Chapter 188: Goodbyes At Sunset
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He stared at me for what felt like forever, the engine’s soft hum and the distant chirping of crickets being the only sounds breaking the silence surrounding us.
The dashboard lights gave a subtle blue glow to his face, accentuating the sharpness of his jaw and the way his lashes cast shadows on his cheeks when he blinked. Finally, he broke the silence, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Can I... can I kiss you?" he asked, the words hesitant, tinged with such vulnerability it made my heart ache. "Just one last time. Who knows how long it’ll be until we get another chance."
The simplicity and raw honesty of his question brought tears to my eyes. I managed a sad, watery smile and nodded before my voice had a chance to catch up.
"Of course," I whispered. "Always."
Ethan shifted closer in his seat, narrowing the small gap between us in the confined space of the car. One hand cupped my cheek, his thumb gently brushing across my skin as if he wanted to memorize the feel of it, while his other hand slid to the back of my neck, his fingers weaving into my hair. He leaned in slowly, giving me every chance to pull away, but I didn’t. I couldn’t.
When his lips finally touched mine, it was soft and tentative, as if he were afraid I’d break under the weight of it. But as soon as I leaned in, deepening the kiss, a quiet desperation surged between us that took my breath away.
His mouth was warm and familiar, tasting faintly of the Coke he’d just sipped and something uniquely him—clean, like the air after a rain, mixed with a hint of the mint gum he chewed after practice. I could sense a faint tremor in his touch, the way he held me as if I were something precious he was already losing.
My hands instinctively found him, one gripping his jersey while the other wrapped around his shoulder, pulling him as close as the console would allow. I kissed him back, matching his intensity, pouring everything I couldn’t articulate into the kiss—the gratitude, love still alive in me, and the painful regret for what I was doing to us.