Ethan woke up feeling… good.
Not just rested.
Not just refreshed.
But good in a way he hadn't felt in a long time—like something inside him had been touched, seen, held. Like someone had kissed the confusion out of him and replaced it with certainty.
He stretched beneath the sheets, his body still humming from the dream, from the kiss, from the way Joss had looked at him like he was something precious.
His phone buzzed.
Joss: What time does your class end today?
Ethan smiled, fingers flying.
Ethan: Only morning class. I'm free after 12.
Joss: Perfect. I'll come pick you up.
Ethan: Where are we going? I have to be at the bar by 4.
Joss: It's a surprise. Don't worry—I'll get you there on time.
Ethan stared at the screen, heart fluttering.
A surprise.
From Joss.
He couldn't stop smiling.
The morning passed in a haze of happiness.
He showered with music playing, brushing his teeth while humming, dancing a little in front of the mirror. On the walk to class, he was so lost in thought—imagining where Joss might take him, what they might talk about—that he didn't notice the birds, the traffic, or the girl who nearly bumped into him.
Even in class, he couldn't stop smiling.
His professor paused mid-lecture. "Ethan, do you have something happy to share with the class?"
Ethan blinked, cheeks flushing. "Ah—sorry, no. Just… thinking."
The class chuckled.
Time crawled.
But finally, the clock struck noon.
Ethan packed his things in record time, rushing to the main entrance—and there he was.
Joss.
Leaning against his car, sunglasses on, looking like he'd stepped out of a magazine. Ethan's heart skipped.
He walked over, trying to act normal, but the blush gave him away.
Joss opened the door for him. "Ready?"
Ethan nodded, sliding in.
The car ride was quiet at first.
Not tense—just shy.
Ethan kept replaying the kiss in his head, wondering if Joss was thinking about it too. He glanced sideways, caught Joss's profile, and looked away quickly.
"Hungry?" Joss asked casually. "What do you feel like eating?"
"Anything's fine," Ethan replied, voice soft.
Joss smiled. "Let's go somewhere nice."
The restaurant was… stunning.
Quiet. Elegant. Western. The kind of place with soft lighting, velvet chairs, and menus that didn't have prices next to the dishes—just numbers that made Ethan's stomach flip.
He sat down, eyes wide.
"Joss… this place is expensive."
Joss leaned in, voice gentle. "Don't worry about the price. Just order what you want."
Ethan scanned the menu, then pointed to the cheapest pasta.
Joss chuckled. "Nice try." He turned to the waiter. "He'll have the steak."
Ethan's eyes widened. "Joss—"
"Trust me. You'll like it."
They talked over lunch—about class, about professors, about how Ethan once got lost on campus during his first week and ended up in the engineering building by mistake.
Joss laughed. "You're hopeless."
"I'm not!" Ethan protested, grinning.
"You are. But it's cute."
Ethan blushed again, stabbing at his steak.
After lunch, Joss leaned back. "So, what do you want to do before work?"
Ethan perked up. "My university club is organizing a beach clean-up. I thought of buying some stuff—like gloves, trash bags, maybe a grabber stick."
Joss raised an eyebrow. "Can I join?"
"It's open to the public. So… yeah."
"Then let's go shopping."
The store was bright and busy, but Ethan didn't care.
He was with Joss.
They walked through the aisles, picking out gloves and biodegradable bags. Ethan reached for a grabber stick, and Joss grabbed one too—then playfully poked Ethan's side with it.
"Hey!" Ethan laughed, jumping back.
"Just testing the durability."
Ethan retaliated, poking Joss's thigh.
"Seems durable enough."
Joss smirked. "You're getting bold."
"You started it."
They bickered over which gloves were better—Ethan liked the blue ones, Joss insisted the black ones looked cooler. They ended up buying both.
At the checkout, Joss paid before Ethan could even reach for his wallet.
"You don't have to—"
"I want to."
Ethan looked down, smiling.
Outside, the sun was warm, the breeze gentle. They walked slowly back to the car, bags in hand, shoulders brushing occasionally.
Joss glanced at him. "You're smiling again."
"I can't help it."
Joss reached over, brushed a strand of hair from Ethan's forehead.
"Good. I like seeing you happy."