Free Burned 2 by S.C. Rosemary, S.N. Hawke Page B

thinking my brain to explosion.
    “You,” Ethan answered without hesitation. He was pointing at me and the corners of his mouth lifted up.
    “Yeah right.” He must be teasing me. But I couldn’t help but smile.
    “I was thinking how much I like your family,” Ethan set his shoes on the ground and took my hand-now that it was out of my pockets.
    “You were?” I looked at him, surprised by both his words and his hand. When would I ever get used to this electrified feeling every freaking time Ethan touched me?
    “Yeah,” Ethan’s tone was genuine. “Your family is so…warm,” he chuckled, shaking his head. “I mean, being at your house is just very comfortable. Just this, simple, honest life near the beach…”
    “Simple?” I studied Ethan’s face. Even in the shadow of sickness, Ethan still found warmth in my home. I wondered what things were like from his perspective.
    “When I was little, I always wanted to know what a life would be like to live in a wooden house like your family’s,” Ethan said as we walked along the beach. “A small house, just enough to get the days by, earning everything I need by doing whatever I want to do.  No politics, no arguments, no big expectations. No business meetings with unwanted guests in the living room, and just gather with friends and loved ones under a small roof, with cookies,” he beamed at me, as if he was talking about his biggest dream. He had never told me his thoughts about life before. I always thought he was arrogant with his looks, wealth and power. I never thought he would give a thought on others outside of his circle.
    “So you are a prince who dreams of a commoner’s life?” I teased as I leaned closer to him until our arms touched. He was solid and warm. If he was just a boy next door, would this relationship be easier? Would Dad actually like him?
    “Well, a prince can only dream,” Ethan shrugged, sighing, like he was hopeless or something.
    “Oh, come on, people dream to be like you,” I nuzzle him.
    “Really? If you can live my life, in exchange of the one you are having now, every second of it, will you?” Ethan looked at me with those sharp green eyes.
    “Hmm,” I looked up at the blue sky. I wasn’t sure. If I had Ethan’s life, my parents and friends wouldn’t be the same. I might not grow up near the beach. I might not be fascinated by history. And my Dad...
    “Seriously? You are hesitating? I thought you would scream YES,” Ethan shook me out of my thoughts.
    “Why? I don’t know you that well. And if your life doesn’t have cookies as good as my Mom’s, then forget it,” I made him a funny face.
    Ethan didn’t seem to get my joke. He looked into my eyes, searching. His expression was elusive. I couldn’t tell if he was smiling or just dazed.
    “What?”
    “You are incredible, you know that, Dana?” He leaned in closer. His eyes traced to my lips. My gosh, I felt like he touched me just by looking at wherever his eyes went-and it was a gentle, attentive touch. It’s like he was feeling me, really feeling me.
    “You mean incredibly silly, right?” I looked away. I couldn’t hold his gaze. For the better, I let go of Ethan’s hand all together and started collecting sea shells.
    “Sometimes you are ‘incredibly silly’,” Ethan mused, looking at the sand with me, oblivious to my retreat. “But that part made you incredible, too.” He had shifted his attention to the sea shells but his tone was fixated all the same.
    I shook my head. He must be sweet talking with that law-school mouth. I didn’t even know where this conversation began that I got such a compliment.
    “Here,” Ethan took my hand and placed something in my palm. “Do you like this one?” I looked at the sea shell in my hand. It was white with smooth surface with the shape of a half moon.
    “It looks like a half moon,” I mumbled.
    “It also looks like a smile,” Ethan pointed at the sea shell and pointed at me. “So smile!”
    For