21. Kara
21
Kara
K ara opened the passenger side door of Ethan’s truck, gently lifting Benny into the seat. She glanced back at the rescue. “Are we gonna be gone long?”
“Not at all,” Ethan reassured her with a smile. “We’ll be back before you know it.”
“Oh, almost forgot.” Kara checked her pockets. “Let me just lock up.”
Ethan started the truck, waiting while Kara locked the front doors of the rescue, then pulled up to the entrance.
Kara hopped into the truck, patting Benny on the head as she fastened her seatbelt.
“So, if we’re not going far, are we going to the park?”
Ethan chuckled, pulling out of the parking lot. “Nice try, but no.”
Kara tapped her chin. “The lighthouse?”
“Good guess, but nope.”
She let out an exaggerated sigh. “Just tell me already!”
Ethan grinned, eyes on the road. “And ruin the surprise? No way.”
As they wound their way along the road, the moss-draped oak trees that had sheltered them began to thin out, revealing a more open landscape: nature’s own slideshow unfolding before them.
A salty breeze drifted through the open windows, and the vast expanse of the ocean came into view, stretching endlessly to the horizon. Golden sand dunes rose and fell alongside the road, dotted with clusters of sea oats swaying in the wind, and the sound of crashing waves grew louder as Ethan pulled the truck to a stop.
“I figured this would be a great spot for Benny’s glamour shots. What do you think?”
Beyond the windshield, a stunning coastal panorama unfurled with a wide, empty stretch of sand and foamy waves lapping at the shore.
As Kara’s feet touched the sand, memories flooded back like the tide. This wasn’t just any beach. It was their beach, where she and Ethan shared their first date. She smiled, remembering how it had all started. She could still taste the syrupy-sweet snow cones, fingers sticky, lips stained with bright colors. They’d spent hours talking, completely unaware of the passage of time, forgetting life’s worries—they’d also forgotten sunscreen.
The next morning, they’d showed up to work lobster-red. The entire shift, Kara and Ethan had exchanged secretive glances, stifling laughter as they commiserated over their shared sunburn.
And now, strangely, the thought of that sunburn brought a warmth to her chest. She glanced at Ethan, wondering if he’d chosen this spot deliberately, if he too was thinking of that day that she’d hold on to forever.
“It’s perfect,” she said.
Ethan smiled as he picked up Benny’s leash, helping the dog out of the truck. “His coat will really pop against the sand and water. Let’s head over there.” He gestured toward the shoreline. “What do you think, Benny?” Ethan crouched down to Benny’s level. “Ready, boy?”
Benny released an excited bark, spinning in a quick circle.
Ethan looked at Kara, then back at Benny. “How about we let him off the leash for a bit? We might get some better shots that way.”
“As long as it’s not for too long.”
“We’ll be quick.” Ethan unclipped Benny’s leash at the waterline. “Okay, Benny? Can you sit?”
The senior dog lowered his bottom, tilting his head as he looked at Ethan.
“Should’ve brought some treats,” Ethan murmured, pulling out his phone.
Kara dug into her pocket. “You mean these?” She tossed one to Benny, who caught it mid-air. “Perks of the job—I’m basically a walking treat dispenser these days.”
Kara eyed his phone and chuckled. “That phone looks as old as your truck. No offense, but maybe we should use mine. It’s not the latest model or anything, but at least it’s from this decade.”
Ethan clutched his phone to his chest. “First my truck, now my phone? Ouch.” He held out his hand. “Alright, let’s see this supposedly superior device of yours.”
Kara grinned, fishing her phone out of her pocket and handing it over. Their fingers brushed as he took it, sending a tiny spark through her.
“Well, well,” Ethan said, examining it. “I suppose you were right.” He aimed Kara’s phone at Benny and started snapping. “Benny! ... Benny! Over here. That’s right. Look at me!”
Finding a comfortable spot, Kara settled into the sand, her eyes never leaving Ethan and Benny. She watched as Ethan coaxed the old dog through a series of poses. Then, with a burst of playful energy, Benny darted along the surf, with Ethan jogging beside him, capturing the joyful moment.
Kara stood, brushing the sand from her shorts. “Hey, don’t I get to play photographer’s assistant or something? What can I do?”
Ethan glanced over his shoulder. “Actually, yeah. Could you grab some more treats? And maybe stand behind me—we might be able to get Benny to look straight at the camera.”
Kara followed his suggestion, standing behind him, holding a treat above the phone.
After a few more clicks, Ethan lowered the phone. “I think we’ve got enough to work with. Wanna see if we captured Benny’s good side?”
Kara nodded, huddling close to Ethan as he swiped through Benny’s photos. They looked at each one together, laughing at the funny ones and fawning over the adorable pictures of Benny. The familiar warmth of Ethan’s body next to hers sent a tingle down her spine.
As they scrolled, memories washed over Kara. She could almost feel the rough texture of old Polaroids between her fingers, remembering how they had once cuddled close, choosing their favorite snapshots together.
A gentle breeze tousled Ethan’s hair, stirring a familiar urge in Kara to run her fingers through it, just like before. Her heart raced as the closeness between them sank in. Without a second thought, she linked her hand around Ethan’s arm, resting her head on his shoulder. The simple weight of her head against him felt like slipping into a memory—like coming home.
Ethan’s thumb froze mid-swipe. Slowly, he turned toward her. His free hand reached up, fingers grazing her cheek before tipping her chin upward. Kara’s breath hitched as her eyes met his. Those familiar, striking blue eyes—deeper than the ocean at their back—drew her in, just as they had so many times before.
Kara’s pulse quickened, the blood roaring in her ears. Ethan’s eyes flickered to her lips, then back to her eyes—a question and an invitation in one look.
“Kara,” Ethan whispered, his breath warm against her skin, sending a shiver coursing through her.
Almost of their own accord, her arms wound around his neck, fingers threading through the soft hair at the nape. “Ethan.”
For a heartbeat, the world held still—and then his lips met hers.
The kiss was soft at first, tentative, but like a spark to dry tinder, it quickly ignited into something more. Heat surged through Kara, every nerve awakening as Ethan’s arms wrapped tightly around her waist, pulling her against him.
Years of unspoken longing poured into that kiss. Kara’s knees weakened as Ethan’s lips moved against hers with a passion that made her head spin. She tasted the salt of the ocean on his lips and breathed in the spicy, woodsy scent of his cologne, carried by the breeze. Her fingers tightened in his hair as wave after wave of sensation flooded her senses, each more intoxicating than the last.
Gradually, the world around her came back into focus—the crash of waves, the call of seagulls, the warmth of the sun on their skin. Kara slowly opened her eyes, finding Ethan’s gaze fixed on her, a mix of wonder and happiness etched across his features.
“Wow,” Ethan breathed, his arms still wrapped around her.
Kara felt a blush creep up her cheeks. “Yeah, wow.”
A wet nose nudging against her leg interrupted the moment.
BARK! BARK!
She pulled back, breathless, and looked down at the dog, then back to Ethan.
“We should get back,” Kara said, trying to get her breathing under control.
“Yeah, you’re right.” Ethan smiled, handing her the phone, then pulling the leash from his pocket and clipping it to Benny’s collar. “Time to hit the road, buddy.”
Kara hesitated before returning his smile as they started toward the truck. His smile reminded her of the girl she once was, of a happiness she'd convinced herself she could live without.
Their hands brushed lightly as they walked side by side and once back in the truck, Kara opened the window, letting the wind breeze over her warm cheeks. She pulled out her phone and turned on the screen. As soon as it came on, it went black.
Kara groaned, staring at her blank phone screen. “Ugh, seriously? My phone’s dead. Gotta have it working for the rescue, in case—”
“I get it.” Ethan chuckled, nodding to the glove compartment. “Pretty sure there’s a charger in there.”
“Thanks.” Kara popped open the glove box and reached into it, her fingers brushing past the charger, but something else caught her eye—a glimpse of faded white, buried beneath a stack of old papers.
Her heart stuttered.
Slowly, she pushed the papers aside, revealing the tattered edges. But the image on the Polaroid was unmistakable: her and Ethan, standing on the beach, twenty years ago.
A soft, involuntary gasp escaped Kara’s lips.
He kept it?
At the bottom, in faded ink, it read: Since the day we kissed, I’ve carried you with me—every step, every mile.
Before she could fully process it, Ethan’s voice pulled her back. “Find it?”
Kara slipped the photo back into place in a rush. “Yeah, got it,” she said, closing the compartment and plugging in her phone.
The rest of the drive back to the rescue passed in comfortable silence. Once there, Kara led a contented Benny back to his kennel, giving him an extra pat and a quiet “good boy” before closing the gate. She lingered for a moment, memories old and new swirling in her mind.
As she walked into the lobby, Ethan fell in step beside her.
“Hey, want me to upload those photos now? It might be good to update the website too and make a social post about—”
“Ethan,” she cut him off, her stomach tightening. He was so invested in the rescue, so eager to help. Yet here she was, holding onto a secret that could turn his life upside down. She couldn’t keep it from him any longer. Not after all this time. “Can you sit down for a sec?”
Ethan paused before sitting on a small bench by the lobby desk. “Sure.”
Her gut twisted again, urging her to act. He had a right to know, no matter what her dad had said.
Kara inhaled deeply, her heart aching as she braced for the words that had weighed on her for years. “There’s something I need to tell you ...”