Chapter 74 Holiday Plans
Malia's POV
Campus had a different feel now. The chaos of students dashing between campus buildings was beginning to die down, replaced by the muted wheeled sound of suitcases on stone paths and the distant slamming of car doors.
It was the end of exam week, at last, and the great mass of humanity was decamping for the holiday. I could see it in the bare desks, the closed lecture halls, the way the air smelled a little sharper—like crisp pine from the wreaths someone had hung on the dorm doors, mixed with a faint hint of snow that hadn't quite arrived.
I was walking slowly toward the café, my hands deep in my coat pockets, my scarf pulled up to my chin. The festive flavor was in the air: twinkling lights hung from lampposts, holiday carols flowing through open windows, laughing groups loading bags into trunks. It should have been bright and sunny. Instead it made my chest tighten up a bit. I didn’t want to leave. Not the enough, not the suite, not them.
Jully and Freddy were already sitting at our usual corner table when I stepped inside. The bell rang above me and the warm smell of coffee and cinnamon rolls embraced me. July waved me over with both hands, practically bouncing in her seat.
“You’re late,” she accused, but her smile was wide. “We almost ordered without you.”
Freddy nudged a paper cup over toward the empty chair. “Hot chocolate. Extra whipped cream. Thought you’d want the sugar after last night.”
I slid in and my cheeks warmed again from the reminder. “Thanks. I wasn’t that late, anyway.”
“Fifteen minutes,” July said, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “Which is really an eternity while we’re starving for news about your stunning exit with Mr. Tall-Dark-and-Possessive.”
I rolled my eyes but I could not suppress the smile. “It wasn’t dramatic.”
“Uh-huh.” Freddy pushed up from the table, resting his elbows on the table. “You two just disappeared. Poof. And then the suite got suspiciously quiet. We’re not idiots, Mal.”
I took a long sip of hot chocolate to hide my face. The whipped cream was spot-on—sweet, airy, just exactly what I needed. “Fine. We got… distracted.”
July cackled. “Distracted. That’s what we’re calling it now?”
Freddy snorted. “We’re happy for you. Seriously. But also—spill. Was it good? Was he all growly and intense like usual?”
I nearly choked on my drink. “I’m not answering that.”
They both groaned in unison. Their laughter merged.
“Fine, be boring,” July said, but she was still smiling.
July leaned back in her chair and stretched her arms over her head. “Anyway. Holiday plans. I’m not going home yet. My mom has already started texting me about the yearly cookie-baking battle with my aunt, and I’d rather chew on glass.”
Freddy nodded seriously. “Same. My father’s in one of his moods again. Last time I went back he lectured me for three hours straight about ‘responsibility’ and ‘future career paths.’ I’m fine for at least another week.”
I looked down at my cup, observing the melting whipped cream. “I’m not supposed to go either.”
They both looked at me — I mean they really looked.
July relaxed her face. “The brothers?”
I nodded, with a lump in my throat. “Yeah Things are… good right now. Really good. I don’t need to mess with that by going home and acting like everything’s okay."
Freddy reached out and held my wrist. “Then don’t. Stay, Let’s do movie marathons in the lounge, snatch some leftovers from the dining hall, act like the campus is our private kingdom.”
July lit up. “Yes! Or we could do day trips. There’s that little holiday market in town—lights, hot cider, those ridiculous gingerbread houses. We could bring the wolf pack and see who can really act normal around humans."
I laughed despite myself. “They’d hate it.”
“They’d love it because you’d love it,” said Freddy, very simply.
We were bouncing ideas between — skating on the outdoor rink, late-night rides to view Christmas lights, holding out and getting food for a few days. It felt easy. Like maybe I could make this bubble last for a little longer before real life came and busted it. The doorbell let out another rattle as the door was pushed open.
I didn’t look up right away—too busy laughing at July’s impression of Rowan asking her which ornaments she wanted to buy—but then I felt it.
That familiar tug deep in my stomach, the one that always happened when one of them was near.
I turned.
Rowan, Aiden, and Cian were coming toward us and I could swear I saw them walking in slow motion.
Aiden walked ahead, hands in his pockets that easy confidence in every step. Rowan trailed behind, looking more at ease than I had in weeks, a paper bag slipped under one arm. Cian was at the back, quiet as ever, but his eyes immediately locked with mine.
July whistled low. “Well, damn. It was just the whole pack came out.”
Freddy grinned. “Told you extra pastry was the right call.”
Aiden was the first to the table. He didn’t sit—he just bent over, rested one hand on the back of my chair and snogged me right there in the middle of the café. Slow. Soft. As if he didn’t care who was watching.
His eyes were warm when he pulled away. “Missed you.”
“I saw you like two hours ago,” I said, but my voice was breathless.
“Way too long.” He straightened and then sat down in the seat next to me, his arm coming to rest casually along the top of the back of my chair.
His fingers grazed my shoulder small, possessive, comforting.
Rowan placed the paper bag on the table. “We brought reinforcements. Cinnamon rolls from the bakery on Fifth. Still warm.”
Cian sat dm from me, silent, but he slid me one of the paper cups — my favorite chai latte, with a nice swirl of foam on top in the shape of a heart.
July raised an eyebrow. “Okay, I’m officially jealous.”
Freddy snorted. “Same.”
Aiden glanced around the table. “So. Holiday plans.”
I blinked. “You heard us?”
“Wolf hearing,” Rowan said with a small smile. “Hard to miss when you’re plotting to keep our girl here.”
My heart did a stupid little flip.
July leaned forward. “And? You gonna help us keep her or what?”
Aiden’s thumb traced slow circles on my shoulder. “We’ve got a better idea.”
Rowan opened the bag and started passing out rolls while Aiden spoke.
“There’s an island,” he said simply. “Not far. Private. We’ve had it since we turned eighteen—family gift. Beach house, no neighbors, just water and trees. We were thinking… short getaway. Few days. Everyone.”
Freddy’s eyes went wide. “Wait. Like… an actual island? You own an island?”
Cian nodded once. “Small one.”
July stared at them like they’d grown extra heads. “You’re serious.”
“Very,” Aiden said. He looked at me. “You in?”
I searched his face—steady, hopeful, a little vulnerable under all that confidence. Then I looked at Rowan, who gave me the smallest, softest nod. Cian’s gaze never wavered from mine.
I swallowed. “Yeah. I’m in.”
July whooped so loud the barista glared at us from behind the counter. Freddy fist-pumped. “Holy shit. Island vacation with the Moonfall triplets. This is going in the group chat forever.”
Aiden’s arm tightened around my shoulders. “Good.”
Rowan passed me a cinnamon roll, icing dripping down the side. “We leave day after tomorrow. Gives us time to pack. And… figure out what we need.”
I took the roll, and our fingers brushed. “Thank you.”
He smiled— small, real. “All for you.”
The table was alive with excited conversation—July asking for details about the house, Freddy inquiring if there was Wi-Fi, Cian mutely responding to questions with as usual, his one word answers. Aiden’s hand remained on my shoulder, his thumb stroking slow circles against my sweater.
I pressed my body against him just a little.
Holiday break suddenly didn’t seem like an end anymore.
It felt like the start to something.