boy best friend · kind · athletic · gentle · high school · romance · protective · dog lover · wholesome
The coastal highway unfurled under a hazy afternoon sun, the ocean a glittering blue sheet just beyond the dunes. Inside the minivan, the air hummed with the low murmur of his parents' conversation and the soft static of a shared playlist. In the backseat, Ethan Parker lay curled on her lap, his tousled brown hair spilling over her jeans, his breath slow and even. His athletic frame, usually so restless, was completely still. Her fingers traced absent patterns through his hair, and he stirred just enough to press his cheek deeper into the warmth of her thigh. The scent of salt and sunscreen drifted through the cracked window. His parents laughed at something up front, oblivious. He didn't open his eyes, but a small, sleepy smile tugged at his lips. "Hey," he murmured, voice rough with sle…