Chapter 202

Aria's POV I grabbed Aiden's hand without hesitation when he reached for mine. Something about the simple gesture made my heart flutter more than it probably should have. The evening sun was sinking into the ocean, turning everything golden. The beach sparkled like someone had scattered glitter across the sand, and the horizon glowed where the sun hung like a massive yolk slowly dropping into the water. As darkness crept in, the crowds thinned out. Only couples remained, walking hand in hand along the shoreline. That was us now – a couple. The thought still felt surreal sometimes. I suddenly stopped walking, feeling the urge to connect with this perfect moment. "Everything okay?" Aiden's voice carried concern. "I want to take my shoes off," I said, glancing down at my feet. "Feel the sand between my toes." Walking barefoot on the beach was something Lillian and I always did during our girl trips. But something about doing it with Aiden made me hesitate – it felt weirdly intimate. Befor