Beautifully Destroyed (Beautifully Broken)

Feeling braver than I am, I whisper, “Me too.”

A little girl screams with laughter as her dad places her on his shoulders, drawing our attention to all the fun. I see Dad and Frank walking toward our house and wave at them. There’s a smile on Dad’s face when he notices Ethan’s keeping me company.

“My dad likes you,” I tell Ethan.

“That’s good news,” he chuckles, sounding a little relieved. “Hopefully, it will make things easier.”

Frowning lightly, I ask, “What things?”

Ethan’s eyes lock with mine. “Asking you on a date.”

My smile falters because I didn’t expect him to say that, then confusion trickles through me. I’ve never been in a serious relationship, and after the attack, I’m pretty sure I should be running for the hills. I shouldn’t feel warm and fuzzy. I shouldn’t be attracted to Ethan or any other man. Right?

My heartbeat speeds up again, and I nervously wet my lips.

But Ethan’s not just any man. I’ve spent a lot of time with him the past two weeks, and he’s respected my boundaries. He’s been patient and supportive whenever I’ve had a panic attack, never demanding answers.

He makes me feel safe.

And young.

And hopeful.

“When you’re ready,” he adds, giving me a comforting smile. “There’s no rush.”

I just want to be an ordinary girl with no dark secrets.

I glance out over the ocean, wondering what I should do. Say yes, and take a chance on something that could be beautiful and healing, or do I say no, and there’s a chance I’ll never have the strength to start a relationship with a man?

Taking a deep breath, I turn my attention back to Ethan, who looks content just hanging out with me.

“What would a date entail?” I ask, my tone cautious.

Ethan chuckles. “Food. Us talking and getting to know each other better.”

Fear that I might scare Ethan off has me hesitating, but needing to warn him, I say, “I’m not ready for anything serious. Something happened, and I’m still dealing with it.”

Ethan nods. “I know.” His gaze remains gentle and patient on me. “I’ll never do anything you’re uncomfortable with. If you say no, it’s no. As simple as that.”

There’s a weird mixture of hope and apprehension in my chest, but then the knowledge that Ethan’s been nothing but respectful pushes me to say. “Yes.”

He does a double-take as if he was sure I’d reject him, then a hopeful grin slowly lifts his lips. “Yes, you’ll go on a date with me?”

I nod, then gesture toward my house. “That’s if you can convince my dad,” I tease him.

With nerves spinning in my stomach, it becomes harder to keep his gaze now that I know he’s interested in me.

I have no idea whether I’ve made the right decision, but I desperately want to be a normal girl going on a date with a guy she finds attractive.

Ethan pulls his phone out of his pocket and holds it out to me. “Can I have your number?”

His question has a huge grin spreading over my face. I quickly program my number into his contact list, then notice the time. “It’s almost midnight.”

He takes his phone back and climbs to his feet. My heart sinks because I was hoping to watch the fireworks display with him.

ETHAN

I notice the disappointed look on Finlay’s face as I get up. Moving her guitar out of the way, I sit down beside her, and the relief in her eyes has me grinning like an idiot.

“Better position to see the fireworks,” I explain. My arm grazes hers. “And I want to sit closer to you.”

She lets out a shy chuckle, the sound musical.

Finlay said yes to a date.

God, I knew I was risking everything but couldn’t stop myself. The pull between us keeps getting stronger with every second I get to spend with her, and it’s becoming impossible to hide my feelings.

My fingers itch to hold hers. Every inch of my body prickles with awareness of the girl next to me.

For a moment, we both stare at the boat, visible in the moonlight shining over the ocean. Laughter and music drift around us, making the atmosphere between Finlay and me comfortable.

There’s a loud bang, and Finlay startles, her body jerking, then laughter bubbles over her lips as colors fill the sky.

She tilts her head back, the fireworks reflecting in her irises, and her beauty steals my breath.

Taking another chance, I wrap my arm around her shoulders. She leans into my side, her head resting back against my shoulder, and I give myself a mental high five.

We watch the fireworks for a couple of minutes, then cheers burst out over the beach. Finlay grins happily as she turns her attention to everyone yelling, ‘Happy New Year.’

Then she looks up at me. “Happy New Year.”

Not thinking, I lower my head and press a soft kiss to her mouth. When my lips touch hers, I realize my mistake and quickly pull back. My eyes flit over her face. “Sorry, I should’ve asked permission.”