““He takes my hand in his and holds it to his chest so I can feel his heart beat, and then he steps even closer, so close he towers above me, just inches away, his body sheltering me from the breeze. But I can’t let it happen; I don’t want anything to happen to change things between us, although in a way I do. “Don’t,” I say too sharply, and Dan freezes. “Don’t,” I say again, unnecessarily, since neither of us has moved. And so we simply stand there, for I don’t know how long, completely still, with only the sound of the ocean and the beating of Dan’s heart against my hand.””
