When Hearts Collide.

The following morning, sunlight poured into the windows of Ava’s cottage, soft and golden, drying away the last trace of the storm. Tangled in sheets that had a faint scent of the sea and lavender, she slowly opened her eyes. There was a stillness to the air, the kind that only came after a night of rain—like the world had pressed a reset button.

She lingered in bed, her mind circling around last night. The laughter, the rain, Liam’s eyes so close to hers, the nearly-there kiss. And the feeling—an unfamiliar warmth curling in her chest. Was it attraction? Or something deeper?

Eventually, she dressed in jeans and a loose blouse, tied her hair back, and set off for her first official day at the marine research center. The facility was a modest structure near the cliffs, surrounded by salty stench and wild grasses. Inside, glass tanks lined the walls, housing coral specimens and tidepool creatures. A handful of scientists bustled about, their chatter low and focused.

“Dr. Ava Bennett?” a voice called.

She turned to see a petite woman with sharp eyes and a messy bun striding toward her.

“Hi! Yes. That’s me.”

“I’m Dr. Hemsley, Nora. Head of the Marlowe Bay Coastal Research Team. We’re thrilled to have you.”

Norah gave her a quick tour and introduced her to the staff. Ava settled quickly, finding solace in the hum of water pumps and the quiet rhythm of lab work. The center was studying coral bleaching patterns and ocean acidity—fields Ava had devoted the last decade of her life to.

By afternoon, Ava found herself on the shoreline with a team of three, taking samples. The sky was clear, the sea calm. She knelt in the sand, examining a small patch of sea grass, when a familiar voice floated toward her.

“Don’t suppose you found any treasure yet?”

She looked up to find Liam walking toward her, his hands in his pockets, a relaxed smile on his face.

“Only the kind that hides in tidepools,” she replied, shielding her eyes from the sun.

“I figured you’d be out here.”

She got up. “You were looking for me?”

He hesitated, then grinned. “Guilty. I brought coffee.”

He handed her a cup, still warm, the lid marked with her name in sloppy handwriting. Their fingers brushed, and the touch lingered a second too long.

“Thanks,” she said, suddenly shy.

“I thought maybe we could walk a bit?” he asked, gesturing to the quieter part of the beach. “Unless you’re busy saving marine life.”

Ava glanced back at her team, who were deep in discussion, then nodded. “Five-minute break won’t kill the ocean.”

They walked along the edge of the surf, letting the water lap at their feet.

“So,” Liam said, sipping his own drink. “Last night.”

Ava chuckled. “Was chaotic. And wet.”

“And… nice,” he added.

She looked at him. “Yeah. It was.”

Silence stretched between them, but it wasn’t awkward. It was full of something softer. Understanding. Hope.

He stopped walking and faced her. I'm not very good at this part. The… talking-about-feelings part.”

“Same,” she said, her voice low. “But I’m trying.”

He smiled. “You’re doing pretty good so far.”

A gust of wind blew her hair across her face, and he gently tucked a strand behind her ear. “I like this you,” he said. “The real you.”

Ava’s breath caught. “You don’t even know me yet.”

“I know enough to want to.”

Their eyes locked, and this time, there was no storm to interrupt them. Liam leaned in slowly, giving her time to pull away. She didn’t.

Their lips met in a kiss that was soft, questioning—like the beginning of a melody. Ava closed her eyes and leaned in, letting the moment anchor her to something real.

When they pulled apart, she smiled. "So... this is now a thing?" “I hope so,” he said.

Later that evening, Ava returned to her cottage and sat on the porch, her journal open in her lap. She wrote about the ocean, the research, the soft look in Liam’s eyes.

She ended the entry with a single line: Maybe shared silences say more than words ever could.

As night fell over Marlowe Bay, stars twinkled above, and somewhere, a pair of hearts began to beat in quiet harmony.

(End of Chapter 3)

Chapter 4: Echoes of the Past coming next...