The rest of the day felt… off.
Not in a loud, obvious way.
But in that quiet, unsettling way where everything looks normal
yet nothing actually is.
Maya kept talking, laughing, pulling me into conversations.
And I tried.
I really did.
But my mind
kept drifting back to him.
"I'm trying to protect you… from me."
What was that supposed to mean?
I didn't get the chance to ask.
Because the moment was gone.
Again.
And now
he was acting like everything was fine.
Like he hadn't just said something that completely messed with my head.
By the time we got home, I was exhausted.
Not physically.
Emotionally.
"I'm going to shower," I said quickly, already heading upstairs.
"Don't take forever!" Maya called after me.
"No promises!"
The warm water should've helped.
Should've cleared my head.
Should've calmed me down.
But it didn't.
Because the truth was
I already knew what was happening.
I just didn't want to admit it.
I liked him.
And not in a small, harmless way.
In a way that could ruin everything.
I let out a slow breath, resting my forehead against the cool bathroom tiles.
"This is a mess," I whispered.
By the time I stepped out, wrapped in a towel, the house was quiet again.
Too quiet.
I quickly got dressed, tying my hair into a loose bun.
Then
without really thinking
I stepped out into the hallway.
And froze
Because he was there.
Ethan.
Leaning against the wall.
Like he'd been waiting.
My heart skipped instantly.
"How long have you been standing there?" I asked.
"Long enough."
That didn't help.
"Were you waiting for me?"
His gaze held mine.
"Yeah."
My breath caught.
"Why?"
He pushed off the wall slowly.
And started walking toward me.
Every step
calm.
Measured.
Intentional.
"Because we're not done talking," he said.
My pulse quickened.
"Yes, we are," I said quickly. "There's nothing left to say."
"Lara."
The way he said my name
low, steady
made it harder to stand my ground.
"We said enough," I added, even though my voice wasn't as strong now.
"No," he said. "You avoided the part that matters."
I swallowed.
"What part?"
He stopped in front of me.
Close.
Again.
"This part," he said quietly.
My heart started racing.
"Ethan…"
"You feel something," he continued.
I shook my head slightly. "We've been through this."
"No," he said. "You've been running from it."
"I'm not running."
"You are."
I exhaled sharply. "And what if I am?"
He didn't hesitate.
"Then stop."
The simplicity of it
hit harder than it should have.
"You make it sound easy," I said.
"It is."
"No, it's not!" I snapped quietly. "Nothing about this is easy."
"Why?"
I stared at him.
"Because this isn't just about me and you."
He stepped closer.
Even closer than before.
"But it is," he said softly.
My breath caught.
"It's about what you feel," he continued. "And what I feel."
"And Maya?" I shot back. "Does she just not matter?"
His expression shifted slightly.
Not dismissive.
But certain.
"She matters," he said. "But this—"
He gestured slightly between us.
"—this doesn't disappear just because it's inconvenient."
The honesty in his voice made my chest tighten.
"Then what do you want me to do?" I whispered.
There it was.
The question I'd been avoiding.
He held my gaze.
Didn't look away.
Didn't hesitate.
"Stop pretending you don't want this," he said.
My heart pounded.
"And what if I do?" I asked softly.
Silence.
Then
he stepped even closer.
Now
there was barely any space between us.
My breath hitched.
"Then say it," he murmured.
I couldn't.
I wanted to.
But I couldn't.
Because saying it
would make it real.
And if it became real…
there'd be no going back.
"I can't," I whispered.
His gaze softened slightly.
But he didn't step back.
"Why not?"
"Because if I say it…"
I swallowed.
"…everything changes."
A pause.
Then
very quietly
"Maybe it's already changed."
My heart stuttered.
And in that moment
everything felt still.
Too still.
Like the world had paused
just for us.
His gaze dropped.
Just slightly.
To my lips.
And that was it.
That was the moment everything tipped.
Because I didn't step back.
I didn't move.
I didn't stop him.
And neither did he.
Slowly
carefully
he leaned in.
My breath caught.
My heart racing so fast it almost hurt.
This was it.
The line.
The one we weren't supposed to cross.
The one that would change everything.
I should've stopped him.
I should've said something.
I should've walked away.
But instead
I stayed.
And just as his face moved closer
"LARA!"
Maya's voice.
Loud.
Sudden.
Too close.
We jumped apart instantly.
Like we'd been caught
even though we hadn't.
Yet.
"Yeah?" I called, my voice slightly breathless.
"I need help with something!"
"I'm coming!" I replied quickly.
Silence fell between us again.
But this time
it was different.
Because now
we both knew.
We couldn't pretend anymore.
Ethan ran a hand through his hair, exhaling slowly.
"That shouldn't have almost happened," I said softly.
"But it did," he replied.
I looked at him.
Really looked at him.
"And that's exactly why this has to stop," I added.
He held my gaze.
Unmoving.
"Is that what you really want?"
I hesitated.
Just for a second.
And that was enough.
Because he saw it.
"Yeah," I said finally.
But my voice?
Didn't sound convincing.
At all.