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Their mom chuckles, her eyes twinkling with affection. “I forgot to mention that he can sometimes be quite grumpy, too.”
“You guys are the bane of my existence,” he mumbles.
From the way they interact, it’s clear that his family is close-knit and comfortable with each other’s presence.
As the meal continues, I find myself relaxing in the company of Ethan’s family, feeling a sense of belonging—much to my surprise.
Throughout the meal, I can’t help but notice Ethan’s occasional glances in my direction. Each time our eyes meet, he slowly looks away.
After dinner, we decide to watch a movie, and Ethan’s mom convinces him to join us. As we settle into the cozy living room, I find myself seated next to him on the plush couch.
Amy and their mom fuss over the movie selection, eventually settling on a classic rom-com.
Throughout the movie, Ethan’s presence beside me is both comforting and distracting.
I catch him stealing glances in my direction every now and then, his eyes lingering on me for longer than necessary before darting away when I meet his gaze. It’s as if he’s trying to say something without uttering a word.
Despite my best efforts to focus on the movie, my mind keeps drifting back to Ethan, and the magnetic pull of his presence is impossible to ignore.
As the credits roll and the lights flicker back to life, I find myself lost in a sea of conflicting emotions.
Part of me longs to lean into Ethan’s arms, to surrender to the intoxicating allure of what could be. But another part of me hesitates, the fear of the unknown holding me back from taking that leap of faith.
“Jessica, why don’t you just spend the night?” Carol asks me as she starts to clean up.
“Uh…I’m not sure I…”
“We have enough rooms. Please, spend the night, dear. Ethan is spending the night too,” she turns to Ethan. “Right, Ethan?”
“Uh…yeah, I’m spending the night.”
“Come on, Jessy, please spend the night,” Amy pleads.
“I…I don’t know,” I finally manage to stammer out.
Amy gives me a pleading look, her eyes wide with earnestness. “Please, Jessy. It would mean a lot to me. Besides, it’s getting late, and I wouldn’t want you to drive back alone.”
Ethan’s mom chimes in, her tone gentle yet persuasive. “She’s right, dear. It’s late, and it’s safer to stay the night. Plus, it would give us a chance to spend more time together. We are enjoying your company.”
I consider their words, the warmth of their hospitality tugging at my heartstrings. Despite my reservations, I can’t deny the allure of the idea. The prospect of spending more time with Ethan and his family fills me with a sense of longing I can’t quite shake.
“Okay,” I finally relented, a soft smile gracing my lips. “I’ll stay.”
We all share a bottle of wine together before we bid each other goodnight and Amy shows me to one of the guest rooms.
As the rest of the house settles into slumber, I find myself unable to shake off the restlessness that grips me.
Tossing and turning in bed only seems to worsen my unease, so I quietly slip out of the room and make my way to the balcony.
The cool night air greets me as I step outside, wrapping around me like a comforting embrace.
Leaning against the railing, I gaze out at the city skyline spread out before me, the twinkling lights of the buildings casting a soft glow against the dark night sky.
Taking in deep breaths of the crisp air, I feel a sense of calm wash over me, the quiet solitude of the night offering a much-needed reprieve from the chaos of my racing thoughts.
Closing my eyes, I let myself be enveloped by the stillness of the night, allowing it to quiet the turmoil within me.
Lost in my own thoughts, I don’t notice the sound of footsteps approaching until Ethan’s voice breaks through the silence.
