Fourteen

He removed the seatbelt for me and I quickly stepped out before I did anything unimaginable to his lips.

Shit! His charms are working and it's too early to be working on me, too early.

The moment my feet sank into the sand, I laughed without even knowing why, I just laughed anyway. The breeze blowing my hair softly.

“Why are you laughing?” Ethan asked, glancing at me.

“I forgot how this feels,” I admitted. “The sand, the wind, the night air, everything feels good tonight and I don't know...”

He smiled. “You sound like someone who’s been locked indoors too long.”

“Emotionally?” I teased.

“Emotionally,” he agreed.

We walked closer to the shoreline, the sound of waves growing louder. The ocean stretched endlessly before us, dark and glittering under the moonlight.

Ethan stopped suddenly and turned to face me.

“Okay,” he said, seriously now. “Ground rules.”

I raised a brow. “Ground rules for a date?”

“Yes.”

I crossed my arms. “I’m listening.” Well my mind is already thinking he's about to control me like Lucien.

“One,” he said, holding up a finger, “no pretending tonight. You laugh when you want to laugh. You talk when you want to talk, don't hold it back.”

My chest tightened slightly.

“And two?”

He smiled softly. “If you feel uncomfortable at any point, you say it, I promise you I won't judge you.”

I exhaled without realizing I’d been holding my breath, that's a relief, and it's convincing that he really cares about me.

“That’s… fair,” I said quietly.

“Good.” He nodded. “Then come on.”

We kicked off our shoes and walked closer to the water, the cold foam brushing my toes. I gasped instinctively.

“Oh...God, that’s cold!”

Ethan laughed. “You’re dramatic.”

“I am not—” Another wave rushed in, soaking my feet, but maybe a little I think.

He stepped closer to the edge, letting the water hit his ankles like it was nothing.

“See? Not so bad.”

I bent down, splashing water at him suddenly.

“Hey!” he protested, stepping back.

I laughed, the sound surprising even me. “Oops.”

“Oh, you did not just do that.”

Before I could react, he scooped water with both hands and splashed it back at me.

I shrieked. “Ethan!”

“You started it!”

I splashed him again, harder this time, water droplets flying everywhere.

“Okay, okay!” he laughed. “Truce?”

“Nope.”

I splashed again.

He stared at me for half a second, his eyes dark with amusement, then stepped fully into the shallow water.

“Oh no,” I muttered.

“Yes,” he said. “Oh yes.”

He chased me, water splashing wildly as I tried to escape, my dress clutched in my hands as I ran, laughing breathlessly.

“Stop running!” he called.

“Make me!”

He caught me by the wrist, gently but firmly, pulling me back toward him. The water soaked the lower part of my dress now, clinging to my legs.

We both froze, our eyes locked onto each other, my heart thudded loudly in my chest.

“You’re laughing,” he said quietly.

I blinked. “What?”

“You’re really laughing,” he repeated, softly.

He loosened his grip but didn’t let go entirely.

“I’m glad I get to see that you are laughing.”

He really cares about me, I want my happiness to matter to him more than anything, not a man that believes only his happiness matters.

I laughed, breaking the tension between us.“Okay, okay. Truce now.”

He raised his hands. “Deal.”

We walked back toward the drier sand and sat down, the ocean breeze cooling my skin. I hugged my knees, watching the waves crash endlessly.

“So,” he said, nudging me lightly with his shoulder, “tell me something no one knows about you.”

I hesitated.

“Something small,” he added quickly. “Doesn’t have to be deep.”

“I...uhm...i talk to myself when I’m nervous,” I said finally.

He grinned. “That’s it?”

“I rehearse conversations that never happen,” I continued. “Sometimes I win arguments that don’t exist.”

He laughed. “That’s adorable.”

“Don’t say that,” I warned.

“It is adorable to be honest and makes you different.”

“What about you?” I asked.

He leaned back on his hands, staring up at the sky. “I pretend I’m fine even when I’m not. People think I’m calm, but I overthink everything.”

I looked at him. “You don’t seem like it.”

“That’s because I’m good at hiding,” he said. Then, after a pause, “But not tonight.”

Something in his voice softened me.

We talked about childhood memories, embarrassing school moments, random dreams. At one point, I told him about the versions of myself I lost trying to be perfect for someone else, trying to be perfect for Lucien, yeah let me mention him.

He didn’t interrupt. He just listened.

“I don’t want to rush anything,” he said quietly. “I just want to know you, as you are, everything about you.”

I nodded, emotion rising unexpectedly inside me.“That’s....all I want too.”

Another wave crashed, spraying us lightly. I laughed again, leaning closer to him.

“You know,” I said, “this is the first date where I don’t feel like I’m performing, I'm the one trying to make it lively, you know stuff like that...”

He turned to me. “Then I’m doing something right.”

Yes, he is and he's melting the pain in my heart.