“Falling for my boyfriend’s Navy brother
Chapter 317
0:9[
The air outside the theater is cold, but I barely feel it. Glitter clings to my skin, my cheeks ache from smiling, and the adrenaline still pulses like a second heartbeat under my skin. Everything feels louder–brighter–like the world’s volume got turned up and hasn’t figured out how to settle yet. Everyone’s still here, still buzzing, still talking over each other and hugging and laughing, and I’m just standing in the middle of it all, floating.
That’s when my mom reaches for my hand and squeezes it. “We made a reservation,” she says gently, as if she’s afraid to push too hard. “Just in case st your favorite sushi place. We know it’s late and if you’d rather go home-”
I don’t let her finish. “Are you kidding?” I laugh, then throw my arms around her. “I earned sushi tonight.”
Her eyes light up and my dad throws his hands in the air like a touchdown. Mila whoops. Boomer claps. Max starts rambling about eel rolls and champagne We all break into motion like dominoes, each heading for their own cars, still giddy from the night. I slide into Asher’s car last, shutting the door with a soft click, my body sagging into the seat with the full weight of the night finally sinking into my bones. My feet are sore and my muscles ache in that delicious. used–up way, but I can’t stop grinning.
Asher’s hand finds my thigh the moment he pulls onto the road. I glance over and he’s watching me,
“You good?” he asks, voice low over the hum of the car.
his expression a kind of soft I only ever get to see.
I nod. “I feel like I’m glowing.”
He
sn’t look away. “You are.”
e, heart warm and fluttering in mest. We drive through the city, windows cracked for the cool breeze. Every red light bathes the
s like another reason I want to keep tonight frozen in amber. and every glance he throws m
ant is quiet when we arrive, but the ere are, pushing tables together with clum protest. Asher places a hand on the small
The waiter stops mid–step when he
“Penelope Vales,” Mila says, sm
“I was there,” he blurts. “Th
I thank him, laughing
steps closer.
ate table waiting just for us. The staff rush to rearrange things when they see how many of us mell soy and sesame and fried tempura the second I step inside and my stomach growls in walk in, guiding me through the narrow space like I’m breakable glass.
- de. “Wait,” he breathes, looking between me and the rest of our group. “Are you–were you just-
jaw drops slightly. “You were incredible.”
ck, but before he can say another word, I feel Asher stiffen behind me. And on my other side, Boomer subtly
The poor
vanishes
‘s cold expression to Boomer’s deadpan state and practically jumps. “I’ll just get your menus,” he stammers and of getting tackled.
into the seat beside me, placing his hand back on my thigh like a silent claim
1/3
4:31 pm
Chapter 317
He just shrugs, completely unapologetic. “He looked like he wanted to marry you.”
“Because I danced well.”
“Still.”
Everyone starts ordering, the table breaking into little conversations and bursts of laughter. The waiter comes back more composed and jots everything down quickly, avoiding eye contact with Asher like he’s facing down a military inspection.
The food comes fast and in waves. There’s miso soup that smells like warmth and comfort, edamame tossed with coarse sea salt that we eat by the handful. Boards of fresh sashimi–pink slices of salmon, pale buttery yellowtail, ruby–red tuna. Spicy tuna rolls drizzled in aioli, eel brushed with sweet soy glaze, crunchy tempura rolls with avocado and cream cheese melting inside. There’s tamago that tastes like fluffy sugar clouds and dumplings pan–seared to perfection.
The warmth of the sake spreads through the group like wildfire, and my dad insists on a toast. He raises his little porcelain cup and says, “To Penny. For not only chasing her dream, but catching it and dragging it center stage.” Everyone clinks glasses and echoes him. I press my hand over my mouth to keep from crying again.
Throughout it all, Asher stays close, hand lingering on my knee under the table, gaze always on me when I laugh, or eat, or tell a story about the rehearsal He listens like I’m the only voice in the room. He brushes a piece of rice off my lip with the pad of his thumb and smiles when I blush.
Across the table, Mila leans into Boomer’s shoulder, their conversation low and intimate. Max has stolen Piper’s gyoza and is pretending it’s his. Rooster is deep in argument with Anna about whether shrimp tempura counts as a real shrimp dish. Asher’s parents talk quietly with mine, exchanging stories and laughter like they’ve known each other forever.
And somewhere in the chaos of it all, I realize: this is family.
This is what it feels like to be loved from all sides.
Dessert arrives late but no one minds. There’s mochi in every flavor and a surprise chocolate lava cake that my dad insisted on adding. Everyone sings–not well–and I cover my face while they clap. Madame Loretto appears out of nowhere just as we’re served the last bit of sweets, eyes narrowed. She mutters, “Don’t let them give you a big head, child,” before handing me a tiny velvet box with a pair of pearl earrings tucked inside. “These were given to me after my first big show. You are and have always been one of my best students, Penny. And tonight you made me proud.*
I hug her with tears in my eyes. She grunts but lets me.
Eventually, we all begin to say goodnight, full and buzzing with sugar and salt and love. Asher stands behind me as I hug each person one more time, his hand brushing up and down my back like he can tell I’m starting to drift.
He leans down and whispers against my temple, “Ready to go home, princess?”
And I nod, my heart already racing.
Because there’s one part of the night still left to unfold.
And I want to live every second of it–right next to him.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
