Page 83 of Unlocking Melodies

His chuckle rumbled through his chest, and I found myself closing my eyes, letting the moment wrap around me like a warm blanket.

“You know,” he said softly, his breath warm against my hair, “I used to dream about moments like this. During all those years when I thought I'd lost my chance.”

The simple honesty in his voice made my throat tight. “Ethan...”

“You don't have to say anything.” His arm tightened slightly around my waist. “I just... I want you to know that this — being here with you, even if you don't remember our past — it's more than I ever thought I'd get.”

“And what if I do remember one day?” I asked, my voice quieter than I intended. The question hung in the air, trembling between hope and fear.

He pulled back just enough to meet my gaze, his eyes searching mine. “Then it’ll be the best day of my life.”

His words settled over me like a promise, filling all the empty spaces I hadn’t realized were there. I didn’t know what to say, so I just leaned into him, letting the steady rhythm of his heartbeat remind me that sometimes, moments like these didn’t need words.

From somewhere in the bushes came a distinct sniffle that sounded suspiciously like Nina. I was pretty sure Riley was frantically taking notes, probably already planning tomorrow's headline: “Local Amnesiac and Tech Billionaire's LakesideRomance: A Story in Three Acts (With Commentary from Enthusiastic Shrubbery).”

But none of that mattered. Not when Ethan was holding me like I was something precious, like this moment was everything he'd ever wanted.

“Though I have to say,” I murmured, unable to resist lightening the intensity, “our surveillance squad is getting very invested in this scene.”

“I'm pretty sure Mrs. Henderson is already planning the wedding.”

“Only pretty sure? She probably has the venue booked and color schemes selected.”

His laugh mixed with the music, creating a melody that felt like home. We kept swaying together under our canopy of lights, while somewhere in the surrounding trees, our audience probably updated several betting pools and at least two Pinterest boards.

But right then, wrapped in Ethan's arms with the lake reflecting our own private galaxy of lights, I couldn't imagine being anywhere else.

Some memories might be lost, but this moment? This was absolutely perfect exactly as it was.

Ethan's hands stayed warm and steady on my waist, anchoring me in a moment that felt both completely new and achingly familiar.

He pulled back slightly, just enough to meet my eyes, and suddenly the world narrowed to just us. The enthusiastic rustling from our hidden audience faded away, the lake's gentle lapping became distant background noise, and even the crickets seemed to hold their breath.

“I've been wanting to do this again,” Ethan murmured, his voice low and steady, like a confession meant only for me.

Before I could respond, he leaned in. His lips met mine with a certainty that stole my breath—a quiet intensity that spoke of years of longing and restraint finally unleashed. This kiss wasn’t soft or hesitant; it was deliberate, an unspoken promise in every brush of his lips.

A surge of warmth rushed through me, equal parts exhilarating and grounding. My heart raced, yet the world around us seemed to still. It wasn’t just a kiss; it was a reckoning.

And then, like a flash of lightning in the dark, a memory flickered to life. Practice Room C at midnight. A piano bench cluttered with sheet music and coffee cups. His laugh—soft, melodic—cutting through the silence. And a kiss just like this, one that left me breathless and sure of something I couldn’t name.

When we broke apart, my chest heaved as if I’d surfaced from deep water. My hand instinctively reached for his, seeking an anchor as my mind reeled. Ethan’s thumb brushed gently against my cheek, wiping away a tear I hadn’t realized had fallen.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice soft but laced with concern.

Behind us, I could faintly hear someone in the shrubbery fail spectacularly at stifling a sob.

I let out a shaky laugh, my hand tightening on his. “I’m fine. Better than fine.” My voice cracked under the weight of what I was about to say. “I remembered something.”

His breath hitched, and his eyes searched mine, hope and hesitation flickering like a candle caught in the wind. “What did you remember?”

“The first time we kissed,” I whispered, the memory vivid and alive now. “Not all of it, but... enough. It felt like the world shifted under me, like nothing was steady anymore, except you. Except us.”

Ethan exhaled slowly, his forehead resting against mine. “That’s exactly how I felt,” he said softly. “Like nothing else mattered.”

The raw honesty in his voice unraveled something in me, and I found myself holding onto him a little tighter, as if I’d lose the moment if I let go.

A tear escaped despite my best efforts at maintaining dignity, but before I could brush it away, Ethan's thumb caught it. His touch was impossibly gentle, like I was something precious he was afraid might break.

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