan in front of her. "I just thought I'd ask given—"

"I think you know my answer." I press a kiss on her cheek. "Tonight has been unbelievably perfect, Maisie. I can't thank you enough."

She smiles widely. "Good, I'm glad."