Continued from Beneath the Silence 7 : Building Bridges
****
The sun was setting as Ethan and Hannah strolled along the park near the coffee shop, their hands brushing occasionally as they walked side by side. The air was cool, and the golden light filtered through the trees, casting long shadows on the path. They’d been talking about everything and nothing—work, childhood memories, their favorite songs.
Ethan paused by a bench overlooking the pond, gesturing for them to sit. Hannah followed, her laughter still echoing from the story he’d just told about his younger brother’s latest antics.
“You’re a great storyteller,” she said, nudging him playfully.
“Comes with the territory of being the oldest,” Ethan replied with a grin.
Their conversation quieted, the sounds of rustling leaves and distant chatter filling the space between them. Hannah tilted her head back, closing her eyes for a moment to feel the cool breeze. Ethan turned to her, his gaze softening.
“You’ve got that look again,” she said without opening her eyes.
“What look?”
“Like you’re overthinking something.”
Ethan hesitated, then shook his head. “Just… thinking about how nice this is.”
Hannah opened her eyes and looked at him, their faces closer than she’d realized. For a moment, neither of them moved, their breath mingling in the quiet. Then, without thinking, Ethan leaned in, and Hannah mirrored him, their lips meeting in a soft, tentative kiss.
It lasted only a second before they both pulled back, eyes wide, the weight of the unexpected moment settling between them.
“I—” Ethan began, but the words caught in his throat.
“I didn’t mean to—” Hannah said at the same time, her cheeks flushed.
They both laughed awkwardly, the tension breaking just a little.
“Well, that was…” Ethan started, scratching the back of his neck.
“Unexpected,” Hannah finished, her lips curving into a shy smile.
They sat in silence for a moment, neither knowing quite what to say. Finally, Ethan broke the quiet. “I hope that didn’t ruin anything.”
“It didn’t,” Hannah said softly. “It’s just… a lot to process.”
“Yeah,” Ethan agreed. “Same here.”
**********
Link to the next chapter Beneath the Silence 9: Lingering Sparks
****
The sun was setting as Ethan and Hannah strolled along the park near the coffee shop, their hands brushing occasionally as they walked side by side. The air was cool, and the golden light filtered through the trees, casting long shadows on the path. They’d been talking about everything and nothing—work, childhood memories, their favorite songs.
Ethan paused by a bench overlooking the pond, gesturing for them to sit. Hannah followed, her laughter still echoing from the story he’d just told about his younger brother’s latest antics.
“You’re a great storyteller,” she said, nudging him playfully.
“Comes with the territory of being the oldest,” Ethan replied with a grin.
Their conversation quieted, the sounds of rustling leaves and distant chatter filling the space between them. Hannah tilted her head back, closing her eyes for a moment to feel the cool breeze. Ethan turned to her, his gaze softening.
“You’ve got that look again,” she said without opening her eyes.
“What look?”
“Like you’re overthinking something.”
Ethan hesitated, then shook his head. “Just… thinking about how nice this is.”
Hannah opened her eyes and looked at him, their faces closer than she’d realized. For a moment, neither of them moved, their breath mingling in the quiet. Then, without thinking, Ethan leaned in, and Hannah mirrored him, their lips meeting in a soft, tentative kiss.
It lasted only a second before they both pulled back, eyes wide, the weight of the unexpected moment settling between them.
“I—” Ethan began, but the words caught in his throat.
“I didn’t mean to—” Hannah said at the same time, her cheeks flushed.
They both laughed awkwardly, the tension breaking just a little.
“Well, that was…” Ethan started, scratching the back of his neck.
“Unexpected,” Hannah finished, her lips curving into a shy smile.
They sat in silence for a moment, neither knowing quite what to say. Finally, Ethan broke the quiet. “I hope that didn’t ruin anything.”
“It didn’t,” Hannah said softly. “It’s just… a lot to process.”
“Yeah,” Ethan agreed. “Same here.”
**********
Link to the next chapter Beneath the Silence 9: Lingering Sparks
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.... who learned from whom? I'm looking forward to the sequel!
