Ethan lay awake long after the sounds had faded into silence. His mind replayed them like a broken record, each moan, each breathy gasp gnawing at his insides. He turned onto his side, pressing his face into the pillow, but it didn't help. The heat of shame clung to his skin like a second layer, suffocating him.
It's none of your business, he told himself. She's just your neighbor. Nothing more.
And yet, the jealousy seething in his chest suggested otherwise. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to drown out the phantom echoes of Sienna with another man. His hands curled into fists at his sides. Stop it. Stop thinking about her like that.
The next morning, Ethan moved around his apartment sluggishly, his eyes heavy with lack of sleep. He made himself a cup of coffee, standing by the kitchen window and staring absently at the city below. The world was moving as usual, indifferent to his turmoil. He took a deep breath and forced himself to think rationally.
Sienna was a beautiful woman. Of course she had a boyfriend. It made sense. A girl like her—flirty, confident, completely out of his league—was bound to be taken. He was an idiot for even entertaining the thought that she might be single. She's just living her life. It has nothing to do with you.
But then why did it feel like something inside him had cracked?
A knock at the door made him jolt. He nearly spilled his coffee as he set the mug down and walked over. When he opened the door, his stomach tightened.
Sienna stood there, her arms crossed over her chest, leaning casually against the doorframe. She looked effortlessly stunning, her wavy hair falling over her shoulders, her lips curled into a mischievous smile. Her scent—something sweet yet intoxicating—drifted into his space, making his head swim.
"Morning, nerd boy," she greeted, her voice husky from sleep.
Ethan swallowed hard, gripping the doorframe for support. "Uh… morning."
She arched a brow. "You look like hell."
"Didn't sleep much."
"Hmm," she mused, tilting her head. "Wonder why."
Ethan's throat went dry. Did she know he had heard her last night? Did she leave her door open on purpose? His ears burned at the thought.
She leaned in slightly, lowering her voice. "I was gonna borrow some sugar, but…" Her lips twitched in amusement. "You look like you need some first."
He blinked. "Huh?"
She laughed, stepping past him into his apartment as if she owned the place. "Relax, I won't bite." She made a beeline for his kitchen, opening a cabinet like she had been here before.
Ethan turned, watching her in disbelief. "You can't just—"
"Ah-ha!" She pulled out the sugar container and shook it triumphantly. "See? You do have some."
Ethan ran a hand through his messy hair. "You could've just asked."
"Where's the fun in that?" She smirked before pouring herself a spoonful into her coffee cup. He hadn't even noticed she was holding one.
She took a sip, letting out a satisfied sigh. Then, with a knowing glance, she said, "You're thinking too much."
Ethan stiffened. "What?"
Sienna set her coffee down and leaned against the counter, her gaze locking onto his. "I can see it all over your face. You're in your head, spiraling. What's up?"
You. The word nearly slipped out, but he bit it back. Instead, he shook his head. "Nothing."
She studied him for a moment, then shrugged. "Suit yourself." She picked up her coffee and turned to leave, pausing at the doorway. Over her shoulder, she threw him a playful smirk. "Try not to lose too much sleep tonight, neighbor."
And just like that, she was gone.
Ethan stood there, his heart hammering. He knew she was teasing him, but something about the way she said it made him uneasy. Did she know?
Shoving the thought aside, he exhaled heavily and rubbed his temples. She has a boyfriend, and you're just her nerdy neighbor. That's all it is.
He had to convince himself. Because anything else was dangerous.
That night, Ethan found himself staring at the ceiling again, his mind betraying him. He thought about Sienna's smirk, the way she casually walked into his apartment like she belonged there. The way her scent lingered even after she left.
He rolled onto his side, glaring at the thin wall that separated their apartments. He hated this. Hated the way she had burrowed into his thoughts, how she occupied space in his mind that should have been focused on school, his future, anything else.
His ears strained for sounds, but tonight, there was only silence. No laughter, no murmured conversations, no moans that set his body on edge. The absence of it was almost worse because now, his imagination filled in the gaps.
He groaned, throwing an arm over his face.
Get a grip.
He just needed to get over this. Sienna was a beautiful girl with a life of her own. A boyfriend. A relationship that had nothing to do with him.
And yet, when he finally drifted into a restless sleep, his dreams were filled with her.