The summer air hummed with excitement as the car cruised down the open road, music blasting through the speakers. It had barely been an hour since they left, but the thrill of freedom had already settled in.
Eliza sat in the passenger seat, arms crossed, her eyes darting toward Lucifer, who was behind the wheel. Her fingers twitched against the seatbelt, anxiety flaring every time the car so much as swayed.
"Lucifer," she warned, narrowing her eyes, "what did I tell you before we left?"
Lucifer smirked, effortlessly steering with one hand. "Drive safely?"
Eliza shot him a glare. "No. I said don't drive recklessly, don't attract attention, and don't make me regret trusting you with our lives."
Ava, sprawled in the backseat with her feet propped up, snorted. "Yeah, well, two out of three rules are already broken, sooo…"
Lucifer scoffed. "You guys act like I'm some kind of criminal. I'm an excellent driver."
Eliza pointed at the speedometer. "You're ten over the limit. Again."
Ava laughed. "Honestly? I thought we'd be dead by now, but he's actually not terrible."
Eliza huffed, crossing her arms. "I knew this was a bad idea."
Lucifer reached over and tapped her knee. "Come on, live a little."
She swatted his hand away. "Focus on the road, criminal."
Ava chuckled. "This trip is already the best decision we've ever made."
Eliza sighed, shaking her head — but despite herself, a small smile tugged at her lips.
Lucifer only grinned and cranked the music louder, just to be annoying.
Ava stretched, flipping through their snack stash. "We should stop somewhere fun soon. First road trip rule: no boring pit stops."
Lucifer hummed in agreement. "Diner? Or should we crash a random wedding?"
Eliza groaned. "Diner. And you're not crashing any weddings."
Lucifer smirked. "We'll see."
---
After a few more hours on the road, they pulled into a classic roadside diner. A flickering neon sign buzzed overhead, casting a pinkish glow on the cracked pavement. The inside was straight out of an old movie — red booths, checkered floors, and the warm, comforting smell of burgers and milkshakes.
Eliza stretched as she stepped out of the car. "Finally. Solid ground."
Lucifer rolled his eyes. "You act like I almost killed us."
Eliza stared him down. "You did almost kill us."
Ava patted his shoulder sympathetically. "It's okay, buddy. She'll appreciate your reckless charm eventually."
They slid into a booth, flipping through the menus. Lucifer's gaze zeroed in on the dessert display — more specifically, the massive, gooey slice of chocolate cake under the glass dome.
Ava followed his stare and snorted. "Oh my God. Are you actually drooling?"
Lucifer sighed dramatically. "That cake and I have a connection."
Eliza smirked. "I bet you five bucks you can't finish it."
Lucifer's eyes sparkled. "Challenge accepted."
The cake was ridiculous — towering layers of rich chocolate, dripping with fudge. Lucifer took the first bite and groaned like it was the best thing he'd ever tasted.
Ava reached for a fork. "Lemme try—"
Lucifer slapped her hand away. "Mine."
Eliza leaned in and stole a bite right off his plate without hesitation.
Lucifer's jaw dropped. "Did you just—"
Eliza chewed slowly, eyes sparkling with mischief. "Mmm. Wow. That's so good."
Lucifer narrowed his eyes. "You're playing a dangerous game, Carter."
Eliza grinned, stealing another bite just to prove her point.
---
Hours later, they finally reached their destination — a cozy little beach town just as the sun dipped below the horizon. The sky was painted in soft pinks and oranges, and the salty breeze carried the smell of the ocean.
Ava practically threw herself out of the car. "WE MADE IT! REAL CIVILIZATION!"
Lucifer yawned, stretching. "Finally. I was starting to think this drive would never end."
Eliza stretched too, her legs sore from sitting. "Let's check in first, then explore."
Their motel was small but cozy, with a balcony that overlooked the ocean. It wasn't fancy, but it was perfect.
Ava flopped onto the bed immediately. "I love this place already."
Lucifer leaned on the balcony railing, watching the waves. "Not bad, huh?"
Eliza smiled softly as she took in the view. The ocean glimmered under the fading sunlight, the town's lights flickering in the distance.
Ava suddenly sat up. "Okay, new plan. Instead of sleeping, let's hit the beach now."
Eliza raised a brow. "We just got here."
Lucifer shrugged. "I'm down."
Ava grinned. "See? Lucifer gets it! Let's go before the night's over!"
---
The beach was quiet, the moon casting a silver glow over the water. Lanterns lined the boardwalk, flickering softly against the night breeze.
Ava wandered off, already chatting with a group of tourists. Eliza and Lucifer stayed by the shore, their toes sinking into the cool, damp sand.
Eliza wrapped her arms around herself. "It's peaceful."
Lucifer glanced at her. "Not what you expected?"
She shook her head. "No… It's better."
Lucifer smirked. "Told you. Sometimes, I do have good ideas."
She nudged him with her elbow. "Don't ruin the moment."
He chuckled but fell quiet, his gaze lingering on her instead of the waves.
The moonlight highlighted the soft curves of her face, the way the wind tugged at her hair. She looked… different.
Relaxed. Beautiful.
Without thinking, he reached over, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
Eliza froze.
Her heart slammed against her ribs. He had never done that before.
Lucifer's hand lingered a second too long. "You should wear your hair like this more often," he murmured.
Eliza's brain short-circuited.
She forced a scoff, even though her face burned. "You're so annoying."
Lucifer smirked. "And yet, you're still here."
Eliza turned away, walking ahead faster, hoping he didn't see how flustered she was.
Lucifer tilted his head, grin widening. "Are you blushing?"
"Shut up," she muttered, refusing to look at him.
Lucifer just chuckled, shoving his hands into his pockets as he followed her.
The waves rolled in, the stars glimmered, and for a moment — just a moment — Eliza let herself imagine what it would be like if he knew.
If he knew how much she liked him.
If he knew how fast her heart raced whenever he got too close.
Maybe, just maybe… this summer would change everything.
To be continued....