[EVIE]
The fire casts shadows over Jude’s face, the flickering glow making him appear softer and sharper all at once. The waves roll in and fall silently against the sandy shore.
I hug my knees to my chest, my fingers digging into the fabric of my top underneath the jacket. I don’t know what I expected from tonight, but I know I wasn’t ready for this—this quiet, comfortable silence that has settled between us.
The sun has since long set beneath the horizon, and the few people that walked along the beach have scattered away. It’s quieter now, and I can feel it as this special place, meant for just the two of us.
Jude shifts beside me, closer now, his elbows resting on his knees. I wait for him to speak, but when his eyes meet mine, his lips stretch into a lazy smile.
I let out a li
