Chapter 7
Misread Signals
The boardwalk had become their secret world. Each day, Hannah looked forward to seeing Ethan, though she tried not to admit it—even to herself.
This afternoon, Ethan was already there when she arrived, sketchbook in hand. He waved, but his smile was slightly guarded.
“Hey,” she said, settling onto the bench. “You look… serious today.”
He shrugged, flipping through his sketches. “Just thinking. You know… life stuff.”
Hannah nodded, but couldn’t help the little pang of disappointment. She’d hoped for laughter, teasing, the easy banter of before. Instead, Ethan seemed distant.
She decided to leave a note under the lamppost before heading home, hoping it would lighten the mood.
“Dear Ethan,
I hope your day gets brighter. Maybe tomorrow, we can laugh again like we used to.
–Hannah”
The next morning, she found a reply waiting, but it was short, clipped:
“Dear Hannah,
I’m fine. Just… busy. Don’t worry about me.
–Ethan”
Hannah frowned, misreading the tone. Busy… don’t worry… he’s upset with me?
That evening, she approached him cautiously, heart racing. “Ethan, is everything okay?”
He looked up, surprised. “What? Oh… yes, I’m fine. Just a bit tired, that’s all.”
She bit her lip, unsure whether to press. “Your note… I thought…”
He laughed softly, shaking his head. “No, Hannah. I’m not upset. Promise. I just… I’m not used to all this attention. Letters, sketches… you. It’s… nice, but also a little overwhelming.”
Hannah felt relief wash over her, mixed with a flutter of something warmer. “I’m glad it’s nice.”
He smiled, and for a moment, the distance melted. “It is. More than I expected. You’ve got a way of sneaking into my thoughts, you know that?”
Her cheeks warmed, but she laughed softly. “Good or bad?”
“Definitely good,” he said, a spark in his eyes.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the misunderstanding faded, replaced by the thrilling awareness that their connection was growing stronger—messy, complicated, and entirely theirs. And both knew that their slow-burn story was just beginning to catch fire.