The warm sun hit my eyes and the slowly movements of the car woke me up.
It took me a few moments before I realized that I had fallen asleep.

"God..." I whispered under my breath, stretching.
I looked at the road ahead me still with blurred eyes.
Then I immediately turned around, Bella was still next to me, driving.
I immediately smiled.
"Hey..." She greeted me with a warm smile.

I reached out her hand and gently stroked her wrist: "Why didn't you wake me up?"
Bella laughed sweetly: "Why would I...? You were sleeping so well."
I leaned my head back on the seat and blushed.
"I was supposed to keep you company..." I laughed.
"Well... I was supposed to drive but your cute, little face kept distracting me..." She whispered in a soothing voice, raising an eyebrow in my direction.

I blushed suddenly.
"Where are we, by the way?"  I asked changing the subject because I was burning with embarrassment.
"We have to make a pit stop..." Bella announced.
As she said that I thought we had to refuel but she suddenly stopped in front of a dress store.

I was mesmerized by those gorgeous clothes that were in the shop window.
"That's our pit stop..." Bella pointed to that store and giggled.
"Where did you find it?" I asked, still stunned.
"I was just following the road but the store sign kept appearing to me. I think it's a sign, Ellie..." She smiled.

We got out of the car and walked toward the entrance of that shop.
"It's beautiful... these dresses are beautiful..." I whispered.
"Indeed, sweetie. That's why we have to go in..." She affirmed squeezing my hand.
"Bella, are you sure we can enter like that...?" I asked stupidly.

Why was I always making problems out of everything?
I regretted that question immediately.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say that." I whispered lowering my gaze.

"It's okay, Ellie. We can enter like this. If you want to, of course." She shook her head as if the problem did not exist for her.
I admire her confidence and the way she sees life, which is probably different from mine as I always expect the worst.

"I want to, no doubt. Let's go." I affirmed, squeezing her hand as I walked through the store entrance.

The lights in that store were as bright as if we had just stepped onto a movie set ans we were happy like two little girls.
After a few minutes Bella had her left arm full of a pile of dresses.
I had one dress, and I was still undecided about it.

And when I was about to give up, I looked up... I saw a beautiful dress.
I fell in love with it instantly.
I touched it, I visualized myself wearing it- but somehow... I left it where it was as I stood there dumbfounded.

"Yes. This is one beautiful." Bella affirmed as she walked fast grabbing that dress.
She turned around with a grin on her face as she put it on my chest.
"For whom?" I widened my eyes nervously.
"For you. Of course."

I laughed nervously at her, she smiled confidently.
I said nothing but my heart was pounding.

Bella had one hand busy carrying her dresses and with the other one she was practically escorting me toward the dressing rooms.
She entered with a smirk into the one on her left, I enter in the one next to her.

I nervously tried on the first dress I chose, but I wasn't much interested in it- I only had my eyes for the second one Bella made me take.

But I was still too insecure of myself.

I come out of my dressing room as soon as I heard her coming out of its.
Bella was wearing a long, lilac dress with a side slit down the leg.
It fits perfectly her height and the copper of her hair.

Oh. Shit.
She is too hot.

I lingered a little too long looking at her.
I felt a strong feeling, confused between attraction and longing.

Suddenly it was too hot in that room.

"I feel something is missing in this dress..." She said as she turned to me.
I laughed:
"It actually fits you perfectly, Bella, and you are wearing it beautifully."

She smiled sweetly, then looked down at me thoughtfully:
" This one fits you perfectly, but you should try the other one..." She affirmed.
"Are you sure?" I asked, swallowing.
"One hundred percent."

I sighed, but before entering my dressing room again, I turned around looking at her for some kind of approval in her confident gaze.
"I'll wait for you here." She said softly.

She knew exactly that I needed it in that moment.
My heart is pounding again.

I put on the second dress and as I looked at myself in the mirror I felt a strange feeling in my mind...
I liked myself. Maybe it was one of the first times I really liked myself.

The dress was made of silk, it was turquoise, but it had a glimpse of blue, light blue, and a sketch of yellow that branched out to the end of the dress.
I like the contrast between these colors with my black hair and my slightly olive skin.
It came down softly straight, in the back it was slightly open.

I couldn't stop looking at myself and wondering if the person reflected in that mirror was really me.
Then after many... many minutes, I sighed and walked out of the dressing room.

Bella stood with her arms crossed, in a corner, her face changed abruptly.
From serious, her expression became bright and she smiled spontaneously.

"Hmm..." She whispered, swallowing.
I felt her attentive gaze looking me up and down with a strong desire, almost magnetic focus.
But somehow I felt no shame, no embarrassment.

"Look at you..." Bella whispered to me and smiled warmly.
"You're so incredibly gorgeous." She affirmed.
I made a small grimace.

"I mean it, Ellie. I can't stop thinking about it. And I can't stop looking at you." Her expression became genuinely transparent, revealing her true feelings without any pretense.

I blushed.
"Thank you so much..." I stretched my arm up to her neck, smiling tenderly as I gave her a caress, she clutched at my touch.

I went back in to change again, Bella was trying on her second dress.
When she came out, she made a funny face, laughing and repeating to me that something was missing in that dress too.

In truth, she's never looked more beautiful to me...

I waited for her to return to the dressing room and took a walk around the store.
Maybe I will find something for her...

When I was about to give up again... my eyes were struck by a dress that was on a mannequin.
I didn't need to imagine it being worn by Bella because I was immediately sure that she would wear it divinely.

"Bella..."
She poked her head out of the dressing room.
"Wear this..." I handed her the dress.
She slightly widened her eyes, hiding a smile but did not protest.

I waited nervously behind her curtain, starting to walk back and forth, and after a few minutes I saw her.
I looked into her eyes, her expression was composed but she gave me a subtle smirk.
I lowered my eyes to look at her dress and I was paralyzed...

She looked like a painting.

It was a silk, multicolor, pictorial-print dress with a deep V-neckline, fine straps, and floor length, like mine.
I was speechless.

When she stretched her body to lean toward me I saw the outline of her breasts...
And her nipples.... through the dress.

I swallowed with difficulty.

She was wearing no bra under that dress.
Oh, God. Too hot.
Oh. my. God.

Why does she do this to me?
It feels like a torture.

Bella bit her beautiful lips, turned around slowly and revealed her candid, naked back and her long red hair, at that point I was breathless too.

"You're staring at me." She said with a playful smile, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

"You're beautiful," I affirmed.
"It's impossible not to."

Bella blushed slightly but held my gaze, her voice dropping to a softer tone:
" Thank you, sweetie... and what else are you thinking?" She leaned in just a little closer.

I blushed abruptly.
She traced a gentle line along my arm with her eyes.
"Bella..." I swallowed.
"I'm thinking how much you make me blush all the time I look at you..." I smiled.

Her smile widened, and she teased: "Well... what if I wanted you to look at me all the time?" Her eyes softened.

I coughed nervously. My throat was dry.
" That would be... okay... I guess..."
I whispered, hiding my super embarrassed face.

Bella giggled, leaning closer to me, I leaned on her shoulder.
"So it's settled?" She asked in my ear, caressing my arms.
I stared at her questioningly.
"You take that and I'll take this one."
I nodded to her immediately.

We bought those two dresses and returned to the car.
"I don't know when we could wear these..." I whispered wistfully to her but made an effort to smile.

Bella sighed slowly then kissing my forehead.
She turned the keys, starting the car with an indecipherable look: "These are our dresses for a special occasion... which I'm sure will come."

~

We returned to the hotel, Bella parked the car and we had to say goodbye to it, with a sorrow in our heart.
"Don't worry, everything will be fine..." Bella told me as soon as she saw the sparkle in my eyes slowly fading away.

I didn't want time to pass so quickly, it was our... last night.
This not possible... I can't get my head around it.

We went inside to leave the packages with the dresses in the hotel lobby.
Bella immediately took her phone in her hand and made that call.
"It's coming..." She announced to me.
I nodded my head to thank her.

We were now at the dock of the resort, waiting for it to come...
I still have this big lump around my throat for thinking too much about the future...

What will happen tomorrow? When Joe e Leo will eventually come back...?
I don't want this to happen, but I can't change it.

My heart pounded in my chest.
Our arms finding each other in a silent, desperate embrace, Bella was looking at me with those tender eyes.
I buried my face in her neck, my hands trembled slightly as I gripped her back.

"Everything will be fine, Ellie."  She repeated, I felt her fingers pressing into my skin, holding me.
We pulled back just enough to look into each other's eyes, the intensity in her gaze mirrored my own— desire, pain, and something deeper.

I leaned in, and our lips met in a kiss that was both gentle and fierce.

"I wanted to thank you for everything you did for me today." I said and clung to her waist.

I could feel her breath shuddering suddenly: "This sounds like a goodbye..."
I shook my head, desperately: "It's not, Bella. We still have time." I affirmed trembling.

Bella nodded slightly, the wistful look in her eyes.
"Even if ... I had all the time in this world... I fear it would not be enough for me to plan everything for us."

That makes me shiver.
Us. That word was so beautiful to say out loud.
I was desperate.
We looked at each other and sank into another warm and longing kiss.

"Girls!" Someone called us.
I could still feel Bella's warm gaze when I turned to smile toward that voice.
"The boat is ready! You can come in! Happy 4th of July, by the way!" Vincent, the captain of the boat called us.

We were about to go to our favorite place, the place where it all began...

A/N
Hi! This chapter makes me cry a little 🥲 And you still haven't seen anything yet...  What do you think will happen?