Page 44 of One Touch

“Looks like you’re the alien, Dad!” said Ava, giggling incessantly.

“Delete that!” Ethan said.

“No way, I’m keeping it forever.”

“I’ll get prints of these made for your school,” I said, taking the phone back. I was about to do exactly that when a brilliant streak of light shot across the inky expanse above us. “Look, a shooting star!” I exclaimed, pointing to the glittering trail, and as quick as I could, taking a picture.

Ava gasped in delight, her eyes wide with wonder. “It’s like a fairy tale! Quick, make a wish!”

I looked up at the sky, and to my surprise, a wish popped into my head.

I wish I could kiss Ethan again.

For a moment, it felt like the whole universe stood still. Every star, every atom, perfectly motionless and serene. My wish reverberated out into infinity, and I felt a strange, soft power hum in my body.

The silence was broken by Ava yawning. “This is the best night ever.” She yawned again.

“Time for bed?” Ethan asked.

“Nope,” she said, letting her big eyes flutter closed. “I’m not . . . even tired, Daddy.”

Within a minute, she was asleep. Her head rested heavily on my shoulder. I smiled down at her peaceful face, feeling a surge of affection for this brave, bright little girl.

Ethan noticed too, and we shared a tender look.

He lifted a finger to his lips, then he carefully gathered her into his arms. As he cradled her head, his hand brushed against my shoulder, and I felt a jolt of electricity shoot through me.

Fuck. How did he do that? What were his hands made of—fricking spark plugs?

No one had ever made me feel weak and trembly just by accidentally touching me before.

With Ethan carrying Ava, we headed back into the house, then through the dimly lit hallway to Ava’s bedroom. Inside her room, I pulled back the bedcovers and Ethan gently laid her down, her dark hair fanning out across the pillow. Together, we tucked the blankets snugly around her, then Ethan popped a small, stuffed dragon under the covers with her.

For a quiet, intimate, moment, we simply stood there, watching the gentle rise and fall of Ava’s chest. In the soft glow of the nightlight, Ethan’s face held immense tenderness.

Then, he pointed silently to the door.

As we stepped out into the corridor, Ethan turned to me, his voice low and intimate. “Thank you for tonight. For your help.”

“No problem. It’s my job, so. . . .”

“I’m grateful. Ava seemed really happy this evening. Although we’re really gonna have to scrub her teeth in the morning.”

“She’s a great kid.”

He nodded as we walked downstairs. “So, what did you wish for?”

“Wish for?”

“The shooting star? You made a wish, right?”

I could feel the heat of his body, tantalizingly close in the narrow stairwell. My heart began to race, a fluttering bird in my chest. “Well, if I tell you, it won’t come true, will it?”

Once again, I felt my body humming, like it was being drawn to Ethan’s. Like we were magnets. Electrons. Fragments of lust.

Ethan reached the bottom of the stairs, and turned to me, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “Maybe I can guess, then.”

I arched an eyebrow as I stepped down beside him. Why wasn’t he moving? Why were we standing so close together at the bottom of the stairwell like this? “Oh, you think you know me that well already, do you?”

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