I told myself it was nothing.
That whatever happened in the kitchen last night was just… a moment.
A weird, unexpected, slightly confusing moment that I could easily forget if I tried hard enough.
So that's exactly what I planned to do.
Forget it.
Ignore him.
Pretend Ethan Cole didn't suddenly feel like a problem.
"Lara! Wake up!"
I groaned, pulling the blanket over my head. "It's too early…"
"It's literally 9 a.m.," Maya laughed, yanking the blanket away. "And we have plans!"
I blinked up at her, still half asleep. "What plans?"
"Brunch. Shopping. Catching up. Normal best friend things that don't include you being a lazy potato."
I sighed dramatically, sitting up. "You're very aggressive for someone I missed."
She grinned. "Get used to it."
An hour later, I felt human again.
Dressed, ready, and slightly more awake, I followed Maya downstairs—still tying my hair into a loose ponytail.
"I hope there's food," I muttered. "I'm starving."
"There should be"
Maya stopped mid-sentence.
I didn't notice why… until I looked up.
And there he was.
Ethan.
Standing in the kitchen like he belonged there because he did scrolling through his phone with a cup of coffee in his hand.
My steps slowed.
Why did he always look so… put together without even trying?
"Morning," Maya said casually, grabbing an apple.
Ethan glanced up.
His eyes found mine instantly.
"Morning," he replied.
But he wasn't looking at Maya.
He was looking at me.
My stomach did that annoying flip thing again.
I looked away first.
Bad idea.
Because now I was hyper-aware of everything.
The sound of his cup touching the counter.
The way he shifted slightly.
The fact that he was still watching me.
"Lara's coming with me," Maya said, completely unaware of the tension. "So don't kidnap her or anything while I'm getting my bag."
"I don't kidnap people," Ethan said dryly.
Maya laughed. "Debatable."
Then just like that—she disappeared upstairs.
And left me alone with him.
The silence was immediate.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Dangerous.
I reached for a glass, pretending I desperately needed water.
"You always this awkward in the morning?" Ethan's voice came from behind me.
I stiffened slightly. "I'm not awkward."
He let out a quiet chuckle.
"You're avoiding eye contact."
I turned, crossing my arms. "Maybe I just don't feel like staring at you."
His eyebrow lifted slightly.
"Last night you didn't seem to mind."
Heat rushed to my face.
"That was different."
"How?"
I opened my mouth… then closed it.
Because I didn't actually have an answer.
Ethan took a step closer.
Not too close.
But close enough.
"You've changed," he said.
I frowned. "You keep saying that."
"Because it's true."
His gaze moved over me—not in a way that felt uncomfortable, but in a way that made my heart beat faster.
"You're not the same girl who used to follow Maya around and ignore me."
I scoffed lightly. "You mean the girl you used to ignore?"
"I didn't ignore you."
"Yes, you did."
"No," he said, his voice quieter now. "I noticed you."
My breath caught.
That… wasn't what I expected.
For a second, neither of us spoke.
And in that second—
everything felt different again.
"So," I said quickly, breaking the moment, "are you always this… intense?"
A small smile tugged at his lips.
"Only when necessary."
"And this is necessary?"
He stepped just a little closer.
"Yes."
My heart started racing again.
Why did he do that so easily?
Make everything feel like it meant more than it should?
"Lara!" Maya's voice called from upstairs. "Are you ready?"
I stepped back immediately, like I needed space to breathe.
"Yes!" I called back.
I grabbed my bag quickly, avoiding Ethan's gaze this time.
Because if I looked at him again—
I wasn't sure what I'd see.
Or worse…
what I'd feel.
As I moved toward the door, his voice stopped me.
"Lara."
I turned slowly.
He was watching me again.
That same unreadable expression on his face.
"Try not to miss me too much," he said.
I blinked.
Then narrowed my eyes slightly. "You wish."
He smiled.
And this time—it wasn't subtle.
The entire day with Maya should have been perfect.
And it was.
We laughed. Talked. Shopped. Took pictures.
Everything felt normal again.
Safe.
Familiar.
But somehow…
he still found a way into my thoughts.
"Okay, don't lie," Maya said suddenly as we walked out of a store. "What do you think of Ethan?"
I froze.
That was the last question I expected.
"What kind of question is that?" I asked, trying to sound casual.
She shrugged. "I don't know. You haven't seen him in years. I just wanna know your opinion."
My heart started beating faster.
Too fast.
"He's… fine."
"Fine?" she repeated, unimpressed. "That's it?"
"What do you want me to say?"
She smirked.
"That he's hot?"
I choked slightly. "Maya!"
"What?" she laughed. "I'm not blind. He's my brother, not a criminal."
I shook my head, trying to hide my reaction.
"He's still annoying."
"Liar."
"I'm serious."
She bumped my shoulder playfully. "You used to have a tiny crush on him, you know."
My steps faltered.
"That was years ago."
"Mm-hmm."
"It was childish."
"Sure."
I exhaled. "I don't feel that way anymore."
And that part…
was supposed to be true.
But later that night—
when I saw him again,
leaning casually in the living room,
his eyes lifting the second I walked in—
that same feeling came rushing back.
Stronger this time.
Harder to ignore.
And as his gaze locked onto mine—
I realized something I probably should have admitted earlier.
This wasn't just a moment anymore.
It wasn't just tension.
It wasn't something I could simply ignore.
Because no matter how much I tried to convince myself otherwise…
Ethan Cole was becoming a problem.
A dangerous one.