Days turned into weeks, and Ethan and Lucas became inseparable. They spent their mornings at the library and their afternoons exploring the hidden corners of Marina Cove. They discovered a secluded cove where they would swim and talk for hours, away from prying eyes.
One evening, as the sun set and painted the sky in hues of pink and orange, they sat on the shore, the waves gently lapping at their feet. Ethan glanced at Lucas, who was staring out at the horizon, lost in thought.
"Lucas, can I ask you something?" Ethan's voice was barely above a whisper.
"Anything," Lucas replied, turning to face him.
"Why did you come here? To Marina Cove, I mean."
Lucas sighed, a shadow crossing his face. "I needed to get away. From my family, from everything. They... they don't understand me."
Ethan reached out, hesitating before placing a hand on Lucas's. "I understand. Sometimes it's hard to be who we are, especially when people expect us to be someone else."
Lucas looked down at their joined hands, then back up at Ethan, his eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Ethan, there's something I need to tell you."
Ethan's heart raced, a mix of fear and hope swirling within him. "What is it?"
"I think... I think I'm falling for you."
The world seemed to stop. Ethan felt a warmth spread through him, a sense of belonging he had never felt before. "Lucas, I feel the same way."
They leaned in, the space between them disappearing, and shared a kiss that tasted of salt and summer. It was a kiss that spoke of unspoken words and promises of a future where they could be free to love each other without fear.
