CHAPTER 75: CHAPTER75

Chapter 75

Kaeleen’s POV

The moment the door to her room clicked shut, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. The hallway felt quiet and empty without her.

Ryker was quiet, too, a low purr of contentment replacing his earlier grumbling. We had a long road ahead of us, but for the first time, the path didn’t seem impossibly steep. It felt like we had finally found the starting line. Amen to that.

I didn’t waste a second. I practically raced to my own bedroom, my mind buzzing with a nervous, happy energy. If this night went well then I was going back to rub it in Alex’s face.

The shower was the fastest I’d ever taken...debatable. The hot water watched over my skin, washing away the dirt of the day and with it.

The way her face had lit up when she teased me, the vulnerable strength in her eyes when she asked me to wait, the soft weight of her in my arms during that brief, chaste hug.

I threw on a pair of comfortable grey sweatpants and a soft black t-shirt, forgoing anything more formal. This wasn’t about impressing her; it was about being comfortable with her. It was about building a space where she could finally let her guard down completely.

As I made my way downstairs, the house felt different. It was no longer a vast, empty space but a home that held the promise of shared laughter and quiet moments. I slowed my pace as I approached the home theater, not wanting to break the fragile peace we had just established. The heavy, soundproof door was slightly ajar, a sliver of soft, warm light spilling into the darker hallway.

I peered through the gap, my heart giving a soft thud.

The theater was one of my favorite rooms in the house, a sanctuary of comfort and escape. The walls were covered in deep navy-blue acoustic panels, and the floor was layered with a plush charcoal carpet that swallowed every sound. Instead of traditional rows of seats, there were about five oversized, deep-cushioned recliners made of the softest black leather, each one big enough for two people to curl up in. On the far wall, the screen was a vast, dark expanse, currently dormant. The only light came from the soft, golden glow of the sconces lining the walls, creating an intimate, cozy atmosphere.

And there, in the center recliner, was Astrid.

She looked so small in the enormous chair, curled up with her feet tucked underneath her. She had changed out of her beautiful green gown and was now wearing a pair of soft-looking leggings and an oversized, creamy white sweater that swallowed her frame. Her hair was down, falling in a dark, silky curtain around her shoulders. On the wide armrest next to her was a veritable feast of snacks: a large bowl of popcorn, a bag of sour gummy worms, and several bars of chocolate.

She was completely absorbed by the phone in her hands, her brow furrowed in the most adorable expression of intense concentration. Her lips were pursed, and a tiny line had formed between her eyebrows. She was so lost in her task that she had no idea she was being watched.

A wave of pure, unadulterated affection washed over me, so potent it made me smile. I took a silent step into the room, my bare feet making no sound on the thick carpet. As I drew closer, I could just make out the screen of her phone.

My smile widened. She was on a search engine, and the query typed into the bar read: ’good movies to watch in a home theatre for the first time’.

I chuckled quietly. How was she so cute? And I liked seeing her like this. Not caring about how much she’s been hurt. This time she was after her own happiness.

She was so focused, scrolling through lists and reviews, that she still hadn’t noticed my presence. An idea, born from the new, playful energy between us, took root. I crept closer, my inner child delighted at the chance for a prank. I moved behind her chair, my shadow falling over her, and leaned in close to her ear.

"Hey," I whispered, my voice a low rumble.

Her reaction was instantaneous and electric. She let out a small shriek, jumping so hard that her phone flew out of her hands and landed safely on the plush cushion next to her. She spun around, her eyes wide with shock, her hand flying to her chest where her heart was surely hammering.

For a split second, I felt a pang of worry. Had I gone too far?

Then her wide, startled eyes focused on my face, and the shock melted away. It was replaced by a look of annoyance, which was then immediately washed away by something far better. A laugh. It started as a surprised gasp, then bubbled up into a full, unrestrained peal of laughter that filled the entire room. She threw her head back and laughed, a genuine, joyous sound that was more beautiful than any symphony.

"You are terrible!" she gasped between laughs, swatting playfully at my arm.

I grinned, relief and happiness flooding through me. "I couldn’t resist," I said, my own laughter joining hers. "You were so focused. I could have robbed the place, and you wouldn’t have noticed."

"I was doing important research!" she defended, gesturing to her abandoned phone. "This is a high-pressure situation. The first official movie night! The choice has to be perfect."

"I saw your research," I teased, settling into the recliner next to hers. "Very thorough. So, what did the internet experts recommend for a first-time home theater experience?"

She sighed dramatically, sinking back into the cushions. "That’s the problem. There are too many choices. Action, romance, comedy, thrillers... My brain is overloaded."

"Okay, let’s narrow it down," I said, leaning over to grab a handful of popcorn. "What are you in the mood for? Do you want to see things explode, or do you want to see people fall in love? Or, we could find something that has both."

She considered this for a moment, nibbling on her lower lip. "I don’t know," she admitted, looking adorably lost. "Both sound good. Everything sounds good."

I watched her, this incredible woman who had survived so much, now overwhelmed by the simple freedom of choice. I knew exactly what we needed to watch.

"I have an idea," I said. "It’s one of my favorites. It’s not exactly a romance, and the action is more verbal than explosive, but I think you’ll like it."

She looked at me, her curiosity piqued. "What is it?"

"It’s called Erin Brockovich," I said, watching her face for a reaction.

"What’s it about?" She asked me.

"A woman."

"Okay...what else?" She asked me.

I smiled. "That’s all I’m telling you. But it’s a movie my mother loved and I think you’ll like it."

"You are not going to tell me what it’s about until I watch it. You know I could just browse about it right?" She asked me.

"Do you want to?"

She shook her head. "Not really."

I gave her a smirk as we settled on the chair.

To be sincere, there was a reason I picked this movie. It was based on a true story about a woman who everyone underestimates. She’s a single mom, she’s brash, she doesn’t fit in with the polished corporate world, but she’s brilliant and she has this unstoppable sense of justice. She takes on a massive power company that’s poisoning people and, against all odds, she refuses to back down.

I wanted her to see a story about a woman who found her power not by changing who she was, but by embracing it. A woman who fought for others and, in doing so, fought for herself.

With a few taps on the tablet that controlled the room, I brought the system to life. The sconces on the walls slowly dimmed until the room was plunged into a soft, comfortable darkness. The massive screen flickered to life, and the deep, resonant hum of the surround sound system filled the space, a tangible presence in the air.

I settled back into my chair, leaving a respectable distance between us, but the space didn’t feel empty. It felt charged with a quiet, comfortable intimacy. As the opening credits of the movie began to roll, their bright letters illuminating her face, she reached for the bowl of popcorn and offered it to me.

I took it, our fingers brushing for a fleeting second. It was a small, insignificant touch, but it felt like a promise. A promise of more nights just like this. A promise of a new beginning, written not in apologies and regrets, but in shared popcorn and the soft glow of a movie screen.

I observed her closely as the opening credits rolled on. I really hoped she got the message I was trying to get to her from this movie.