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Chapter 113 – Ethan's POV
"Our Real Second Date"
The morning sunlight filtered gently through the half-drawn curtains, painting long golden streaks across the bedroom floor. I stirred from my sleep with one thought in my mind — Amara.
It was Sunday.
No meetings. No office. No fake smiles to wear.
Just me and her.
And for once, I wanted us to forget all the complications, all the tension, and simply be… us.
Not two broken people learning to trust.
Not two hearts that had once walked away from each other.
Just Ethan and Amara.
Boyfriend and girlfriend.
Together.
I rolled over in bed and reached for my phone, checking the time. 7:48 a.m. A bit early, but perfect. I was going to take her out today. Not because I had to fix anything — but because I wanted to show her what being with me meant now.
I got up and tiptoed to the kitchen, already pulling out ingredients. Pancakes, strawberries, whipped cream, and a side of coffee. She deserved a slow morning. A good one.
By the time I placed the breakfast tray on the bedside table and kissed her forehead, her eyes fluttered open.
"Morning," she murmured, voice still husky with sleep.
"Good morning, beautiful."
She blinked, looking at the tray, and her lips curved into a lazy smile. "You're spoiling me."
"That's the plan," I said, sitting beside her. "Today's different."
"Different?"
"We're going on a real second date."
She raised an eyebrow, amused. "And what exactly was our first one?"
"The one we went on while still pretending it didn't mean anything," I said, smirking. "This time, we're not hiding behind excuses."
Amara sat up slowly, the blanket pooling around her waist, and took a sip of the coffee. Her eyes closed in pleasure. "You really want to go out?"
"I do. No distractions. No running into people. Just you and me."
She took another bite of pancake, clearly pretending not to be melting at the gesture. "Where are you taking me?"
"You'll see," I teased.
---
By noon, we were both dressed and ready.
She wore a soft lavender sundress that made her eyes glow and her curls bounce freely around her shoulders. I couldn't stop staring.
"Are you going to look at me like that all day?" she asked as she got into the car.
"Absolutely."
She shook her head, smiling as she buckled up.
We drove in comfortable silence, the music low, my hand resting gently on her thigh as I navigated through quieter parts of the city. I wasn't taking her to a five-star restaurant or a glamorous event. No, today wasn't about grandeur.
It was about sincerity.
Twenty minutes later, I pulled up beside a little coastal park — a hidden gem I had discovered years ago but never shared with anyone.
The place was quiet. A gentle breeze danced through the tall trees, and a narrow trail led down to a private shore.
"This is... beautiful," she whispered, stepping out of the car.
"I thought you'd like it."
She looked at me, eyes glimmering with something soft. "You brought me to the beach?"
I took her hand. "A quiet one. Just for us."
We walked along the trail, our steps in sync, hands linked like we'd done it a hundred times. When we reached the shoreline, she paused and kicked off her shoes, the sand warm beneath her feet.
I laid down a blanket I had packed, pulled out a small picnic basket with drinks and snacks, and sat beside her as she laughed and plopped next to me.
"You planned this," she said, raising an eyebrow.
"I did."
"You're full of surprises."
"I'm full of love," I said seriously. "For you."
Her smile faded slowly, her expression melting into something more tender. " Ethan…"
"No," I said, turning to face her. "Let me say it."
She blinked.
"I love you, Amara. I don't care about your past, or how messy mine was. I just know that being with you feels like the one thing in my life I never want to get wrong again."
Her eyes shimmered, but she didn't look away.
"You know I was scared," she whispered. "I thought you'd lose interest, or regret choosing me."
"Never," I said. "You're not just a choice. You're the only thing that's ever made sense."
She leaned in and kissed me — soft, slow, like a secret shared between only us.
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The rest of the afternoon was a haze of laughter, light conversation, and stolen kisses. We fed seagulls, dipped our toes into the water, and lay on the blanket just talking — about nothing and everything.
"I could get used to this," she whispered at one point, her head on my shoulder.
"Good," I said. "Because I plan on giving you days like this for a long time."
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As the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting an amber glow over her skin, I watched her smile and thought: this is what love is supposed to feel like.
Simple.
True.
Home.
And I wasn't going to let it go again.
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End of Chapter 113 – Ethan's POV