Shower Separately

You glance toward the bathroom doorway for another second before laughing softly and shaking your head.

“If we do that,” you tell her, “we’re never actually gonna make it to dinner.”

Jane immediately grins.

“So you HAVE considered it,” she teases.

“That’s not the point.”

“It kinda sounds like the point,” she replies smugly.

You walk over and lightly steal the towel back out of her hands while she laughs in protest.

“Go shower,” you tell her. “Before you spread sand into every room in this house.”

Her eyes narrow suspiciously.

“You just want extra time to stare at me in the bikini.”

“That accusation is completely fair,” you it.

She laughs softly while shaking her head.

“You’re lucky you’re cute,” Jane says before stepping backward toward the bathroom again.

Right before disappearing inside, she pauses once more.

Then she slowly slides the oversized hoodie up just enough to flash the side straps of the bikini bottoms underneath before smirking at your reaction.

“Oh my god,” you groan quietly.

“What?” she asks innocently.

“You’re evil.”

“I’m charming,” Jane corrects before finally slipping into the bathroom.

A second later, the door shuts behind her.

Then you hear the shower start running.

For a while, you stay standing there smiling to yourself like an idiot.

The warm evening sunlight still spills through the bedroom windows while ocean air drifts through the cracked balcony doors nearby. Somewhere inside the bathroom, you can hear Jane humming quietly to herself over the sound of running water.

And honestly?

Just hearing her relaxed and happy like this makes something in your chest feel lighter.

Eventually you flop backward onto the bed for a minute while waiting your turn for the shower.

A few moments later, your phone buzzes.

You glance down.

A mirror selfie from Jane.

Steam fogs part of the mirror behind her while your oversized hoodie hangs loosely off one shoulder above the bikini top she clearly still hasn’t taken off yet. Her hair’s slightly damp around the edges already, and the teasing little smile on her face makes your stomach tighten instantly.

Attached underneath is one message:

“Still think separate showers was the smart choice?”

You laugh quietly to yourself while shaking your head.

Completely impossible.

A minute later, the bathroom door finally cracks open and warm steam spills softly into the bedroom.

Jane steps out wearing an oversized sleep shirt now, fresh from the shower with damp hair falling loosely around her shoulders and skin still slightly flushed from the heat. She looks softer somehow like this. Sleepier.

And somehow even prettier than before.

“There,” Jane says proudly while walking past you toward the bed. “I’m clean. Your turn.”

You stand up slowly while staring at her for a second too long again.

She notices immediately.

“Oh my god,” she laughs softly. “You seriously never stop staring at me.”

“You make that difficult,” you reply honestly.

A faint blush creeps into her cheeks despite the confidence in her smile.

“Good answer,” Jane says quietly.

Then she climbs onto the bed near the windows while you grab your towel again, the sound of the ocean continuing softly outside while warm evening light fills the room around both of you.

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You chose to shower separately:

Relationship Status: +1%

Choosing to keep the evening slower and more relaxed leaves the tension between you and Jane lingering comfortably beneath the surface instead of fully escalating.

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