"How do you know our guy, Noah, again?" Ethan won't let go, and after his fourth beer, he has become almost annoying—dude can't hold his drink, bless his soul. He teeters to where Park is standing and elbows him as if they'd been friends for more than a decade instead of mere acquaintances.

"Easy now, buddy. We don't want you falling on your face." Park grabs Ethan by the elbow and helps him sit beside him. His chuckles are back and they ricochet inside my chest like the chords on a melody that has you thinking of good times, dim lights and intimacy.

I take a brief leap of faith and dare a sneak peek at Park's face—what is it about this gorgeous boy that gets me so fucking turned on? Is it the fact that he is so darn cute he could melt the ice caps with one grin? Is it his earnest ways, or how he seems aware of my every move?

He is smiling warmly, chatting away with Ethan, who blabbers more nonsense than I can handle without showing how nervous I'm becoming.

"Come on, Park. Don't be mysterious like that. Just tell us where you guys know one another."

"Oh, Noah and I go way down." Park smirks at me, and I'm almost coming undone right here, at this freaking pub.

He's so cheeky, I can't help staring. He has my friends wrapped around his elegant fingers.

"You mean you guys go way back, right?" Tyler asks with genuine curiosity joining Ethan and him. He's dragging his feet, another one biting the dust soon.

"Yeah, way back and also down, like we just hang out, pretty often, and go down on one another." He adds the last, so casually, it just seems to fall off his tongue.

For a crazy second, I think the guys will stop and stare at him, but they are all either drunk or half-way there, so they just nod in total agreement.

He is also witty. I'm in deep trouble.

We stare at one another for shorter than a heartbeat and crack up; he shuffles closer to me and says, "Sorry about that, Noah. Definitely third date material, wouldn't you agree?

Date? Did I just hear that? Why am I so freaking comfortable with that concept? Eager as hell as well. Damn, Park. What are you doing to me?

"Would you go out with me sometime, then?" I blurt out in front of everyone. For fuck's sake.

"Is that an invitation?" He beams at me as his curls bounce with the tilt of his head.

"I guess so, yeah." We lock gazes and he bites his lower lip, sending tingles down my torso. I feel my erection at the same time he moves closer. His warm breath has me choking on a moan.

"I must admit I've been kind of holding my breath over that idea, so of course, I'd love to go out and just hang, you and me and no one else."He is so addictive, the way he moves, how his eyes take in everything around us with total ease, he seems so open and kind. Please be kind.

"Noah, bro, Ethan is not feeling well, so Imma head out and drive him home, okay?" Tyler grunts; he can barely walk, so I can't just let them walk out, or they might collapse in the middle of the street.

"Not a chance. You guys are a mess." I turn to Park. "Shit, I think I must see them off to safety, or I won't be able to forgive myself if something happens."

"No problem, let's give them a lift in my car. You just guide the way," he says with a shrug, making every damn thing seem effortless, and I'm just there, basking under his light. He is kind.

"Sounds like a plan," I say, relieved I don't get to say goodbye to him just yet.

***

Half an hour later, he parks his car at the beach; the night is breezy, so we remain inside the quiet and darkened interior. With a swift movement, turns to me. His face leaning against the headrest. The moon outside casts shadows over his long lashes, and I'm mesmerized by the sheer beauty of his features.

"Wanna talk about that night?" he asks, his voice soft as if he fears pressuring me.

I'm scared to tell you. "Sure. What do you want to know, Park?" I'm fucking scared to let you in my mind.

"What happened?"

"You mean how did I end up almost drowning?" Please don't hurt me.

"No, I mean what got you to walk towards it. I saw you... You were so alone—I just couldn't look away."

Shit, he saw me? At my worst. He decided not to look away. "I argued with my father. He doesn't get me."

He remains silent. His right hand moves from the gearshift and rests over mine. So subtle, yet so intimate. I've never felt a man's touch like that—ever. This moment between us makes me feel an impending urge to just open my heart to him, flesh it out, and pour it at his feet.

I take a long breath. "I'm not sure if you want me to tell you. I'm a lot to take in. I—I'm a mess, Park."

"Don't say that, Noah." He's so damn kind it hurts.

"It's true, though. Besides, nobody likes messy, right?" My entire body shivers, not because it's cold inside the car but because I feel bare under his gaze.

"Try me... I know exactly what I like and what I want." How does he do that? How can he ground me to this moment with such ease? Fine. Here goes nothing.

"Thing is, Park, I don't know who I am anymore. Seems everything I want is wrong, every turn I take leading me to more hurt, more pain, and more nothing. I'm just... echoing."

"You are not an echo, Noah. I can hear you."

"Yeah?"

"Uh-huh. Loud and clear."

There's the breeze coming in, summoned by the cadence of his voice. It envelops us; it whispers about moments shared even before we knew about them. It guides my words and eases my tension.

I want to talk to you tonight, Park. Until the morning light finds us, until you see how I am and still choose to stay. "I just don't want you to think I'm a loser—even though I am."

I can't believe I just said that; the old Noah would have shielded his reputation. Yet here it is. This unknown side of me. Confessing to this boy how alone and shattered I feel.

"I think many things about you, Noah. Loser is not a noun suitable for your essence. I've known you for quite some time, see? We have a person in common. Tessa. She is my cousin."

"Tessa, as in Candace's close friend?"

"Yeah, but don't worry. She is a good girl; she knows how to keep things to herself and mind her own business. Tess told me you and Candace weren't doing well."

"That would be correct. Actually, we've broken up. I'm not afraid, Park. I think you are the single best thing that has happened to me for a very long time. Sorry for being so blunt."

"Never apologize for showing me your mind, Noah. I'm so glad we finally met."

"Me too."

I lower my gaze and realise his fingers are gently running up and down my knuckles. Their are rather cold, which contradicts all his body language. When did it start? I don't know. "Is this bothering you?" He tilts his head as his hand stills. I wince at the loss of contact with his skin.

"I don't want you to leave," I whisper like a dumbass. 

"We are in my car." He chuckles, and it's the sweetest sound.

"I meant, I don't want you to stop holding my hand—even if I can't tell you why—I know I don't want you to."

"I won't." His hand is back on mine and I'm dizzy. High on his touch.

"It's funny."

"What is?"

"The notion that just yesterday, I didn't even know your name, and now—"

"Now what?" He motions closer to me, so close I can feel his minty breath.

"You. Here. Us."

"Yeah." He presses his forehead against mine. His breathing now comes in huffs.

"Yeah." My breathing shallows. Something is tugging me under. I want to feel his lips on mine. I want this boy's hands on me. Right now.

"Noah?"

The way he says my name. "Yeah?"

"Can I kiss you? Please let me kiss you..."

What follows is one of the best moments of my life. I place both my hands over his chest, making fists with his faded, grey jacket, and I just pull him towards myself, in the slowest of motions, dragging out this moment.. Seconds later, his lips find mine with a tenderness I had never experienced before. We kiss. Slowly at first. Exploring each other, tasting each other. Sharing. Wanting. Caring. Only the both of us know how right this feels.

When he pulls away, his lips are red, and his eyes are all I see.

"Was that okay?" he asks, shying away for a brief second.

Park, you are so much more than kind. You are the moon and the waves tonight. "It was different and wonderful," I say, smiling in delight. It was more than okay. So much more. It was real. "Park?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you. For saving me. For finding me."

"I don't want you to thank me. I want you to kiss me again instead," he says, his voice breathy.

I abide with silver-lining relief as the night washes away with hours of sheer intimacy.