A silence fell, comfortable and intimate, broken only by the whispering waves. Then, Ethan spoke, his voice low.“Hannah… can I tell you a secret?”
“Of course,” she said, her heart beating faster.
He hesitated, then smiled faintly.“I think about you… more than I should. Even when I’m not here. Even when I’m busy with work. And it’s… distracting.”
Hannah’s breath caught. She felt the same, but hearing it out loud made the feeling tangible.“I think about you too,” she admitted.
For the first time, the slow-burn wasn’t just letters or shared glances—it was real. The ocean, the moon, the quiet night… it all seemed to conspire to make this moment theirs.
And though they didn’t hold hands or kiss, the closeness, the shared secret of their feelings, was enough to ignite something neither could ignore.
Chapter 9:
A Misstep in the Moonlight
The next day, Hannah couldn’t stop thinking about the night at the boardwalk. Ethan’s words replayed in her mind, and a warmth lingered in her chest every time she recalled the way his shoulder had brushed hers.
That evening, she hurried back to the boardwalk, eager to see him. But when she arrived, Ethan was already talking to someone else—a woman with long, dark hair, laughing at something he had said. Hannah froze for a moment, a pang of unease twisting in her stomach.
She forced a smile.“Hey, Ethan.”
He turned, his expression brightening.“Hannah! This is Clara, a friend from work. Hannah’s an artist—my boardwalk companion.”
Hannah nodded politely, though her chest tightened. The friendly laughter between Ethan and Clara felt like a sharp reminder of everything she hadn’t said yet, of the words she’d left unspoken in letters and glances.
After a brief introduction, Ethan excused himself.“I’ll catch up with you later,” he promised.
As he walked beside her, Hannah couldn’t hide the tension in her voice.“Ethan… who was that?”
He frowned, clearly puzzled.“Just a colleague. I was telling her about the lighthouse sketch yesterday. Nothing more.”
“I know,” Hannah said quickly, though the small sting of jealousy remained.“It’s just… I don’t know. I thought… maybe…”
Ethan reached for her hand, brushing it lightly.“Hannah, look at me. You don’t have to worry. You’re the one I’ve been sharing this… this little secret with. You’re the only one who matters here.”
Her pulse steadied, but the flutter in her chest lingered.“Promise?”
“Promise,” he said, his eyes soft, earnest.
They walked the rest of the boardwalk in silence, side by side, the moonlight reflecting off the waves. It wasn’t perfect, but the moment reminded them both that slow-burning feelings were messy, complicated—and worth protecting.
By the time they reached the lighthouse, Hannah felt a quiet reassurance. Misunderstandings would come, moments of doubt too—but this, their connection, was real. And maybe that was all that mattered.
Chapter 10:
The Lighthouse Game
The boardwalk had become their shared sanctuary, a place where letters, laughter, and quiet confessions intertwined. One evening, Hannah arrived to find Ethan waiting with a mischievous grin.
“I’ve got an idea,” he said, twirling a piece of string between his fingers.“A game.”
Hannah raised an eyebrow.“A game?”
“Yep. A little treasure hunt. I’ve hidden a note somewhere along the boardwalk. Clues will lead you to it.”
Her eyes lit up.“You’re ridiculous.”
“Maybe,” he admitted,“but fun ridiculous. Are you in?”
