“What do you mean?” she asked, heart racing.
“This,” he said, leaning closer, eyes searching hers.“Not the rain… us. Being here. Feeling… this.”
Hannah’s cheeks warmed as she realized the meaning behind his words. Without thinking, she closed the distance, letting him guide her closer. Their foreheads touched, and for the first time, the slow burn between them sparked into something more tangible—a kiss, fleeting and soft, but charged with all the emotions they had held back for so long.
The rain continued to fall around them, washing away hesitation, leaving only the undeniable truth: whatever their letters, their sketches, or their playful games had built, it had led to this.
And in that rain-soaked moment, Hannah knew that the slow-burn love they had nurtured was finally beginning to ignite.
Chapter 14:
After the Storm
The morning after the rainstorm, Hannah woke with a quiet excitement that made her chest flutter. She replayed the brief kiss with Ethan over and over, each memory sending a shiver down her spine.
By the time she reached the boardwalk, the sun was breaking through the clouds, casting golden streaks over the wet wood. Ethan was already there, sketchbook in hand, pretending to study the waves, but the subtle grin on his face betrayed him.
“Morning,” he said casually, though his eyes danced with mischief.
“Morning,” Hannah replied, cheeks warming as she approached.
Ethan leaned closer, lowering his voice just enough to be private.“So… about yesterday… the rain, the kiss… any regrets?”
Hannah laughed, tugging at the strap of her bag.“Regrets? Not a one. But I think you owe me a proper explanation for how you just… did that.”
“I could ask the same,” he countered, grinning.“Though, in my defense, the rain made it… perfect.”
“Perfect, huh?” she teased.“You’re lucky the rain was dramatic enough to cover your impulsiveness.”
Their laughter mingled with the soft crashing of the waves. Ethan tucked a strand of wet hair behind Hannah’s ear.“It wasn’t impulsive,” he said softly.“It’s just… been building fora while. I didn’t want to rush anything, but yesterday… it felt right.”
Hannah’s heart swelled at his words.“I felt the same,” she admitted.“But now… what do we do?”
He tilted his head, smirking.“What we’ve been doing. Letters, sketches, little adventures… only now, we add kisses to the mix.”
Hannah rolled her eyes playfully, but the warmth in her chest told her she wouldn’t mind at all.“Fine. But I get the first move next time.”
Ethan laughed, the sound like sunlight breaking through clouds.“Deal.”
As they walked along the boardwalk together, the air between them charged with unspoken promises, Hannah realized that slow-burn love had its own rhythm—teasing, patient, and intoxicating. And sometimes, the most ordinary days could feel extraordinary, as long as you shared them with the right person.
Chapter 15:
A Misplaced Letter
The next week, Hannah arrived at the boardwalk with a new sketch, eager to show Ethan. But as she approached, she noticed a crumpled piece of paper lying near the bench. Curious, she picked it up—and froze.
It was a letter, addressed to Ethan, written in a neat, unfamiliar hand.
“Ethan, I can’t stop thinking about you. I wish you felt the same…”
Hannah’s heart sank. Her fingers trembled slightly as she stared at the words. Who could have written this? Did Ethan…?
Before she could spiral further, Ethan appeared, sketchbook under his arm.“Hannah! There you are.”
She held up the letter.“What’s this?”
Ethan’s eyes widened.“Oh… that. I was going to explain. It’s—uh—a fan letter, actually. From a student I helped last semester. Nothing else. I didn’t want to mention it because I didn’t want to worry you.”
