Page 3 of Since the Day We Kissed

He waved the Polaroids back and forth. “We have to make sure they came out all right. Don’t wanna get home and find out they’re all duds.”

“Fine, you can wait. But I’m gonna keep packing.”

“Almost there.” Ethan held them out. “And—there we go. See? That didn’t take long.”

Kara dropped her bag and stepped toward Ethan. “Let’s have a look.”

Ethan drew her into a side hug, holding the Polaroids out between them.

“Ugh, look at that one. My eyes are closed.” Kara pulled it from the stack. “But you look cute in it. So, I’m keeping it.”

Ethan smirked. “Okay, well then, I’m claiming this one. You look absolutely stunning here.”

Kara’s eyes lingered on the second photo, drinking in every detail. There she was, nestled against Ethan’s chest, her long chestnut hair all messed up from the sea breeze. It should’ve looked awful, but somehow ... it didn’t? The image showed her in a way she rarely saw herself—carefree, radiant, and undeniably happy. Her usual self-consciousness had vanished, replaced by a girl who seemed to glow from within. It was a snapshot of pure, uncomplicated love—the kind she’d always dreamed of but never quite believed she’d find. “You really think so?”

“Definitely. In my completely honest opinion, you look gorgeous in every single one. Even the blinky ones.”

Kara rolled her eyes. “If you say so. Looks like the rest are pretty blurry, though.”

“Yeah, there’s always a few duds. It happens.”

“Well, I guess you were right. At least we both got a good one out of it.” She picked up her bag and slipped the Polaroid into the side pocket. “But now we seriously need to go.”

“All right, let’s get you back.” Ethan took the bag from Kara’s hands and slipped it onto his shoulder. “Did we forget anything?”

Kara glanced around, her eyes scanning the grassy area where they had been. A few stray items caught her attention: a water bottle, a couple of napkins, and some litter that didn’t belong to them. She hurriedly picked them up, adding them to the bag. “I think we’ve got everything now.”

Ethan grinned. “Glad one of us has an eye for detail.”

“Always good to leave a place better than we found it,” Kara said, smiling as she adjusted her bag. “All right, let’s go.”

As they walked back to Ethan’s blue Chevy truck and hopped inside, Kara’s teeth chewed at her bottom lip. Excuses for her overnight absence spiraled through her mind, each more far-fetched than the last, crumbling under the weight of her dad’s inevitable scrutiny. Her heart raced as she pictured the vein throbbing in his temple, his voice booming as he demanded an explanation. And if he ever found out she had been with Ethan—she shuddered to think of the consequences.

“Try not to worry,” Ethan said as he pulled onto the road. “Everything will be fine.”

Kara sighed. “I hope you’re right ... You know how my dad can be.”

“He’s probably still asleep. Don’t worry, we’ll be at your house soon.”

Kara leaned her head out of the window, the wind whipping through her hair. As they drove down the oak-lined street, she noticed the Spanish moss draping from the branches like wispy, gray-green curtains. The delicate tendrils swayed in the breeze, casting intricate shadows that danced across the windshield and the cobblestone sidewalks below. The sight was hauntingly beautiful, one that always took Kara’s breath away, even in her anxious state. She watched the quaint shops and businesses pass by in a blur, her stomach twisting with each familiar landmark.

They were less than a minute from her house, and her pulse quickened as Ethan’s truck rumbled down the familiar street.

“Hey, don’t park out front,” she told him. “Drop me off a few houses down—just to be safe.”

“Sure thing.” Ethan slowed and pulled the truck to a rolling stop two houses down from hers. Taking the keys out of the ignition, he turned to her. “Wanna hang out later today?”

Kara’s eyes darted down the road to her parents’ bedroom windows. Fingers fidgeted with the hem of her shirt, twisting the fabric as she scanned for any signs of movement. The curtains were drawn tight. The darkened glass revealed nothing, yet the sight sent her heart galloping in her chest. Her palms turned slick and cold with sweat. “I mean, I’d love to, but—” She took a breath and forced an exhale, “it kinda depends on how things go when I get inside.”

Ethan took her hand, pulling her across the seat toward him. “I can come with you, talk to your dad. Smooth things over.”

A short, nervous chuckle bubbled up from Kara’s throat before catching on to her vocal cords. “Are you kidding? He’d straight up strangle you if you walked into my house right now. Bad idea. No, best I deal with this myself.” She looked over at him. “Call me later, yeah? When you get your new phone?”

“Of course,” he said, with a roguish half-smile that made her heart skip a beat.

Leaning forward, Ethan closed the distance.

Kara’s eyes fell shut, the darkness behind her lids filling with bursts of color. Then the world around her faded away until all that existed was the gentle pressure of Ethan’s lips on hers, the heat of his breath mingling with her own, the hard planes of his chest pressed against her soft curves. They were two halves of a whole.

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